50 States Covered

State Professional Development Requirements for Teachers

Every state has different PD requirements for teacher license renewal. Find your state's specific requirements including hours needed, renewal cycles, and approved activity types.

50
States Covered
3-6 yr
Renewal Cycles
50-180
Hours Required
Updated
Requirements

Why PD Requirements Vary by State

Each state's Department of Education sets its own professional development requirements for teacher license renewal. These requirements can vary significantly in terms of:

  • Total Hours Required

    Ranges from 50 hours (Alabama) to 180 hours (Pennsylvania)

  • Renewal Cycle Length

    Most states use 5-year cycles, but some vary from 3-6 years

  • Category Requirements

    Many states mandate hours in specific areas like ELL, special education, or technology

  • Approved Activity Types

    States differ on what counts: workshops, conferences, college credits, online courses

Common Requirements Across States

Child Abuse Recognition 40+ states
ELL/ESL Training 35+ states
Special Education 30+ states
Mental Health Awareness 25+ states

State-by-State PD Requirements

Select your state to see detailed requirements including hours needed, renewal cycle, approved activities, and category breakdowns.

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Stay Compliant with State Requirements

Classroom Walkthroughs automatically tracks your PD hours against your state's specific requirements.

Auto-Configuration

Select your state and the system automatically configures requirements, renewal cycles, and category tracking.

Renewal Reminders

Get notified when your renewal deadline approaches and see exactly what hours you still need.

Export for Renewal

Generate state-formatted reports for license renewal applications with all required documentation.

Quick Reference: Hours by State

Compare PD requirements across popular states

State Hours Required Cycle Special Requirements
Texas 150 CPE 5 years Technology applications required
California 150 hours 5 years ELL authorization varies
Florida 120 inservice 5 years Reading endorsement hours
New York 100 CTLE 5 years Language acquisition (15%)
Pennsylvania 180 Act 48 5 years Special education hours
Illinois 120 CPDU 5 years ELL (20%) required

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't complete my PD hours on time?

Consequences vary by state but can include license suspension, having to apply for a temporary license, or being placed on inactive status. Some states offer grace periods or allow educators to make up hours, but this often comes with additional fees or restrictions.

Can I transfer PD hours between states?

Generally, PD hours don't transfer directly between states. However, if you move to a new state, you can often use documentation of completed PD activities to satisfy the new state's requirements. Each state evaluates this on a case-by-case basis.

What types of activities count toward PD hours?

Most states accept: workshops and conferences, college or university courses, online professional development courses, school or district in-service training, professional learning community participation, and curriculum development projects. Some states also accept independent study, mentoring, and action research.

How do I document PD hours for license renewal?

Documentation requirements vary by state but typically include: certificates of completion, transcripts for college courses, sign-in sheets or attendance records, and reflection logs. Our PD tracking software helps you organize and store all documentation digitally for easy submission.

Does Classroom Walkthroughs track state-specific requirements?

Yes! When you set up your account, you select your state and the system automatically configures the correct renewal cycle, total hours required, and any category-specific requirements. You'll see real-time progress toward each requirement and get alerts when deadlines approach.

Never Miss a PD Deadline Again

Classroom Walkthroughs tracks your state's specific requirements and keeps you on track for license renewal.