Act 48 • Addressing the Impact of Trauma on Students, Teachers and Frontline Staff
45 Act 48 Hours + 3 Credits — or — Fast Track with 90 Act 48 Hours! Online & Self-Paced
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Welcome, PDE Educators!
Earning your Act 48 Hours can be simple, flexible, and stress-free. Pennsylvania teachers need 180 Act 48 Hours for license renewal — and in many districts, a lane jump begins at 15–18 graduate-level credits. We’re here to make that process as easy and teacher-friendly as possible.
Confirm For Teachers By Teachers in the official PDE PERMS system.
- Choose “View Approved Providers.”
- In Provider Name, type: For Teachers By Teachers.
- Press Search to see our active listing.
You have three flexible options to earn your Act 48 Hours and/or graduate-level semester credits:
-
Receive 45 Act 48 Hours — $175 per course
This is our standard option. Once you complete the course, we report your hours directly to PERMS for you — no extra steps. -
Earn 90 Act 48 Hours — Add $190 (paid to UMass Global) for 3 graduate-level semester credits
Replace your 45 Hours with 90 total Act 48 Hours — perfect for fast-tracking Act 48 requirements. Your 3 graduate credits are reported directly to PDE as 90 Hours. -
Earn 45 Act 48 Hours and 3 Graduate-Level Semester Credits — Add $190 (paid to UMass Global)
Ideal if you want 45 Hours reported to PERMS and 3 graduate-level credits to bank toward salary advancement. Your official UMass Global transcript is provided.
Course Description
Trauma is a silent force shaping behavior, learning, and well-being in schools — and few people are better equipped to help you address this pressing classroom issue than education specialist Chanelle Walker, M.Ed. In this eye-opening, self-paced online FTBT Partner course, she provides educators and frontline staff with the knowledge and tools to address trauma’s impact on students and learning, and create compassionate, resilient learning environments.
What You’ll Learn:
- Understanding Trauma: Explore the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), community violence, and other traumas on behavior, achievement, and mental health.
- Neurobiological Insights: Learn how trauma affects brain development and impacts emotional regulation and learning.
- Trauma-Informed Practices: Gain actionable strategies to create safe, supportive environments that foster resilience and healing.
- Self-Care for Educators: Discover techniques to promote your own mental well-being and prevent burnout while supporting others.
Why This Course Matters:
- Empowerment Through Awareness: Recognize the prevalence of trauma and its profound effects on students, teachers, and staff.
- Practical Tools: Apply research-backed strategies to enhance academic success and emotional well-being.
- Whole-Community Impact: Build a culture of safety, empathy, and understanding that benefits everyone in your school community.
Make a Difference Today:
By addressing trauma and its effects, you’ll not only improve student outcomes but also foster a healthier, more supportive environment for teachers and staff. This course equips you to lead with compassion, resilience, and confidence.
Enroll Now!
Start your journey toward creating trauma-informed classrooms and schools where everyone has the tools to succeed.
Self-Paced, Quiz-Based, and Completely Online
Forget portfolios or lengthy written assignments — this is stress-free professional learning designed with YOU in mind. With no start dates and no due dates, you can begin and finish the course whenever it’s convenient. You don’t need to be working with students to complete it, and there are no scheduled meetings. The course is 100% self-paced and self-guided — so you can work whenever and wherever it fits your life.
To Enroll in This Course:
Start by completing the $175 registration using the enrollment link at the top of this page. This creates your For Teachers By Teachers (FTBT) account and gives you immediate access to your online classroom.
You can begin anytime, work at your own pace, and complete the course on your schedule.
Your $175 fee includes:
- ✔️ Full access to all course materials
- ✔️ 45 Act 48 Hours reported to PERMS upon completion
✶ Want to Earn 3 Graduate-Level Semester Credits from UMass Global?
After enrolling, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for UMass Global’s optional $190 graduate credit registration inside your online classroom. Choose your preferred path:
- ✔️ 90 Act 48 Hours — Replace your 45 Hours with 90 total Hours, reported to PDE
- ✔️ 45 Act 48 Hours + 3 Graduate-Level Credits — Earn your 45 Hours and 3 credits toward salary advancement
Graduate-level semester credit issued by UMass Global — a regionally accredited university partner.
* Each graduate credit equals 30 Act 48 Hours.
"This course has truly changed both my professional and personal life. Thank you for this learning opportunity!"
— Kayleen Pieper, Teacher
"This is honestly one of the best professional development courses I’ve ever taken. I’ve learned practical and applicable content to my profession. I’ve learned so much about myself as a professional and as a person."
— Kehau Morikawa-Marzan, Teacher
"With all the classes I have taken in the past, a class has never affected me as much as this one. I would like to thank you for having this course for teachers."
— Fay Tsurumaki, Teacher
"This is the first online class that I really enjoyed and I feel as though I have so many new ideas, techniques, and tools to apply in my classroom. This course has had a major impact on me as a teacher. I'm encouraging my co-workers to take this course!"
— Kimberly Celebre, Teacher
"Thank you so much for a wonderful learning opportunity that not only made me a better educator but a better person entirely."
— Darcie Horiuchi, Teacher
"This course has empowered me to be a change agent on campus and a dream-releaser in my classroom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
— Kamilla Maii, Teacher
"Thank you for this amazing class!
I learned so much about myself and my students."
— Abigayle Butler, Teacher
"Thank you for this very inspirational and user-friendly course."
— Katie Tanaka, Teacher
"This course has given me new tools for life and reinforced the importance of building positive relationships with my students. I am a better teacher. Thank you."
— Brandon Hanagami, Teacher
"I wanted to thank you for creating such an enlightening course. As a new teacher I couldn't have taken this course at a better time."
— Paulina Felcher, Teacher
"Thank you for your dedication to providing teachers with high-quality professional development. I loved everything about this course."
— Sherri Sai, Special Education Resource Teacher
Your Course Instructor
For Teachers By Teachers is a highly dedicated team of licensed educators with professional certifications across grades PK–12. Our areas of expertise include Special Education, Childhood Education, Art Education, and Reading Specialist certifications.
Collectively, our course authors and instructors bring more than 20 years of experience in the field of education. We are passionate about empowering teachers and have contributed meaningfully to school communities in Hawai‘i, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, and Ohio.
Our mission is to support your professional growth with flexible, high-quality online courses designed by teachers—for teachers. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We’re here to help!