Connecticut Teacher Salary Advancement
Earn Graduate Credits Online. Self-Paced. CSDE-Recognized.
Self-paced graduate-level courses for K-12 teachers in Connecticut. Real university credit on an official UMass Global transcript — yours to use for salary lane advancement (including the highly compensated 6th Year lane) or Initial-to-Professional certificate advancement.
Trusted by 10,000+ educators nationwide • Designed by teachers, for teachers
Optional UMass Global 3-credit transcript: $190 per course, paid anytime — even after you finish.
How Connecticut Teachers Earn Graduate Credit Through For Teachers By Teachers
Enroll in a course
Enroll in a self-paced For Teachers By Teachers (FTBT) course for $165 — log in immediately, work on your own schedule, no live meetings.
Add UMass Global credit (optional)
Add 3 graduate semester credits from UMass Global (regionally accredited by WSCUC) for $190 — pay anytime, even after you finish.
Submit your transcript
Submit your official UMass Global transcript directly to your district HR for salary lane advancement, or to CSDE through the Connecticut Educator Certification System (C.E.C.S.) for Initial-to-Professional certificate advancement.
Important: Connecticut Professional Educator Certificate renewal no longer requires CEUs (per Public Act 12-116, effective July 1, 2012). Renewal is free through C.E.C.S. and requires no documentation of professional development. However, salary lane advancement and Initial-to-Professional certificate advancement both still require official graduate credit from a regionally accredited university — and that's where FTBT courses fit.
Common Ways Connecticut Teachers Use These Credits
Every Connecticut district sets its own salary schedule, and certificate advancement requires graduate credits from a regionally accredited university. Teachers in Connecticut commonly use FTBT graduate credits for one of these three goals:
Salary Lane Advancement (Including 6th Year)
Move across your district's salary schedule (BA+15, BA+30, MA+15, MA+30, 6th Year) with an official letter-grade graduate transcript. Connecticut's 6th Year lane — 30 graduate credits beyond a master's — is one of the highest-paying salary lanes in the country.
Initial-to-Professional Certificate Advancement
Advancing from an Initial Educator Certificate to a Professional Educator Certificate requires 30 graduate semester credits beyond your bachelor's degree (typically combined with a master's degree in your content area, depending on endorsement and certification date). FTBT courses count as regionally accredited graduate credit toward this requirement.
PD Documentation
Certificate of Completion with 45 documented instructional hours per course — useful for district PD records and your district's annual 18-hour professional development tracking, even without university credit.
Not sure which pathway fits you? See the FAQ below or email us at info@forteachersbyteachers.org before enrolling — we'll help you check.
What You Get With Every For Teachers By Teachers Course
- 3 graduate semester credits per course on an official UMass Global transcript
- 100% online and self-paced — start and finish on your timeline
- Meaningful, relevant, and impactful assignments — no busywork, no live meetings
- Certificate of Completion with 45 documented instructional hours per course
- Receipts and itemized invoices for HR reimbursement
- Purchase Orders accepted for districts that pay via PO
- Course syllabi available on request for district pre-approval
- 7-day refund window — try it risk-free
UMass Global is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Your transcript comes from a regionally accredited university — the same accreditation tier Connecticut CSDE accepts for graduate credit toward certificate advancement, and the same accreditation tier Connecticut school districts widely accept for salary lane advancement.
Need a Pass/Fail transcript instead of letter grades? We also partner with CSU Pueblo (regionally accredited, HLC) for select courses. Email us if Pass/Fail is what your district requires — though most Connecticut districts prefer letter grades for lane review.
Save More By Bundling
Pick courses from our nationwide catalog. The more you bundle, the more you save.
Build Your Own 3-Course Bundle — Save $96
Pick any 3 courses for $399 (vs. $495 individually). 9 graduate credits.
Build Your 3-Course Bundle for $399 →Build Your Own 4-Course Bundle — Save $211
Pick any 4 courses for $449 (vs. $660 individually). 12 graduate credits.
Build Your 4-Course Bundle for $449 →Build Your Own 5-Course Bundle — Save $326
Pick any 5 courses for $499 (vs. $825 individually). 15 graduate credits — half of what's needed to reach the highly compensated 6th Year salary lane in most Connecticut districts.
Build Your 5-Course Bundle for $499Prefer a done-for-you path? The Nationwide 5-Course Bundle is a pre-built version with our most popular courses.
See the Nationwide 5-Course Bundle →Bundle prices are course access only. The optional $190 UMass Global transcript fee is paid separately, course-by-course, anytime.
Quick Answers for Connecticut Teachers
No. Connecticut eliminated the CEU requirement for Professional Educator Certificate renewal effective July 1, 2012 (Public Act 12-116, Section 36(i)). Renewal is free and requires no documentation of PD.
Yes. CT districts bargain salary schedules locally and most accept regionally accredited graduate credit for lane advancement, including the highly compensated 6th Year lane (30 graduate credits beyond a master's). FTBT courses include the option to add UMass Global graduate credit (regionally accredited by WSCUC).
30 graduate semester credits beyond your bachelor's degree (typically combined with a master's degree in your endorsement area, depending on certification date), plus 50 school months of successful teaching experience under an Initial and/or Provisional Certificate.
The optional graduate credit is issued by UMass Global, regionally accredited by WSCUC. CSU Pueblo (HLC) is the pass/fail alternative.
Connecticut Teacher FAQ
Connecticut districts bargain salary schedules locally — CSDE does not maintain a state-approved-provider list for graduate credit. Most Connecticut districts accept regionally accredited graduate credit for salary lane advancement, including the 6th Year lane, and UMass Global is regionally accredited by WSCUC. Salary policies are set district-by-district, so a quick check with your HR or salary office before enrolling is always a good move. If your district needs documentation from us, email info@forteachersbyteachers.org.
No. Public Act 12-116, Section 36(i), repealed the CEU requirement for Connecticut Professional Educator Certificate renewal effective July 1, 2012. Renewal is free and applied through the Connecticut Educator Certification System (C.E.C.S.) — no documentation of professional development is required by CSDE. Note: your school district may have its own annual professional development expectations (Connecticut law requires districts to offer 18 hours of PD per year), but that's tracked at the district level, not by CSDE.
Yes. Initial-to-Professional certificate advancement requires 30 graduate semester credits beyond your bachelor's degree (typically combined with a master's degree in your content area, depending on endorsement and certification date), plus 50 school months of successful teaching experience under an Initial and/or Provisional Certificate. FTBT courses count as regionally accredited graduate credit toward the 30-credit requirement.
Connecticut's "6th Year" or "Sixth Year" salary lane represents 30 graduate credits beyond a master's degree, and it's one of the most heavily compensated lanes in the country. In high-paying districts like Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, and Darien, reaching the 6th Year lane can mean tens of thousands of dollars more per year compared to the BA or MA lanes. FTBT courses count toward the 30 credits needed.
No. The university transcript fee is completely optional and can be paid anytime — including after you finish the course. Many Connecticut teachers wait until their district confirms approval before paying.
We offer a 7-day refund window. Enroll, log in, preview the course materials, and if it's not what you expected, email us within 7 days for a refund. Full details on our Terms page.
Why Teachers Choose For Teachers By Teachers Courses
Real feedback from educators nationwide:
★★★★★
"This was my first online professional development course. I found it to be organized, well presented, interesting and most importantly inspiring! The effort, skill, and dedication to helping teachers and students succeed is evident and so appreciated."
— M.B., Kindergarten Teacher
★★★★★
"This course was a goldmine! It has been the most organized and well-planned PD that I've ever participated in. I plan on taking every class that For Teachers By Teachers has to offer."
— A.B., Middle School Teacher
★★★★★
"Enrolling in this course was one of the best things that I've done to help me succeed in my profession."
— K.L., High School Teacher
★★★★★
"This was an amazing ride – I enjoyed every lesson, every video, and every assignment!"
— L.S., Grades 3–5 Teacher
★★★★★
"I LOVED this course and cannot thank you enough for continuing to make professional development that is do-able, worthwhile, and affordable for teachers."
— K.H., Elementary Teacher
★★★★★
"Without exaggeration, your courses are the most enjoyable of all, and I've taken a lot of PD courses! What distinguishes your courses from other courses isn't only the format, but the life enriching content that makes us grow as human beings, as well as educators."
— I.F., Middle School Teacher
Ready to Get Started?
Many Connecticut districts reimburse PD. We provide receipts and itemized invoices for HR.
Purchase Orders accepted — click for PO instructions
Questions? info@forteachersbyteachers.org
Looking for bundles? Scroll up to see options — save up to $326.
Last updated: April 29, 2026