PA Act 48 • Healthy Teaching Habits
3 University Semester Credits • 45 Act 48 Hours
Welcome, PDE educators!
Earning your Act 48 hours can be simple and stress-free. Pennsylvania teachers need 180 Act 48 hours for license renewal — and in many districts, a lane jump often begins at 15–18 graduate credits. We’re here to make that journey as easy, flexible, and teacher-friendly as possible.
As a PDE-approved provider (FTBT, AUN 300000925), we offer this course for ✶ 45 Clock Hours ✶ toward your Act 48 credits. Once you complete the class, we’ll immediately enter your hours into PERMS.
✶ 3 Semester Credits:
If you're interested in earning 3 semester credits* (worth a total of 90 Act 48 hours) instead of having us submit your 45 Act 48 hours to PERMS, you can simultaneously register for this course with our accredited university partner, UMass Global, for $210 ($70 per credit). When you finish the course, we'll immediately submit your grade to UMass Global — which will post your 3 credits to an official transcript and digitally submit it to Pennsylvania’s Act 48 office.
*Each semester credit equals 30 Act 48 hours.
OR, you can get 3 those 3 semester credits in addition to your 45 Act hours in PERMS, and use those credits towards salary lane change by downloading your official UMass Global University transcript (or receiving a paper version by mail).
Course Description:
Reimagine your classroom as a space where academic success, wellness, and equity flourish together. This groundbreaking self-paced, quiz-based course equips PK-12 educators with the tools to prioritize whole-child wellness while creating a calmer, more engaged, and less stressful learning environment (for teachers and students alike).
What You’ll Learn:
- The Whole-Child Approach: Explore the connection between physical health, mental well-being, and academic success to create healthier schools and self-regulated classrooms.
- Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Gain strategies to encourage resilience, amplify student voice, and foster positive habits that support lifelong learning.
- Equitable Learning Outcomes: Discover how holistic wellness practices can close achievement gaps and promote equity in your classroom.
- Transforming Classroom Culture: Learn and apply actionable methods to create a supportive, inclusive, and balanced environment where students and teachers thrive.
Why Educators Love This Course:
- Comprehensive Wellness Strategies: Go beyond traditional approaches to learn the science behind wellness and address the holistic needs of every student.
- Immediate Impact: Implement proven techniques to boost student achievement, improve behavior, and foster resilience.
- Equity and Engagement: Create an inclusive classroom that supports both student well-being and equitable learning outcomes.
Shape the Future of Your Classroom:
Balancing student wellness with academic rigor is essential for 21st-century classrooms. This course provides practical tools and a fresh perspective to help you integrate research-backed wellness approaches that are guaranteed to transform your teaching — and your students' lives.
Enroll Today!
Join us to create a healthier, more balanced classroom where every student — and educator — can flourish.
Self-Paced, Quiz-Based, and Completely Online:
Forget portfolios or lengthy written assignments — this is stress-free PD designed with YOU in mind. With no start dates and no due dates, you can begin and finish the course whenever it is convenient for you. Plus, you do not need to be working with students to complete it. Entirely self-paced and self-guided, there are no scheduled check-ins, so you are free to work on the content whenever and wherever you want.
To enroll in this course:
Start by completing the $175 registration using the banner link at the top of this page. That will create your For Teachers By Teachers (FTBT) account and give you immediate access to the online classroom. You can begin anytime and work at your own pace. This fee includes your 45 Act 48 Hours and full access to the course and online classroom.
✶ Want 3 university semester credits through UMass Global?
You’ll find full step-by-step instructions for UMass Global’s $210 credit registration process inside the online classroom, after you enroll. Everything you need — the direct link, course code, and payment instructions — will be available to you once you’ve signed up.
University credit issued by UMass Global – a regionally accredited university partner.
* Each semester credit equals 30 Act 48 hours.
"Of all the PD courses I've taken, this one has had the biggest impact. I honestly feel that this course has made a difference in the wellbeing of both my students and myself. As for my professional growth, this course has fundamentally changed the way that I approach teaching."
— Brian Citro, Teacher
"Overall, this was personally one of the most beneficial and informative PD courses I’ve ever completed."
— Kim Virtudazo, Teacher
"Through my participation in this course, my students are smiling more (in and out of class), they are more active and they enjoy coming to my class. My students are getting along better as they are communicating with each other in a much nicer way.... students are even saying how much fun they have in my classes now and certain teachers have asked: "What have you changed?"
— Paul Remington, Teacher
"This course has really opened my eyes professionally and I have grown in ways that are meaningful. Many of the curriculums, ideas and activities that were presented are very inspiring and I hope to try more out with students in the future. I will be using this course as a resource in planning and teaching in the coming years"
— Raiza Garcia, Teacher
"After reflecting on this class, and what I have learned, I have a new set of tools that can help students not only succeed in academics, but in life. I not only became excited for my students growth, but my own."
— James Murphey, Teacher
"Teachers at my school love your courses, keep up this awesome Professional Development!"
— Francoise Wittenburg, Principal
"Thank you very much for creating this course! The lessons and resources that you provided are fantastic and it aligns with our State Strategic Plan perfectly!"
— Joe Kealoha, Counseling Department Head
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, 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!