Missouri Teacher Certification Renewal & Salary Advancement
Earn Graduate Credits Online. Self-Paced. DESE-Accepted.
Self-paced graduate-level courses for K-12 teachers in Missouri. Real university credit on an official UMass Global transcript — yours to use for CCPC annual PD hours, IPC upgrade, or district salary lane 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 Missouri 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. 3 credits = 45 PD contact hours.
Submit your transcript
Submit your official UMass Global transcript directly to DESE through the Certification Account Portal for CCPC annual PD or IPC upgrade, and to your district HR for salary lane advancement.
FTBT courses are 100% online and self-paced, with meaningful, relevant, and impactful assignments. Missouri educators use these graduate-level semester credits for salary lane advancement at the district level, and for DESE certificate renewal under the standard conversion rate of 1 graduate credit = 15 PD contact hours.
Common Ways Missouri Teachers Use These Credits
Every Missouri district sets its own salary schedule, and DESE certificate renewal requirements vary by certificate type. Teachers in Missouri commonly use FTBT graduate credits for one of these three goals:
Salary Lane Advancement
Move across your district's salary schedule (BA+15, BA+30, MA+15, MA+30) with an official letter-grade graduate transcript. Missouri districts bargain salary lanes locally — most accept regionally accredited graduate credit.
DESE Certificate Renewal
1 graduate semester credit = 15 PD contact hours. Hold a CCPC? One 3-credit FTBT course covers 3 years of annual PD requirements. Hold an IPC? Two FTBT courses (6 credits = 90 contact hours) more than covers the 30-hour upgrade requirement.
PD Documentation
Certificate of Completion with 45 documented instructional hours per course — useful for district PD records and DESE professional development plan documentation, 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 (= 45 PD contact hours for DESE)
- 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 Missouri DESE accepts for graduate credit toward certificate renewal, and the same accreditation tier Missouri 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.
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 = 135 PD contact hours.
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 = 180 PD contact hours.
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 = 225 PD contact hours — enough for a full salary lane change in most Missouri districts AND 15 years of CCPC annual maintenance.
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 Missouri Teachers
Yes — Missouri districts bargain salary schedules locally and most accept regionally accredited graduate credit for lane advancement. FTBT courses come with the option to add UMass Global graduate credit (regionally accredited by WSCUC). Confirm with your district HR before enrolling.
Missouri DESE converts 1 graduate semester credit into 15 PD contact hours. A 3-credit FTBT course = 45 PD contact hours, enough to cover 3 years of CCPC annual maintenance.
The optional graduate credit is issued by UMass Global, regionally accredited by WSCUC. The CSU Pueblo pass/fail pathway is regionally accredited by HLC.
Courses are 100% self-paced with no deadlines. Most teachers finish over a few weekends.
Missouri Teacher FAQ
Missouri districts bargain salary schedules locally — Missouri DESE does not maintain a state-approved-provider list for graduate credit. Most Missouri districts accept regionally accredited graduate credit for salary lane advancement, 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.
Missouri DESE converts 1 graduate semester credit into 15 PD contact hours. A 3-credit FTBT course = 45 PD contact hours. CCPC holders need 15 PD hours per year, so one FTBT course covers 3 years of annual maintenance. IPC-to-CCPC upgrades require 30 PD hours total — covered by one FTBT course (45 hours) with hours to spare.
No. CCPC holders who meet 2 of 3 exempt criteria (10+ years experience, master's degree, or national certification) are exempt from the annual 15-hour PD reporting requirement. Many Exempt teachers still earn graduate credits to advance their salary lane — same transcript, different submission destination.
Yes. The optional credits are graduate-level, non-degree semester units issued by UMass Global, regionally accredited by WSCUC. They're the same type of credit Missouri teachers commonly use for salary lane movement and DESE certificate renewal.
No. The university transcript fee is completely optional and can be paid anytime — including after you finish the course. The payment link sits inside your online classroom, ready when you need it. Many Missouri 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 Missouri 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