Nevada Teacher License Renewal, Explained: Clock Hours, Approved Providers & OPAL
For Teachers By Teachers is an online professional development company for PreK–12 teachers, founded in 2015, and a Nevada Department of Education–approved online continuing education provider. This page explains how Nevada teacher license renewal actually works — what clock hours are, how many you need, why your provider has to be state-approved, and how you submit everything through OPAL — so you can plan your renewal without guesswork.
What does Nevada require to renew a teaching license?
To renew a Standard or Professional teaching license in Nevada, you complete 90 clock hours of professional development from a Nevada Department of Education (NDE)–approved provider during your licensure period. You can also meet the requirement with 6 semester credits of college coursework, or a combination of the two — one semester credit counts as about 15 clock hours. This requirement is set in the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 391.065) and was updated by regulation R088-23, effective September 16, 2024, which now lets you earn the hours at any point during your licensure period rather than spreading them across each year.
What is the difference between clock hours and college credits?
Clock hours are documented hours of approved professional development — the most common way Nevada teachers meet the renewal requirement. College credits are semester-credit coursework from a university. Nevada treats the two as interchangeable for renewal: one semester credit equals roughly 15 clock hours, so the full 90-clock-hour requirement is the same as 6 semester credits. You can also mix them — for example, 45 clock hours plus 3 semester credits — as long as the total reaches the equivalent of 90 clock hours from approved sources.
How long is my Nevada license, and when do the hours need to be finished?
A Standard license is valid for five years. A Professional license runs six years with a master's degree, eight years with an education specialist degree, and up to ten years with a doctorate. Whatever your license length, you have the full period to earn your 90 clock hours. Since the September 16, 2024 rule change, the hours can be completed at any time during the period rather than year by year — you just need them done and submitted before your license expiration date.
What is OPAL, and how do I renew through it?
OPAL is the Nevada Department of Education's online licensure portal — it is where all educator license renewals happen. Paper applications are no longer accepted, so every renewal is submitted electronically. You log in to your OPAL account, upload your documentation as PDF files, complete the renewal application, and pay the state renewal fee before your license expires. If you do not have an account yet, you register for one directly through the Nevada Department of Education's educator licensure site.
Does my provider report my hours, or do I upload them myself?
In Nevada, you upload them yourself. Unlike some states where the provider reports completion directly to the state, Nevada does not accept provider-side reporting for renewal documentation. When you finish an approved course, you receive a Certificate of Completion, and you upload that certificate to your own OPAL account as a PDF. It is a quick step — most teachers handle it in just a few minutes — but it is your responsibility as the licensee, not the provider's.
Do my hours have to come from an approved provider?
Yes. To count toward Nevada license renewal, your professional development has to come from a provider the Nevada Department of Education has vetted and approved. The NDE maintains an official list of Approved Continuing Education Providers, and only hours from providers on that list — or qualifying college coursework — count toward your 90-hour requirement. Before enrolling anywhere, it is worth confirming the provider appears on the official NDE Approved Continuing Education Providers list.
Where can I take Nevada DOE-approved renewal courses online?
For Teachers By Teachers is a Nevada Department of Education–approved online continuing education provider, listed on the official NDE Approved Online Providers list. Our courses are 100% online, self-paced, and quiz-based — built by teachers, with no portfolios and no busywork — and they are PreK–12 relevant across grades, subjects, and roles.
Each course carries 45 Nevada DOE-approved clock hours, so two courses cover the full 90-hour renewal requirement. When you finish, your Certificate of Completion is emailed to you as a PDF, ready to upload straight to OPAL. Many teachers bundle three to five courses at once to bank hours for future renewal cycles.
See the full catalog and bundle options on our Nevada renewal courses page.
Will these hours count toward salary advancement too?
Renewal hours and salary advancement are two different things. Your 90 clock hours keep your license current; salary lane movement is set by your district, not the state. The Nevada Department of Education specifically advises that licensees should consult with their employer about which activities are accepted for salary advancement. If your district requires graduate credit for a salary lane, an optional university transcript can be added to your course — but because acceptance varies by district, confirm with your HR office before counting on it.
When during my license period should I earn the hours?
Any time you like. Since the September 16, 2024 rule change, Nevada lets you earn all 90 clock hours at any point during your licensure period — there is no requirement to complete a set number each year. Some teachers finish both courses in a single stretch; others spread them across the cycle. As long as your hours are complete and uploaded to OPAL before your license expires, you are in good shape.
Ready to start your Nevada renewal?
Two courses cover your full 90 clock hours, and your Nevada DOE-approved certificates are ready to upload to OPAL the moment you finish. Browse Nevada renewal courses and bundles, or email us with any questions at info@forteachersbyteachers.org — we are happy to help you plan your renewal.