[Mod-LilSunshine]

How often do you have to take college credits to keep your license up-to-date? (Or, is there something else you do to update your license?)

[LovinMommy]

My district requires 5 credits every three years. I usually do 6-9 credits every two to three years (over the summer) to meet this requirement and move up on the pay scale.

[*Angela*]

College credits are not required. We must do professional development. I am not sure how many hours are required because we always exceed them. I think it is 20 hours a year.

[LJD3Tdance]

6 credits before my certificate expires, I got it in 2009 and it expires in 2014, so that's 5 years?

[Mod-LilSunshine]

I am required to do a professional development plan for the state and the same thing plus 6 credits every 5? years for my district.

[Lady Valkyrie]

It doesn't work like that in the UK.

You're expected to do continuing professional development and keep a record of it so that you're always up to date with new initiatives etc. Most of this is provided by your school. I came out of teaching for a few years and didn't start getting interviews until I did a full-time 10-week return to teaching course which gave me all the updates since I'd left teaching. I also had the foresight to continue my own CPD while out of teaching (knowing I may well wish to return one day) by expanding my subject knowledge in ICT doing the ECDL course, and in Music doing an undergraduate diploma.

There is talk now in England and Wales of all teachers having to have a Masters qualification, and if this "comes in" I guess I will be studying again sooner than I planned to. A Masters is something I've always wanted but it's never been the right time. It was not standard when I went into teaching. It would be a hard slog with small children.

[eiramillek]

We have to take at least one college class every 5 years but we have a point system that you also have to meet that includes professional development classes, faculty meetings, PLC, conferences you attend, training, etc