Best Online Courses for Virginia Teachers: License Renewal & Salary Advancement
Virginia teachers have a significant advantage that teachers in many other states do not: the same online graduate courses that satisfy your Professional Development Points (PDP) requirement for license renewal also count toward your salary lane advancement. One 3-credit graduate course earns 90 PDPs — half of the 180 PDPs required for a five-year renewal — and simultaneously moves you 3 credits closer to the next salary lane on your district’s pay scale. This guide explains what to look for in an online course provider, what Virginia requires for accreditation, and how Credits for Teachers courses meet all of those requirements.
Not all online courses are created equal for Virginia teachers. The state has specific requirements for the type of credit that counts toward renewal, and your district has its own requirements for the type of credit that counts toward a lane change. Understanding both sets of requirements before you enroll saves you from completing coursework that does not count for the purpose you intended.
What Virginia Requires for Online Courses to Count Toward Renewal
Virginia’s renewal regulations specify that graduate coursework must come from a regionally accredited institution to earn PDPs at the 30-PDPs-per-credit-hour rate. This is a critical distinction. There are two types of institutional accreditation in the United States: regional and national. Regional accreditation (from bodies like SACSCOC, HLC, NECHE, WASC, and MSCHE) is the standard required by VDOE. National accreditation — common in some vocational and online-only institutions — does not meet Virginia’s standard for renewal credit.
The course must also be at the graduate level. Undergraduate coursework, continuing education units (CEUs), and professional development certificates do not earn PDPs at the graduate credit rate. When evaluating a course provider, confirm that the credits are graduate-level semester credit hours from a regionally accredited university — not CEUs, not clock hours, and not credits from a nationally accredited institution.
What Virginia Districts Require for Salary Lane Changes
For salary lane advancement, most Virginia school divisions apply the same regional accreditation standard as VDOE. However, some districts have additional requirements — for example, requiring that credits be in education or a content area related to your teaching assignment. Before enrolling in courses specifically for a lane change, confirm the requirements with your district’s HR department.
The most common questions HR departments ask about online graduate courses are:
- Is the institution regionally accredited? (Yes — Credits for Teachers partners with regionally accredited universities.)
- Are the credits graduate-level semester credit hours? (Yes — all Credits for Teachers courses award graduate semester credit hours.)
- Is the course education-related? (Yes — all courses are designed for K–12 teachers and address pedagogical topics.)
- Will an official transcript be provided? (Yes — official transcripts are available from the university partner upon course completion.)
What to Look for in an Online Course Provider
With dozens of online professional development providers targeting teachers, the quality and usefulness of courses varies significantly. Here are the factors that matter most for Virginia teachers:
How Credits for Teachers Courses Work for Virginia Teachers
Credits for Teachers partners with regionally accredited universities — including University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University — to offer graduate-level courses designed specifically for K–12 teachers. All courses are fully online and self-paced, meaning you complete the work on your own schedule without attending live sessions or meeting rigid weekly deadlines.
Each 3-credit course earns 90 PDPs toward your Virginia license renewal and provides 3 graduate semester credit hours toward your salary lane advancement. The official transcript comes directly from the university partner and meets VDOE’s requirements for renewal documentation and most Virginia districts’ requirements for lane change submissions.
The course catalog covers topics directly relevant to K–12 teaching: differentiated instruction, classroom management, literacy strategies, technology integration, social-emotional learning, special education, and more. Most teachers complete a 3-credit course in four to six weeks while continuing to teach full-time. The workload is designed to be manageable alongside a full teaching schedule — not a second full-time job.
Planning Your Course Strategy for Virginia Renewal
The most efficient approach for Virginia teachers on a five-year license is to take two 3-credit courses during the renewal cycle. Two courses earn 180 PDPs — exactly the requirement — and provide 6 graduate credits toward a salary lane change. If you are 15 credits away from the next lane, five courses over two or three renewal cycles will complete the lane change while satisfying your renewal requirement each time.
For teachers on a ten-year license, three 3-credit courses (270 PDPs) satisfy the full renewal requirement. If those same three courses are part of a lane change plan, you are earning 9 graduate credits toward the next lane while meeting your renewal obligation.
The key is to start early in your renewal cycle rather than waiting until the final year. Spreading courses across the renewal period is easier on your schedule and your budget. It also gives you time to request official transcripts and submit lane change paperwork to HR before the district’s annual deadline — typically July 1 for fall implementation.
Know Your Numbers First
See What a Lane Change Is Worth Before You Enroll
The Salary Advancement Roadmap shows you exactly how much more you would earn by moving to the next lane — based on your current lane, your years of experience, and your district. It takes two minutes and helps you decide how many courses make sense for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Courses for Virginia Teachers
Do I need to notify VDOE before taking online graduate courses?
No. You do not need pre-approval from VDOE for graduate coursework. You complete the courses, collect the official transcript, and include it with your renewal application when the time comes. Pre-approval is only required for certain Option 7 (educational travel) activities.
Do I need to notify my school division before taking courses for a lane change?
It is a good idea to confirm with your HR department that the courses will be accepted for lane advancement before you enroll — especially if you are planning a lane change rather than just renewal. Most Virginia divisions accept credits from our university partners, but it is always worth verifying in advance.
Can I take courses during the school year?
Yes. Credits for Teachers courses are fully self-paced, so you can work on them evenings and weekends during the school year. Most teachers find that 4–6 hours per week is sufficient to complete a 3-credit course in four to six weeks.
How long does it take to get an official transcript after completing a course?
Official transcript processing times vary by university partner, but typically take two to four weeks after course completion. Request your transcript as soon as you finish the course — do not wait until renewal time.
What if my district does not recognize a particular university partner?
Contact Credits for Teachers before enrolling. We can help you verify that the specific university partner’s credits will be accepted by your district, or identify an alternative partner whose credits your district has a history of accepting.
The Bottom Line
Online graduate courses are the most efficient way for Virginia teachers to satisfy their PDP renewal requirement and advance their salary lane at the same time. The key requirements are regional accreditation, graduate-level credit hours, and an official transcript — all of which Credits for Teachers courses provide. Two 3-credit courses satisfy the entire five-year renewal requirement (180 PDPs) and provide 6 graduate credits toward a salary lane change that can be worth $6,000–$22,000 per year in additional earnings, depending on your experience level and district.
For a complete overview of Virginia’s renewal requirements and the PDP system, see: Virginia Teacher License Renewal: Requirements, PDPs & How to Complete It Online. For detailed information on how salary lanes work and what each lane change is worth, see: Virginia Teacher Salary Scale: How Graduate Credits Move You Up a Lane.
Start Today
Advance Your Salary Lane
Graduate-level courses designed for K–12 teachers. Accepted by Virginia school divisions. Earn PDPs and salary credits at the same time — 100% online, self-paced, starting at $299 per 3-credit course.
Disclaimer: Course acceptance for license renewal and salary lane advancement is subject to VDOE and individual school division policies, which may change. Always verify current requirements with the Virginia Department of Education at doe.virginia.gov and with your school division’s HR department before enrolling.