Courses for Mississippi Teachers
We have helped thousands of Mississippi teachers renew their licenses, increase their salaries, and advance their careers.
How Can We Help You?
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and license renewal in Mississippi.
Moving across the salary schedule is one of the most impactful financial decisions you can make as an educator. With our courses you can maximize your annual and lifetime earnings through salary advancement by completing graduate-level, professional development courses. Whether you are looking to move across the salary schedule or deepen your classroom expertise, our programs are designed to provide the highest return on your educational investment.
Explore Salary Advancement CoursesAdvance your Salary with our Master's Degree Option
Accelerate your career with a Master's Degree. We offer a selection of fully remote, graduate-level courses that can be applied directly toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through our partner, Colorado State University Pueblo. Earn high-quality graduate credits toward your Master's degree without stepping out of the classroom.
Note on District Approval: We recommend reviewing your district's master agreement regarding salary advancement credits. Most Mississippi districts accept our graduate-level courses for salary advancement. Check if your district accepts our credits →
📄 Renew My Mississippi Teaching License
Mississippi standard educator licenses are valid for 5 years. To renew a Class A (Bachelor's) license, you need 6 semester hours of college coursework in content or job/skill-related areas. To renew a Class AA (Master's) or higher license, you only need 3 semester hours. Credits for Teachers courses from regionally accredited universities satisfy these requirements. Apply for renewal through the ELMS online licensing portal.
🕐 Credit Conversion Reference
- Class A (Bachelor's): 6 semester hours of college credit = full 5-year renewal
- Class AA/AAA/AAAA (Master's or higher): 3 semester hours of college credit = full 5-year renewal
✅ Renewal Requirements — 5-Year Standard License
- Class A (Bachelor's): 10 CEUs, OR 6 semester hours, OR 3 semester hours + 5 CEUs
- Class AA/AAA/AAAA (Master's or higher): 5 CEUs, OR 3 semester hours
- Coursework must be in content or job/skill-related areas from a regionally accredited institution
- Official transcripts submitted directly by the college or university to ELMS (Mississippi educator licensing portal)
For the most up-to-date information or further details regarding Teaching License Renewal in Mississippi, please visit the Mississippi Department of Education — Educator Licensure Website.
Explore Mississippi License Renewal CoursesNeed to submit courses to your district or state for approval? Download our free Course Approval Form (PDF) — a fillable form you can send directly to your administrator or certification office.
The Mississippi Teacher Salary Schedule: What You Need to Know
Your salary in Mississippi is determined by your years of experience and your certification level. Certification levels — Class A (Bachelor's), Class AA (Master's), Class AAA (Specialist), and Class AAAA (Doctorate) — only change when you earn a higher degree. The table below uses national average teacher salary data (NEA 2023–2024 Benchmark Report) to show the typical difference between a Bachelor's and Master's degree over a career.
| Years Exp. | Bachelor's Degree (Nat'l Avg) | Master's Degree (Nat'l Avg) | Annual Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | $47,026 | $50,380 | +$3,354/yr |
| Year 5 | $50,927 | $57,158 | +$6,231/yr |
| Year 10 | $54,828 | $63,937 | +$9,109/yr |
| Year 15 | $58,730 | $70,715 | +$11,985/yr |
| Year 20 | $62,631 | $77,494 | +$14,863/yr |
| Year 25 | $66,532 | $84,272 | +$17,740/yr |
Source: NEA 2023–2024 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report (national averages). Individual district salaries vary — use our Salary Calculator to see your personalized numbers.
Critical insight most Mississippi teachers miss: A Master's degree pays more at every single step of the salary schedule — and the gap grows significantly with experience. Nationally, a Master's degree adds over $274,000 in additional earnings over a 25-year career. The same graduate courses that move you to Class AA also count toward your 5-year license renewal.
Curious what your specific numbers look like? Use our free tool to find your personalized salary roadmap.
📈 Calculate My Salary Potential →Why Starting Early Changes Everything
Salary advancement works like compound interest. The sooner you earn a higher degree, the more years you earn at the higher rate. The table below uses national average teacher salary data (NEA 2023–2024 Benchmark Report) to illustrate the 25-year career difference between a Bachelor's and a Master's degree.
The rule of thumb: Every year you delay a lane change is a year of higher salary you can never recover. Teachers who start in years 1–5 consistently find it easier to complete courses than those who wait — and they earn more for every remaining year of their career.
📈 Find Your Personalized Salary Roadmap: Not sure how much you could earn by advancing lanes? Use our free Salary Calculator to see exactly how much more you could earn based on your current lane, district, and years of experience.
Our University Partners
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and license renewal.
Note on District Approval: We recommend verifying with your district HR department that our graduate-level courses will count toward your certification level advancement. Most Mississippi districts recognize credits from our regionally accredited university partners. Check your district →
Invest in Your Career. Maximize Your Earnings.
The investment you make today pays dividends throughout your entire teaching career.
📈 See Your Personalized Numbers: Every teacher's situation is different. Use our free Salary Calculator to discover exactly how much more you could earn based on your current certification level, years of experience, and Mississippi district. Nationally, a Master's degree adds over $274,000 to your 25-year career earnings.
Three Steps to Advance Your Career
The process is straightforward. Our team is with you at every step.
-
Browse and Select Your Courses
Choose from our catalog of graduate-level, self-paced online courses. Select the university partner and credit option that best fits your goals — whether you're pursuing a lane change, license renewal, or a full Master's degree.
-
Complete Your Coursework Online
All courses are 100% online and self-paced. Complete them on your own schedule — evenings, weekends, or summer break. Most teachers finish a 3-credit course in 4–8 weeks while continuing to teach full-time.
-
Submit Credits to Your District or State Portal
Upon completion, your university partner will send an official sealed transcript directly to the Mississippi Department of Education. Submit it to your district HR department for certification level advancement, or upload it through the ELMS online licensing portal for license renewal. Our team is available to help guide you through this process.
Everything You Need to Know
Still have questions? Our team is happy to help.
Mississippi standard educator licenses are valid for 5 years and must be renewed through the ELMS online portal. Class A (Bachelor's) license holders need 10 CEUs, 6 semester hours, or a combination of 3 semester hours + 5 CEUs. Class AA (Master's) and higher license holders need only 5 CEUs or 3 semester hours. All coursework must be in content or job/skill-related areas from a regionally accredited institution, and official transcripts must be submitted directly by the college or university.
Yes. Graduate-level courses from Credits for Teachers and our university partners are earned from regionally accredited institutions and count as semester hours toward Mississippi educator license renewal. Class A license holders need 6 semester hours for full renewal; Class AA and higher license holders need only 3 semester hours. Our university partners will send official sealed transcripts directly to MDE on your behalf.
In Mississippi, salary advancement is tied to your certification level (Class A, AA, AAA, AAAA) rather than individual credit accumulation. Earning a full Master's degree moves you to Class AA and increases your salary at every step of the schedule. Our courses can be applied toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through our university partner, Colorado State University Pueblo. You can also use our District Credit Approval Tool to verify acceptance in your district.
Mississippi salary advancement is based on certification levels rather than individual credit lanes. The four levels are: Class A (Bachelor's), Class AA (Master's), Class AAA (Specialist/Ed.S.), and Class AAAA (Doctorate). Each higher level earns more at every step of the state salary schedule. To move from Class A to Class AA, you must earn a Master's degree. Our courses can be applied toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through Colorado State University Pueblo, allowing you to advance your certification level and earn more throughout your career.
Yes. Through our partnership with Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo), you can earn a fully accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction. The total program is 38 credits — 18 of which you complete through Credits for Teachers at just $131/credit, and 20 through CSU Pueblo. The total program cost is $11,764, a fraction of a traditional Master's program. In Mississippi, earning a Master's degree moves you from Class A to Class AA on the state salary schedule — which pays more at every step for the rest of your career.
What Educators Are Saying
Thousands of teachers have used Credits for Teachers to advance their careers and increase their salaries.
"I had no idea lane changes could make such a difference. I completed two courses over the summer and moved to the next lane. My salary went up noticeably the following school year. I wish I had done this sooner."
"The courses were genuinely interesting and I could do them on my own schedule. The university credit was accepted by my district without any issues. Highly recommend to any teacher who wants to maximize their salary."
"I was skeptical at first — it seemed too easy. But it's completely legitimate. I've now done three lane changes over five years and I'm earning significantly more per year than when I started."
We've partnered with Affirm to offer flexible payment options. Split your course costs into manageable monthly payments that fit your budget. For licenses and disclosures, see affirm.com/licenses.
PLEASE NOTE: The content provided on this page is solely provided for informational purposes and does not exempt users from their responsibility to ensure that our courses meet their state's continuing education requirements. Please check with your state certification agency for up-to-date policies for teacher certification renewal/continuing education.