Courses for Oklahoma Teachers
We have helped thousands of Oklahoma teachers advance their careers, increase their salaries, and meet their professional development requirements.
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 professional development in Oklahoma.
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: Salary lane advancement is determined by your district's master agreement. We recommend verifying with your district HR department that our graduate-level courses will count toward your salary lane. Most Oklahoma districts recognize credits from our regionally accredited university partners — including University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University. Contact us →
📄 Oklahoma Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal Requirements
Oklahoma's Standard Teaching Certificate must be renewed every 5 years. Most active teachers renew through Option I — completing at least 3 years of teaching experience in an accredited school during the 5-year validity period. Teachers who need to substitute for missing experience years may use college coursework from an accredited college or university.
Option I — Teaching Experience: Complete a minimum of 3 years of school experience in an accredited school during the 5-year certificate validity. Teachers with fewer than 3 years may substitute college credit at the following rate: 2 years of experience = 3 semester hours; 1 year = 4 semester hours; 0 years = 5 semester hours. College credit must be completed within the 5-year period immediately preceding renewal.
Option II — Professional Development Points: Teachers not currently employed may renew by completing 75 professional development points in programs, conferences, and seminars approved by a public school district. A combination of professional development points, college credit hours, and/or teaching experience may also be used. Exact combinations are determined by the Professional Standards Section of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
🕐 Renewal Requirements at a Glance
- 5-year renewal cycle for the Oklahoma Standard Teaching Certificate
- Option I (most common): 3 years of teaching experience in an accredited school — no college credit required
- Substituting for experience: If fewer than 3 years experience, use college credit from an accredited university (3–5 semester hours depending on experience gap)
- Option II (non-employed teachers): 75 professional development points — may combine PD, college credit, and experience
- College credit must be completed within the 5-year period immediately preceding renewal
- Apply through the Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System (OECS) via Single Sign-On (SSO) at oklahoma.gov/education
How Credits for Teachers Courses Can Help: Our courses are awarded as graduate semester credit hours from regionally accredited university partners. If you need to substitute college credit for missing experience years, our courses qualify. Additionally, many Oklahoma districts recognize graduate credit for salary lane advancement — so the same courses can serve double duty: meeting any credit-based renewal pathway while also advancing your salary.
For the most up-to-date information or further details regarding Oklahoma teacher certification requirements, please visit the Oklahoma State Department of Education Certification page.
Renewal requirements governed by Okla. Admin. Code § 210:20-9-96. Renewal applications submitted through the Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System (OECS).
Explore Oklahoma Professional Development 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 Oklahoma Teacher Salary Schedule: What You Need to Know
Your salary in Oklahoma is determined by your years of experience and your degree level. Moving from a Bachelor's to a Master's degree lane increases your pay at every step. The table below uses national average salary data (NEA 2023–24 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report) to illustrate the lifetime earnings difference between a Bachelor's and a Master's degree.
| Years Exp. | Bachelor's Degree | Master's Degree | Annual Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | $47,026 | $50,380 | +$3,354/yr |
| Year 5 | $49,893 | $55,618 | +$5,725/yr |
| Year 10 | $54,828 | $63,937 | +$9,109/yr |
| Year 15 | $59,316 | $71,437 | +$12,121/yr |
| Year 20 | $62,849 | $77,649 | +$14,800/yr |
| Year 25 | $66,532 | $84,272 | +$17,740/yr |
Source: NEA 2023–24 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report (national averages). Individual Oklahoma districts vary — use our Salary Calculator to see your personalized numbers.
Critical insight most Oklahoma teachers miss: A Master's degree pays up to $17,740 more per year than a Bachelor's degree at peak experience. That growing annual advantage adds up to over $274,000 in additional earnings over a 25-year career — and the same graduate courses can count toward your district's salary lane advancement.
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 cards below use national average salary data (NEA 2023–24 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 professional development.
Note on District Approval: We recommend verifying with your district HR department that our graduate-level courses will count toward your salary lane advancement. Most Oklahoma districts recognize credits from our regionally accredited university partners — including University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University. Contact us if you have questions about acceptance in your district. Contact us →
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 see exactly how much more you could earn based on your current lane, district, and years of experience. 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.
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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, professional development requirements, or a full Master's degree.
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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.
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Submit Credits to Your District or State Portal
Upon completion, your university partner will send an official sealed transcript directly to you and your district. Submit it to your district HR department for salary lane advancement. For any credit-based renewal pathway, submit through the Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System (OECS) via Single Sign-On at oklahoma.gov/education. 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.
Oklahoma's Standard Teaching Certificate must be renewed every 5 years. Most active teachers renew through Option I — completing at least 3 years of teaching experience in an accredited school during the 5-year validity period. Teachers who fall short of 3 years may substitute college credit from an accredited university (3–5 semester hours depending on experience). Non-employed teachers may use Option II: 75 professional development points, which can include a combination of PD, college credit, and experience. Renewal applications are submitted through the Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System (OECS) via Single Sign-On at oklahoma.gov/education.
Our courses are awarded as graduate semester credit hours from regionally accredited university partners. If you are renewing under Option I and need to substitute college credit for missing experience years, our courses qualify — 3–5 semester hours depending on your experience gap. For Option II (non-employed teachers), college credit hours can be combined with professional development points and experience toward the 75-point requirement. We recommend confirming your specific pathway with the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Professional Standards Section. Contact us if you have questions about your situation.
Salary lane advancement in Oklahoma is determined by your district's master agreement, not state law. Most Oklahoma districts use a salary schedule with lanes based on degree level and graduate credits (e.g., BA, BA+15, MA, MA+30). Check your district's master agreement for the specific credit thresholds. If you have questions about whether your district accepts credits from our university partners — University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University — contact us and we'll help you verify.
Oklahoma salary advancement is based on your degree level and years of experience. Most Oklahoma districts use a salary schedule with separate lanes for Bachelor's, BA+15, BA+30, Master's, MA+15, and MA+30. Moving from a Bachelor's to a Master's degree lane increases your pay at every step — nationally, that's up to $17,740 more per year and $274,000+ over a 25-year career. Our courses can be applied toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through Colorado State University Pueblo.
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 Oklahoma, earning a Master's degree moves you to the Master's lane on your district's salary schedule — increasing your pay 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.