Courses for Vermont Teachers
We have helped thousands of Vermont teachers advance their careers, increase their salaries, and fulfill their educator license renewal 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 license renewal in Vermont.
Vermont uses a lane-based salary schedule where your pay is determined by your degree level and graduate credits earned. Moving across lanes 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 from the Bachelor's lane to the Master's lane or beyond, our programs are designed to provide the highest return on your educational investment.
Explore Salary Advancement CoursesAccelerate 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.
Explore Master's Option
Nationally Recognized & Accredited
Note on District Approval: Salary lane advancement in Vermont is determined by your district's salary schedule. We recommend verifying with your district HR department that our graduate-level courses will count toward your salary lane advancement. Most Vermont 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 →
📄 Vermont Educator License Renewal Requirements
Vermont educators renew their licenses through the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE). Vermont has two license levels with different renewal requirements. The Level I License is a 3-year license requiring 3 semester credits (or 45 hours) per endorsement. The Level II License is the full professional license requiring 6 semester credits (or 90 hours) per endorsement every 5 years.
Graduate-level courses from regionally accredited institutions are a recognized pathway for meeting Vermont's professional learning requirements. 1 semester credit = 15 hours of professional learning — meaning a single 3-credit CFT course fully satisfies the Level I renewal requirement, and two 3-credit courses satisfy the Level II requirement.
Renewal Requirements at a Glance
| License Level | Renewal Cycle | Credits Required | Hours Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I License | 3 years | 3 semester credits | 45 hours |
| Level II License | 5 years | 6 semester credits | 90 hours |
How CFT graduate credits convert to Vermont renewal requirements: Vermont uses a 1 semester credit = 15 hours conversion. This means:
- 1 CFT course (3 credits) = 45 hours — satisfies the full Level I renewal requirement
- 2 CFT courses (6 credits) = 90 hours — satisfies the full Level II renewal requirement
Vermont's Unique L/RSB Process
Vermont is one of the few states that uses Local/Regional Standards Boards (L/RSBs) to oversee educator renewal in many districts. Your employing school district or supervisory union may have an L/RSB that reviews and approves professional learning activities. Check with your district to understand whether your renewal is processed through an L/RSB or directly through the AOE's VLSE system.
Professional Learning Requirements
- At least 1 credit (15 hours) for Level I, or 2 credits (30 hours) for Level II, must apply directly to the knowledge and performance standards of the endorsement being renewed
- Remaining credits must fall within Vermont's Core Teaching and Leadership Standards
- Coursework must be documented on an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution
- A criminal record check is required as part of the renewal process
- Renewal fees apply — see the AOE Fees for Licensure page for current amounts
Renewal Submission: Vermont educators renew their licenses through the VLSE (Vermont Licensure System for Educators) online licensing portal at education.vermont.gov. If your district uses an L/RSB, your renewal documentation may first be reviewed by the board before submission to the AOE.
Source: Vermont AOE — Renew Your License. Requirements current as of 2025.
The Vermont Teacher Salary Schedule: What You Need to Know
Vermont uses a lane-based salary schedule where your pay is determined by your degree level and graduate credits earned. Burlington School District's schedule illustrates just how significant the lane difference can be — the BA lane caps at Step 8, while the MA+30 lane continues growing all the way to Step 16, creating a compounding gap that grows larger every year you stay in the classroom.
| Career Stage | BA Lane (Lowest) | MA+30 Lane (Highest) | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $53,571 | $76,006 | +$22,435/yr |
| Year 5 | $60,263 | $83,838 | +$23,575/yr |
| Year 10 | $65,282 (max) | $93,628 | +$28,346/yr |
| Year 15 | $65,282 (max) | $103,418 | +$38,136/yr |
| Year 20–25 | $65,282 (max) | $105,376 (max) | +$40,094/yr |
| 25-Year Career Total | $1.59M | $2.40M | +$814,000+ |
Source: Burlington School District salary schedule. Individual Vermont districts vary — use our Salary Calculator to see your personalized numbers.
The dual benefit Vermont teachers often overlook: Every graduate semester credit you earn with Credits for Teachers advances your salary lane and counts toward your license renewal requirement. A single 3-credit course fully satisfies your Level I renewal requirement while simultaneously moving you closer to the next salary lane. Two 3-credit courses satisfy your full Level II renewal requirement. In Burlington, the difference between the BA lane and the fully maximized MA+30 lane is over $814,000 over a 25-year career. There is no more efficient investment in your teaching career.
Why Starting Early Changes Everything
Salary advancement works like compound interest. The sooner you earn graduate credits and move across the salary schedule, the more years you earn at the higher rate. The cards below use real Burlington School District salary data to illustrate the 25-year career difference between the BA lane (lowest) and the fully maximized MA+30 lane (highest) — and the gap is even larger than the national average because Burlington's BA lane caps at Step 8 while the MA+30 lane continues growing to Step 16.
What this means: A Burlington teacher who advances from the BA lane to the fully maximized MA+30 lane earns over $814,000 more over a 25-year career. The gap grows every year because the BA lane caps at Step 8 ($65,282) while the MA+30 lane keeps climbing to Step 16 ($105,376). A teacher who advances at Year 1 earns significantly more than one who waits until Year 10 — and the same graduate credits that advance your salary lane also satisfy your Level II renewal requirement.
📈 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 in Vermont.
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.
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, building your renewal credits, or working toward 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 Your Official Transcript
Upon completion, your university partner will provide an official transcript. Submit this to your district HR department for salary lane advancement, and to your L/RSB or the Vermont AOE's VLSE system for license renewal credit. The same transcript serves both purposes simultaneously.
What Educators Are Saying
Thousands of teachers have used Credits for Teachers to advance their careers and increase their salaries.
"I didn't realize how much the lane difference added up over time. Moving from the Bachelor's lane to the Master's lane changed my salary by over $10,000 a year — and the same courses counted toward my Level II renewal. I wish I had started earlier."
"The courses were genuinely useful and I could do them on my own schedule. My district accepted the credits without any issues, and I knocked out my Level II renewal requirement at the same time."
"I was skeptical at first, but it's completely legitimate. I've now moved two lanes in three years and I'm earning significantly more per year than when I started — while also staying current on my Level II renewal."
Frequently Asked Questions
Vermont's Level I License is a 3-year license typically issued to educators who are newer to the profession or who have not yet met all requirements for the Level II. It requires 3 semester credits (or 45 hours) of professional learning per endorsement for renewal. The Level II License is the full professional license, valid for 5 years, and requires 6 semester credits (or 90 hours) per endorsement for renewal. Most experienced Vermont teachers hold a Level II license.
Vermont is one of the few states that uses Local/Regional Standards Boards (L/RSBs) to oversee educator renewal at the district or supervisory union level. If your employing district has an L/RSB, your professional learning activities — including graduate credits — may be reviewed and approved by the board before your renewal is processed through the AOE's VLSE system. Check with your district HR department or principal to find out whether you have an L/RSB and what their specific review process looks like.
Vermont requires that a portion of your renewal credits apply directly to the knowledge and performance standards of the endorsement being renewed (1 credit for Level I, 2 credits for Level II). CFT offers a wide range of graduate-level courses in education-related topics — many of which align directly with common endorsement areas such as curriculum and instruction, educational technology, special education, and literacy. Review the course descriptions on our website to identify courses that align with your endorsement area, and confirm with your L/RSB or district if you have any questions.
Yes — this is one of the most powerful aspects of earning graduate credits through CFT. The same official transcript from your university partner can be submitted to your district for salary lane advancement and to the AOE (or your L/RSB) for license renewal credit. You earn the renewal credits and the lane advancement simultaneously from a single course investment.
Vermont educators renew their licenses through the VLSE (Vermont Licensure System for Educators) online portal at education.vermont.gov. You will need to document your professional learning activities (including official transcripts for graduate credits), complete a criminal record check, and pay the applicable renewal fee. If your district uses an L/RSB, your renewal may first be reviewed by the board. Start the process well before your license expiration date to allow time for review.
If your Vermont educator license expires, you will need to contact the Vermont AOE directly to discuss reinstatement options. Expired licenses may require additional documentation or coursework depending on how long the license has been lapsed. It is strongly recommended to renew before your expiration date to avoid any interruption in your ability to teach. The AOE can be reached through the VLSE portal or by contacting the Educator Quality Division.
Yes. All Credits for Teachers courses are 100% online and self-paced. There are no set class times, no live sessions to attend, and no commuting. Most teachers complete a 3-credit course in 4–8 weeks while continuing to teach full-time. You can work on coursework during evenings, weekends, or summer break — entirely on your own schedule.
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.