Welcome, Arkansas educators! Elevate your career with Upward. Our courses are offered for official graduate-level semester credit hours through UMass Global, a regionally accredited university.
We provide a streamlined path to satisfy your annual professional development requirements while building the graduate credits needed for permanent salary increases.
Arkansas Educator License Renewal
Arkansas requires 36 hours of professional development annually, which totals to 180 hours every 5-year period. Upward’s graduate-level courses are uniquely positioned within the DESE Rules Governing Professional Development to help you meet this goal.
- Guaranteed Credit: Per Section 4.07 of the DESE rules, a 3-credit graduate course provides 15 PD hours that apply directly to your licensure requirements.
- Flexible Allocation: Need more than 15 hours? Under Section 4.07.1.2, hours earned in excess of 15 may be credited toward your total 180-hour requirement with the approval of your school district as part of your Professional Development Plan (PDP).
- University-Backed: Because our courses are backed by a regionally accredited institution, they fall under the "Institution of Higher Education" category, making them a preferred choice for Arkansas educators seeking high-quality, verifiable growth.
Arkansas Educator Salary Advancement
The most powerful reason to choose Upward is the Salary Lane Movement. In Arkansas, our graduate-level credits can help you permanently increase your base salary.
- Stackable Credits: Whether you are working toward BA+15, MA, or MA+30, our official UMass Global transcripts are the standard documentation required by most District HR offices to move you to a higher pay scale.
Confirm your selected courses with your district administrator, and get started today!
Get Started
Course Selection & Approval
Our regionally accredited status makes us usable in most districts, but final acceptance is always determined locally. Confirm with your district administrator, and select your courses.
Checkout & Earn Rewards
Complete the checkout process on this website and you will immediately be enrolled in our loyalty program. Refer friends and take multiple courses to earn Upward Rewards!
Complete Coursework
We'll email you your welcome packet, and you're all set! Complete coursework between one and six months (not earlier or before) from the date of your registration.
Graduate Level Courses
Earning Credit
- Email your completed coursework to support@upwardteachers.com
- Upward evaluates your coursework within one week of your submission, and submits your grade to UMass Global (our accredited university partner)
- UMass Global posts your grade within five business days of receiving Upward's assessment
- You login to your UMass Global account to order your transcripts. Note that the university is an entirely separate organization from Upward, and any questions on your transcript or university account can be emailed to exed@umassglobal.edu
- Celebrate your achievement, and sign up for more Upward Rewards!