Streamline your professional growth with 22.5 PDPs per course for MA DESE license renewal, and graduate-level credits from UMass Global for salary lane advancement.
Only $240 per 3-Credit Graduate Level Course (22.5 PDPs)
Renew your 5-year Professional License with 150 PDPs. Every 3-credit course converts to 22.5 PDPs.
Professional Development for the busy Massachusetts Teacher.
Accepted by many Massachusetts school districts for salary lane advancement.
Browse our catalog of graduate-level courses and select the ones that fit your goals. Syllabi available Upon Request if required by your school district.
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!
Check your inbox for your welcome packet and dive right in. Complete your coursework 100% online anytime between one and six months from registration.
Satisfy Your Cycle: Stack courses toward your 150 PDP requirement (22.5 PDPs per 3-credit course under DESE non-degree guidelines) while earning official university transcripts for district salary lane movement.
Streamline Your Categories: Easily check off the mandatory DESE distribution requirements, including the 15 PDPs required in Special Education/Students with Disabilities and 15 PDPs in SEI/ESL.
Hassle-Free ELAR Documentation: Because your official transcript comes directly from a regionally accredited university (UMass Global), it serves as the primary verification accepted by the Massachusetts DESE. Skip the stress of tracking dozens of individual vendor certificates.
Note: Because Massachusetts school districts negotiate local collective bargaining agreements independently, we always recommend confirming your course selections with your district administrator or union rep first. Syllabi are available Upon Request if required by your district.
To renew a five-year Professional License, Massachusetts educators must complete 150 Professional Development Points (PDPs).
Teachers complete Upward 3-credit graduate courses to earn 22.5 PDPs per course toward their 150 PDP cycle while locking in official university credits for salary advancement.
Per MA DESE guidelines updated June 8, 2026, non-degree eligible graduate credits convert at 7.5 PDPs per semester hour.
A single 3-credit course from Upward provides 22.5 PDPs toward state license renewal.
Your 150 PDPs must include a minimum of 15 PDPs in each of the following four areas:
The remaining 90 PDPs can be fulfilled through any combination of elective courses that improve student learning.
For courses taken through Upward, your official university transcript from UMass Global serves as the primary documentation required by DESE to verify your PDPs.
Very often, YES. Because these are graduate-level credits from a regionally accredited partner (UMass Global), they are designed to meet district requirements for salary lane movement (such as M+15 or M+30).
Educators should confirm prior approval with their specific district office.
