Massachusetts Educator Resources

Welcome, Massachusetts educators! Unlock your next salary increase and simplify your license renewal. Upward offers flexible, graduate-level courses designed specifically for Massachusetts educators.

Earn official semester credits through our regionally accredited partner, UMass Global, fully accepted by MA DESE for license renewal, and usable in many districts for salary lane advancement.

Massachusetts Educator License Renewal

To renew your five-year Professional License in MA, you must complete 150 Professional Development Points (PDPs).

To satisfy the full 150 PDP requirement, you will typically need three (3) Upward 3-credit courses.

  • Credit Conversion: The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) accepts our graduate credit based on the official conversion rate of 1 semester credit hour = 22.5 Professional Development Points (PDPs)
  • Documentation: Your official university transcript from UMass Global provides the required documentation for your PDPs
  • Mandatory Topics: Your course selections must strategically align with the required breakdown of the 150 PDPs, including the mandatory 15 PDPs across each of the following:
  • SEI/ESL: See Upward's TESOL courses
  • Students with Disabilities/Diverse Learners: See Upward's Diverse Learner courses
  • Content (Subject Matter Knowledge): See Upward's Content courses
  • Pedagogy: Select the course of your choice from our Graduate-Credit options

Remaining PDPs: The final 90 PDPs may be fulfilled through any combination of the categories listed above or other elective Upward courses that address educational issues and topics that improve student learning.

Massachusetts Educator Salary Advancement

Graduate credit from UMass Global is the foundation for advancing across your district's salary lanes (e.g., M+15, M+30, M+45), leading to a permanent base pay increase.

Your district's Collective Bargaining Agreement requires you to secure prior written approval from your HR or Superintendent before enrolling in any course used for salary lane movement, so get started today!

Get Started

Course Selection & Approval

Confirm requirements and approval with your district administrator and select your courses.

Graduate-Level 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!

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

EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors

EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors

EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9863: Foundational Must-Have Routines for a Smooth Year

EDDU 9863: Foundational Must-Have Routines for a Smooth Year

EDDU 9863: Foundational Must-Have Routines for a Smooth Year

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDEU 9027: Culturally Responsive Instruction & Inclusive Practices in TESOL

EDEU 9027: Culturally Responsive Instruction & Inclusive Practices in TESOL

EDEU 9027: Culturally Responsive Instruction & Inclusive Practices in TESOL

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9856: Foundations of Second Language Acquisition & TESOL Methodology

EDDU 9856: Foundations of Second Language Acquisition & TESOL Methodology

EDDU 9856: Foundations of Second Language Acquisition & TESOL Methodology

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9860: Reading Strategies for Students with Special Needs

EDDU 9860: Reading Strategies for Students with Special Needs

EDDU 9860: Reading Strategies for Students with Special Needs

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9861: Making Math Meaningful for All Students

EDDU 9861: Making Math Meaningful for All Students

EDDU 9861: Making Math Meaningful for All Students

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9865: Preparing Students for Lives Beyond School

EDDU 9865: Preparing Students for Lives Beyond School

EDDU 9865: Preparing Students for Lives Beyond School

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9857: Effective Teacher-to-Teacher Coordination Strategies

EDDU 9857: Effective Teacher-to-Teacher Coordination Strategies

EDDU 9857: Effective Teacher-to-Teacher Coordination Strategies

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9859: Establishing Trust and Collaboration with Parents

EDDU 9859: Establishing Trust and Collaboration with Parents

EDDU 9859: Establishing Trust and Collaboration with Parents

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDDU 9866: Nurturing Effective Partnerships with Your Administration

EDDU 9866: Nurturing Effective Partnerships with Your Administration

EDDU 9866: Nurturing Effective Partnerships with Your Administration

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDUU 9822: Teacher Well-Being - Sustainable You

EDUU 9822: Teacher Well-Being - Sustainable You

EDUU 9822: Teacher Well-Being - Sustainable You

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDUU 9823: Team Wellness and a Positive School Culture

EDUU 9823: Team Wellness and a Positive School Culture

EDUU 9823: Team Wellness and a Positive School Culture

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDCU 9850: Proactive Classroom Management: Creating Classroom Wellness

EDCU 9850: Proactive Classroom Management: Creating Classroom Wellness

EDCU 9850: Proactive Classroom Management: Creating Classroom Wellness

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDUU 9820: SEL Communication: Transforming Daily Classroom Interactions

EDUU 9820: SEL Communication: Transforming Daily Classroom Interactions

EDUU 9820: SEL Communication: Transforming Daily Classroom Interactions

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00
EDUU 9821: SEL for Life: Fortifying Student Skills

EDUU 9821: SEL for Life: Fortifying Student Skills

EDUU 9821: SEL for Life: Fortifying Student Skills

Sale price  $240.00 Regular price  $350.00

Earning Credit

  1. Email your completed coursework to support@upwardteachers.com
  2. Upward evaluates your coursework within one week of your submission, and submits your grade to UMass Global (our accredited university partner)
  3. UMass Global posts your grade within five business days of receiving Upward's assessment
  4. You login to your UMass Global account to order your transcriptsNote 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
  5. Celebrate your achievement, and sign up for more Upward Rewards!