Rhode Island Teacher License Renewal & Salary Advancement

Earn official graduate credits through UMass Global to earn Professional Learning Units (PLUs) to renew or progress your Rhode Island teaching certificate or move into your district’s next pay lane (BA+15, MA, MA+15, MA+30).

100% flexible

RIDE / My eCert-aligned.

 Browse Graduate-Credit Courses

Only $240 per 3-Credit Graduate Level Course

No Hidden Fees

$240 per 3-credit graduate course. Period.

100% Asynchronous

Courses designed for the busy teacher. No portfolios - just practical implementation.

Accredited

Graduate-level credits provided through UMass Global.

PLU Aligned

A single 3-credit course yields 45 PLUs.

Get Started

Select Courses

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.

 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!

Complete Coursework

Check your inbox for your welcome packet and dive right in. Complete your coursework 100% online anytime between one and six months from registration.

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Graduate Level Courses

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EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors
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EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors

EDDU 9862: Strategies for Working With Challenging Behaviors
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Simplify Your Rhode Island Certificate Renewal & District Salary Advancement

Rhode Island Certificate Progressions & Renewals

Direct Credit-to-PLU Conversion: Skip tracking scattered short workshops. Per Rhode Island Department of Education standards, 1 college semester credit directly converts to 15 PLUs, giving you 45 PLUs per 3-credit course.

  • Initial to Professional Progression (90 PLUs): Under RIDE regulations, progressing from an Initial (3-year) to a Professional (5-year) Certificate requires 90 PLUs (30 PLUs/year). Completing just two Upward 3-credit courses satisfies 100% of your 90-PLU requirement.

  • Professional Certificate Renewal (100 PLUs): RIDE requires up to 100 PLUs for a 5-year Professional Certificate renewal cycle. Two Upward courses earn 90 PLUs—covering almost your entire requirement—while three courses provide 135 PLUs.

Rhode Island District Salary Advancement

  • Permanent Base Pay Increases: Stack official UMass Global graduate credits to cross compensation thresholds on your local district matrix (e.g., BA+15, BA+30, MA, MA+15, MA+30).

  • High-ROI Investment: At $240 per course, moving up a single salary column delivers a permanent, compounding bump to your annual earnings and state pension base.

  • District Pre-Approval Support: Because local collective bargaining agreements govern salary movement, we provide complete, detailed course syllabi so you can secure district approval before starting.

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 transcripts. 
    Note: Transcripts are securely managed and issued directly by UMass Global. For official transcript support, you can contact the university at exed@umassglobal.edu
  5. Celebrate your achievement, and sign up for more Upward Rewards!

Rhode Island Educator FAQs: Certificate Renewals & Salary Scales

How do Upward courses count toward Rhode Island certificate renewal or progression?

Under RIDE regulations, 1 college semester credit equals 15 Professional Learning Units (PLUs).

Because each Upward course awards 3 official graduate-level semester credits through UMass Global, a single course delivers 45 PLUs.

Are these credits accepted by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and My eCert?

Yes. All Upward graduate-level courses award transcripted, upper-level graduate credits from our regionally accredited university partner, UMass Global.

Official university transcripts meeting regional accreditation standards are recognized statewide for certificate renewals and updates submitted through RIDE's My eCert portal or verified through your local school district.
Can I use Upward courses for salary lane advancement in my Rhode Island school district?

Yes. Most Rhode Island public school districts recognize regionally accredited, upper-level graduate coursework from university partners like UMass Global for movement across pay lanes.

We recommend submitting our detailed syllabus, available upon request, to your district administration or HR department for pre-approval prior to enrolling.
How much do courses cost, and are there extra fees?

Every course is a flat $240 per 3-credit graduate course with no hidden textbook, registration, or platform fees.

Every purchase automatically enrolls you in Upward Rewards, where you can earn retail gift cards through loyalty and peer referrals.
How are courses delivered and how long do I have to finish?

Our courses are 100% self-paced, and fully asynchronous.

You can complete your coursework anytime within 1 to 6 months from purchase, making it easy to balance teaching, family, and personal commitments.