License Renewal, Accreditation, and Approval of Courses
Are your graduate courses fully accredited?
YES! Ed Technology Specialists offers graduate credit through multiple universities. Find out more on this page.
Are you an approved NYS sponsor of CTLE?
YES! We are an approved Sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education, CTLE# 3286.
Will these courses count towards salary advancement (lane change) and/or license renewal in my state/district?
Our courses are fully accredited and are accepted as valid credit in most districts across the nation. However, ED Technology Specialists recommends that you check with your school district and/or state licensing agency to verify these course offerings will meet your district and/or state requirements for salary advancement and/or state certificate re-licensure.
Can NYC teachers take these courses? Are they NYCDOE approved for P credits?
YES! We offer NYC P Credit courses. You must enroll with both Ed Technology Specialists and ASPDP (NYC DOE) by clicking the following links. You must enroll before the deadline prior to the start of the session. The link to the ASPDP (NYC DOE) is here. The link to enroll with Ed Technology Specialists is here.
Are these courses Pennsylvania Act 48 approved?
YES! Our Graduate Courses are fully accredited and will fulfill Pennsylvania’s Act 48 requirements. Act 48 requires that collegiate courses be “related to an area of the professional educator’s assignment or certification.” (24 PS 12-1205.2(c)). PDE interprets this language to include many different types of courses, including:
“Courses or noncredit activities in the area of instructional technology that improve the educator’s capacity to deliver instruction in a 21st century learning environment through the use of computers, computer software or internet technology.”
Please note that effective January 1, 2015, PDE began accepting electronic transcripts (eTranscripts) from out-of-state institutions of higher education for the purpose of documenting completion of Act 48 continuing professional education requirements. eTranscripts from out-of-state institutions are submitted to PDE via the following email address: ra-edact48etrscrpt@pa.gov
If you have specific questions regarding Act 48 please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education at www.education.state.pa.us or 717-772-4944.
Registration, Tuition, and Special Offers
How do I register for a course?
Navigate to this page and click “Learn More” underneath a course you are interested in. You register for courses one at a time.
I just registered for a course. Now what?
You will receive an email to the gmail address you used when you registered withing 48 hours. The email will contain directions on how to start the class.
What is your refund policy?
Students can only receive a refund within the first 6 months of registering for a course. After 6 months, absolutely no refunds will be given.
When do courses start and end?
Please see this page for our session dates. Our courses are self-paced.
Do you offer group discounts or discounted rates?
YES! We offer both group discounts and other incentives for recommendations. Please email mwalsh@edtechnologyspecialists.com for more information.
Course Content, Structure, and Policies
What format/platform is used for your courses?
Our courses are online, asynchronous, with various interactive discussion boards. Participants complete work at their own pace. All of our courses are extremely engaging and require online collaboration between other participants in the course and with the teacher. In all of our courses, participants create work and share with other participants for authentic feedback.
What’s the difference between a course for graduate credit, and a course not for graduate credit?
Besides the obvious, the major difference is that our non-graduate courses are pass/fail, whereas our graduate courses contain exams and other graded work. Participants must achieve a passing final grade to achieve graduate credit. Our graduate courses are fully accredited through multiple universities. Our non-graduate courses are approved for NYS CTLE hours.
Are your courses interactive and collaborative with other students and teachers enrolled in the course?
YES! All of our courses are extremely engaging and require online collaboration between other participants in the course and with the teacher. In all of our courses, participants create work and share with other participants for authentic feedback.
How are grades determined?
For our graduate courses, participants are required to complete various assignments and assessments. In addition, participation in online, interactive discussion boards is required. If you would like FREE access to a class to check it out, no problem! Email mwalsh@edtechnologyspecialists.com
What kind of feedback will I get from my instructor?
You will receive feedback on your work as you turn it in. In addition, instructors are readily available for online discussion throughout the course.
How long do I have to complete a course?
Please see our course dates on this page.
NYC students taking P-Credit courses have their own session dates. Please see the ASPDP Website for dates and more information about NYC P-Credit classes.
Can I request an extension?
YES! Life happens. If you cannot complete the graduate coursework within 6 months, email your instructor. However, extensions over 1 year are rarely granted.
Transcripts and Grades
Do I need an official transcript to renew my license or apply for lane change/salary increase?
ED Technology Specialists recommends that you check with your school district and/or state licensing agency to verify these course offerings will meet your district and/or state requirements for salary advancement and/or state certificate re-licensure. Every state has different laws regarding license renewal. Furthermore, in some states (like NY) every school district has different rules regarding this. We suggest you review your state laws and your school districts’ policies regarding this matter.
When will I receive my grade?
Students are notified from their instructors what their final grade is within one week of completing coursework.
How and when do I receive my official transcripts?
Transcripts will generally be available within three weeks of the student receiving their final grade from their instructor (usually much sooner). Please note that you must finish by the end date of a session to guarantee that the correct semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) will be on the transcripts. For more information about how to order transcripst, visit this page.
What is your Academic Integrity Policy?
Ed Technology Specialists maintains an academic integrity policy for all participants taking our courses. Work must be entirely one’s own; plagiarism of any kind is a violation of our policies. Participants may not copy any parts of another (present or past) participant and submit that work as their own. Participants are also barred from collaborating on any assessment that is intended to be completed individually, unless first getting permission from the instructor. Participants who fail to meet Ed Technology Specialists’ academic integrity standards will receive a failing grade for their course and may not be allowed to take further courses with Ed Technology Specialists. Ed Technology Specialists will not refund any course fees for participants who violate the academic integrity policy.
General
Why should I take courses with Ed Technology Specialists?
Our courses are legitimately some of the most valuable, worthwhile courses that are available for teachers today. You will not find any busy work, and you will never feel like you have wasted your money. Our instructors are among the most talented PD leaders in the nation. In addition, you should feel good about taking courses with us. A portion of your tuition goes directly to our supported charities.
Do you offer courses for non-graduate credit?
Yes. We offer in-service courses as well.
Do I get a certificate of completion for non-graduate courses?
Yes indeed. You will receive a certificate indicating that you have completed the course equivalent to 3 semester credits (45 hours) unless otherwise noted.
I want to become an instructor. How do I apply?
We are always accepting applications and resumes. If you are interested in becoming part of our expanding team, please email M. Walsh at mwalsh@edtechnologyspecialists.com.
I have a question that wasn’t listed here. How do I proceed?
Please email mwalsh@edtechnologyspecialists.com