Professional Development Plans (PDPs)

Step 1: Track Your Renewal Cycle & Establish Your IPDP

• The 5-Year Clock: A Professional license is valid for 5 calendar years. The clock runs continuously regardless of your employment status. You can check your official expiration date at any time in your MA DESE ELAR (Educator Licensure and Renewal) account.

• The IPDP (Individual Professional Development Plan): Before or at the start of your 5-year cycle, you draft an IPDP aligned with your school or district’s goals. Your plan outlines your personal goals for content knowledge and pedagogy.

  • Supervisor Approval: If you are employed in a MA public school district, your IPDP must be reviewed and approved by your supervisor/principal every two years. Your supervisor also approves your points at the end of the 5-year cycle.

Step 2: Know the 150 PDP Requirement ("The Big Four")

To renew your primary Professional license, you must earn a minimum of 150 total PDPs during your 5-year window. DESE strictly mandates how these points are distributed across four specific categories:

1. Content Knowledge (Minimum 15 PDPs): Subject matter directly tied to your primary teaching license.

2. Pedagogy (Minimum 15 PDPs): Professional skills, teaching strategies, classroom management, and instructional practices.

3. Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) / ESL (Minimum 15 PDPs): Training on strategies for English Language Learners.

4. Students with Disabilities / Diverse Learning Styles (Minimum 15 PDPs): Training on special education practices, IEPs, accommodation strategies, and differentiation.

5. Electives (Up to 90 PDPs): The remaining balance of points can come from general professional development, additional content, pedagogy, or district initiatives.

Note: If you are renewing additional licenses alongside your primary license, each extra license requires an additional 30 PDPs (with at least 15 in that specific subject content).

Step 3: Earn Your PDPs (And Mind the Graduate Credit Rates)

PDPs can be earned through district workshops, state initiatives, approved online courses, or graduate-level coursework.

• Standard Workshops & Clock Hours: 1 clock hour of an approved professional development activity generally equals 1 PDP. (Activities must usually be at least 10 hours long on a specific topic or include an assessment/project to award PDPs).

• Graduate Credits (Effective June 8, 2026 Dual Conversion Rates):

  • Traditional Degree-Eligible Graduate Credit: 22.5 PDPs per semester hour (e.g., a standard 3-credit college course accepted toward a degree program equals 67.5 PDPs).

  • Non-Degree-Eligible Graduate Credit: 7.5 PDPs per semester hour (e.g., a 3-credit professional development graduate course not applicable toward a university degree equals 22.5 PDPs).