Renew your Idaho teaching certificate with accredited online courses
Earn the accredited college credits Idaho requires for certificate renewal. At least 3 of your 6 credits have to come from a university, which is exactly what Model Teaching provides, and the same credits go toward salary advancement. Affordable, self-paced, and 100% online.
Are you looking to renew your certificate or advance your salary?
Renew my ID certificate
Meet your 6-credit Idaho certificate renewal, including the 3 accredited university credits the state requires, on your own schedule.
See what Idaho requiresAdvance my salary
Bank graduate-level credits that reclassify your pay on your district's salary schedule and can apply toward a master's program.
Explore salary advancementIdaho educator certificate renewal requirements
Idaho issues a five-year renewable educator certificate through the SDE, and it expires August 31 of your renewal year. You renew it by completing 6 semester credits of professional development during the certificate's validity period. At least 3 of those credits must come from an accredited college or university on a transcript, and up to 3 can come from Idaho district in-service hours or CEUs, where 15 in-service hours equal 1 credit. Every credit has to relate to your content area or endorsement, to pedagogy or leadership, or to a need your district designates.
How many credits do I need?
Idaho applies the same 6-credit requirement to all roles, with a few role-specific additions. Select your role to see what you need.
What you need
Elementary and K-5 teachers renew on 6 semester credits, with at least 3 from an accredited college or university. Model Teaching credits satisfy the required university portion.
Secondary and 6-12 teachers renew on 6 semester credits, with at least 3 from an accredited university. Model Teaching credits satisfy the required university portion.
Administrators renew on 6 credits, at least 3 from a university, plus a 3-credit course in the Idaho framework for teacher evaluation if they held the administrator certificate the full 5 years.
Pupil Service Staff renew on 6 credits, at least 3 from a university, or provide a current occupational license from the appropriate Idaho state board.
Our graduate credit bundle covers your renewal, 6 credits including the required 3 university credits, in one place.
See the bundleWhat counts toward Idaho certificate renewal
- Accredited college or university credits (required for at least 3). Graduate or undergraduate credits count, and they can cover all 6. Model Teaching's university-partnered courses satisfy the 3 credits Idaho requires from an accredited institution. (What we recommend.)
- Idaho district, charter, or private school in-service hours or CEUs, for up to 3 of the 6 credits. 15 in-service hours equal 1 semester credit, and an authorized district official signs the Idaho Approved In-service form.
- Quarter credits, at 3 quarter credits per 2 semester credits.
Every credit must be educationally related to your Individualized Professional Learning Plan (IPLP) or your professional practice, which means tied to your content area or endorsement, to pedagogical best practices or leadership, or to a specific area of need your district designates. Include your transcripts, official or unofficial, with the application, and the renewal fee is $75.
How Model Teaching courses count toward your Idaho renewal
Idaho requires at least 3 of your 6 renewal credits to come from an accredited college or university, and that is exactly what Model Teaching provides. Our university-partnered courses award accredited semester credits with an official transcript, so they satisfy the required university portion and can cover all 6 credits if you prefer. Pick courses tied to your content area, your endorsement, or pedagogy, since Idaho asks that renewal credits relate to your professional practice. Each course sends an official transcript you include with your renewal application. To confirm a course for your district, download its syllabus from any credit course page and share it before you enroll.
Read more about Idaho teacher certificate renewal and recertification
Idaho issues teachers a five-year renewable educator certificate, such as the Standard Instructional Certificate, and it expires August 31 of your renewal year. You apply to renew between January 1 and August 31 of that year, and Idaho does not grant extensions, so a certificate that lapses requires reinstatement instead of renewal. Teachers still search for "Idaho license renewal," but the credential is a certificate.
To renew, you complete 6 semester credits of professional development during the certificate's validity period. At least 3 credits must come from an accredited college or university and appear on a transcript, and graduate or undergraduate credit both count. Up to 3 credits can come from Idaho district, charter, or private school in-service hours or CEUs, where 15 hours equal 1 semester credit and an authorized district official signs the Idaho Approved In-service form. Because the university portion is mandatory, accredited credit courses are the dependable core of an Idaho renewal.
Your credits have to be educationally related to your Individualized Professional Learning Plan or your professional practice. In practice that means credits tied to your content area or an endorsement, credits in pedagogical best practices or leadership, or credits addressing a specific area of need your district designates. You submit your renewal online through the SDE or by mailing a paper application packet, the fee is $75, and you include your transcripts and any signed in-service forms.
A few educators have extra steps. Administrators complete a 3-credit course in the Idaho framework for teacher evaluation during the five-year period, if they held the administrator certificate the full term. Pupil Service Staff meet the 6-credit requirement or provide a current occupational license from the appropriate Idaho state licensing board. Depending on your assignment and certificate, a dyslexia professional development requirement may also apply, and the SDE keeps a guidance document that spells out who it covers.
A quick note on terms. Idaho calls the credential a "certificate," and some teachers search "license renewal" or "recertification." Whichever term you use, the credential you renew is your Idaho educator certificate, and the requirement is 6 semester credits every 5 years, with at least 3 from an accredited university. You can review the official rules on the Idaho SDE certificate renewal page.
Build your own Idaho renewal bundle
Pick your credits once, then choose any university-partnered courses until you have what you need for renewal or salary advancement.
- 6 credits cover a full Idaho certificate renewal, and 3 accredited university credits meet the required portion
- Choose from every course in our university-partnered menu
- Regionally accredited credits with an official transcript for the SDE
- Self-paced, 100% online, with a full year of access
Every course is delivered through a regionally accredited university partner. Your credits and official transcript come directly from that university.
Credits and official transcripts issued directly by our university partners
Reclassify your Idaho salary with graduate credits
Idaho does not run a statewide credit-for-pay program, but districts reclassify teacher pay for graduate credits and degrees on their salary schedules. Because each district sets its own reclassification rules, check your contract or your district office for how many credits move you to the next lane and whether they need pre-approval. The graduate credits you earn for certificate renewal can do double duty here, since the same accredited transcript that renews your certificate can also reclassify your pay.
Accredited transcripts that count
Every Model Teaching course sends an official transcript and letter grade from a regionally accredited university partner, which is what the SDE needs for renewal and what your district needs to reclassify your pay.
Fast rolling processing
We process credits on a rolling basis, so you can request transcripts when you finish and meet your district's reclassification deadlines.
Cost-effective bundling
Bundle your credits once and pay as you complete courses, which keeps your per-credit cost low whether you are renewing, reclassifying your pay, or working toward a master's.
Choose how you earn your credits
Bundles are pay-as-you-go: a one-time fee reserves your credits, then you pay 70 dollars per credit as you finish each course. Every option is 100% online, self-paced, and includes an official transcript.
Due now to access and take your courses.
Then $70 per credit as you go
$359 total for 3 credits.
- Covers the 3 accredited university credits Idaho requires, pair it with district in-service for the other 3
- Choose any university-partnered courses
- Official transcript, self-paced over 1 year
Due now to access and take your courses.
Then $70 per credit as you go
$619 total for 6 credits.
- Covers a complete Idaho certificate renewal, all 6 credits from accredited universities
- Choose any university-partnered courses
- Official transcript and letter grade
- Reclassification-eligible credits
Due now to access and take your courses.
Then $70 per credit as you go
Renew plus stack extra graduate credits.
- Renew and stack extra credits toward a district reclassification or a master's
- Choose any university-partnered courses
- Official transcripts, usable toward an M.Ed.
We offer a full range of bundles, sized to exactly how many credits you need.
View bundled optionsFrequently asked questions
Common questions about Idaho teacher certification renewal, credit requirements, and Idaho SDE rules.
Requirements How many credits do Idaho teachers need to renew a certificate?
You need 6 semester credits of professional development every 5 years, and at least 3 must come from an accredited college or university. Up to 3 can come from Idaho in-service hours or CEUs.
Process Where do I submit my renewal?
You renew online through the Idaho SDE or by mailing a paper application packet, with a $75 fee. Include your transcripts and any signed in-service forms. Apply between January 1 and August 31 of your renewal year.
Credits How do in-service hours convert to credits in Idaho?
15 Idaho district, charter, or private school in-service hours or CEUs equal 1 semester credit, for up to 3 of the 6 credits. An authorized district official signs the Idaho Approved In-service form.
Salary Can the same credits reclassify my salary?
Yes. Idaho districts reclassify pay for graduate credits and degrees on their salary schedules, and the credits you earn for renewal can also move you to a higher lane. Check your district contract for the exact steps.
Renewal What happens if I miss my renewal deadline?
Idaho does not grant extensions. If your certificate lapses, you apply for reinstatement rather than renewal, so plan your credits before your August 31 expiration.
Costs What is the most affordable way to renew?
The 6-credit bundle covers a full renewal for $199 up front plus $70 per credit as you finish, which is $619 total. Bundling lowers your per-credit cost compared with single courses.
Requirements What kind of credits count?
Credits must be educationally related to your Individualized Professional Learning Plan or professional practice, meaning tied to your content area or endorsement, to pedagogy or leadership, or to a district-designated area of need.
Requirements Does Idaho require dyslexia training for renewal?
A dyslexia professional development requirement may apply depending on your certificate and assignment. The Idaho SDE keeps a guidance document that spells out who it covers.
Ready to renew your Idaho teaching certificate?
Earn the accredited credits Idaho requires and reclassify your pay, all at your own pace.
Model Teaching strives to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on renewal and salary advancement requirements for every state. Requirements can change and vary by district, so we encourage you to do your own research and confirm exactly what you need with your state licensing agency and district before you enroll.
