Renewals and Reinstatements

Individuals seeking to transition from initial (3-year) to professional certificates (5-year) will be required to complete the equivalent of 30 PLUs annually. The following chart shows the pro-rated PLU amounts necessary between 2024-2025. 

Individuals who hold an Initial Certificate that expires between 2020 and 2025 and are issued a Professional Certificate between 2020 and 2025 will submit the professional learning units outlined in the chart below:

Individuals who already hold a Professional Certificate or Advanced Certificate as of December 31, 2019, will submit the professional learning units outlined in the chart below.

Educators who hold a professional certificate, and achieve an aspirational benchmark in addition to the requisite PLUs, during the current certificate cycle, can progress to an Advanced (7-year) certificate. The employing district will indicate the completion of the aspirational benchmark. Evidence of aspirational benchmarks must be submitted to RIDE on when renewing online on My eCert. 

Aspirational benchmarks include:

1. National Board Certification (NBCT)
2. Conferral of an advanced degree
3. RIDE or national recognition (Milken Award, State Teacher of the Year, or Presidential Award for Math and Science)
4. Completion of NISL Executive Development Program or served as a NISL facilitator
5. Achieves additional RIDE certification in limited number of shortage areas identified by RIDE

A One-Year Special Provisional Certificate may be issued to educators who hold Initial, Professional or Advanced Educator Certificates and did not obtain approval or did not complete professional learning unit requirements. Educators holding the Special Provisional certificate must complete the missing PLUs during this certificate's one-year cycle and submit evidence to the school/district to complete the electronic sign off process.

• Application Form for Special Provisional Certificate

An educator who has met all requirements for certificate renewal, but did not renew the certificate(s) prior to its expiration date is eligible to reinstate the certificate(s) for up to one year without completing any additional requirements. A reinstatement fee will be applied to the application. 

If one year up to ten years has lapsed since the expiration of the certificate(s), the educator must take and pass current Rhode Island certificate assessments, if not previously passed, to ensure currency in the field. A reinstatement fee will be applied to the application. 

If more than ten years has elapsed since the expiration of the certificate(s), the educator must reapply for and meet requirements for an initial certificate, including meeting all competency and assessment requirements as part of an approved program or credential review. 

Individuals seeking to reinstate certifications due to active duty while in the United States Military shall renew their certifications as outlined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-20-1.