Online Professional Certificate in Secondary Education (6-12)
Expand Your Professional Options With a Career-Focused Certificate
Online
14 Months
24 Credit Hours
$490 Per Credit
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Diversify Your Expertise With a University Known for Teacher Preparation
- Apply By: 08/17/26
- Start Class: 08/31/26
Explore proven strategies to enhance your teaching skills with the online Professional Studies Certificate, Secondary Education (6-12). This CAEP-accredited program enhances your skillset by emphasizing real-world experience and inclusive classroom environments.
This program is intentionally aligned with Virginia teacher licensure requirements and state approval is currently in progress. Shenandoah is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Certificate Details
- No application fee
- Flexible, asynchronous courses
- Designed for those seeking to transition from provisional to full professional teaching licensure
- Colleges of Distinction for SU’s Division of Education and Leadership1
Our Teacher Education Curriculum Advances Your Practical Expertise
10 Courses
Coursework Accessible 24/7
Curriculum for the online professional certificate – secondary education program intentionally aligns with requirements for professional licensure as a high school teacher in the state of Virginia. This program leverages your current provisional teaching license and will include hands-on experiences in a classroom setting at your current place of employment.
Expand your knowledge of effective instructional materials, strategies for meaningful assessments and the evolving role of educators as you progress through flexible online coursework designed to help you elevate learning outcomes in your school or district.
Required Online Professional Certificate – Secondary Education Courses
PSYP 510 Human Growth and Learning – 3 credits:
This course provides a means for teachers and prospective teachers to improve their effectiveness in the classroom, and for supervisors to aid in the strengthening of professional development in teachers. It brings the discipline of educational psychology to the educator along with the summary of research findings that assist in developing a more reflective teacher.
EDU 510: The Teaching Profession – 3 credits:
This course helps students understand the historical, social and philosophical foundations underlying the role, development and organization of U.S. public education and instructional design based on assessment data. The legal status of teachers and students including federal and state laws and regulations, school as an organizational culture and contemporary issues in education are addressed. In practica, students observe and participate in limited ways in the activities of the school.
EDU 584: Classroom Management / School Climate – 3 credits:
A comprehensive review of classroom management theories, designs, and strategies that produce positive learning environments, coupled with the study of ways to engineer effective school climates. Individual research resulting in a term paper or the equivalent is required. This course is one of the required courses for teacher licensure in Virginia. Course includes field placement in area elementary/middle/ secondary school.
RDG 635 Literacy in the Content Areas – 3 credits:
This course includes a study of the teaching and learning strategies necessary for developing basic literacy skills in the content areas. Teacher candidates will focus on assessing and improving PreK-12 student achievement in content disciplines by implementing effective, research-based practices for teaching reading and writing. In practica, teacher candidates will tutor children struggling with literacy.
EDU 640: Assessment of and for Learning (Middle/Secondary) – 3 credits:
This course focuses on the best practices of evaluating all learners’ performance, including the relationships among assessment, instruction, monitoring student progress and adapting assessments for diverse learners in middle/ secondary classrooms. Course includes field practicum in an area school and meets the requirements for middle and secondary initial teacher licensure as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education.
EDU 649: Curriculum and Instruction (Middle/Secondary) – 3 credits:
This course focuses on principles of learning, application of pedagogical skills in middle and secondary settings and selection and use of materials including technology. Research-based best practices for large group, small group, individualized instruction and students with diverse and/or special needs are discussed. This course includes field practicum in an area school and meets the requirements for middle/secondary initial teacher licensure as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education.
EDU 610: Management & Mentorship I – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 611: Management & Mentorship II – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 615: Management & Mentorship III – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 616: Management & Mentorship IV – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
Go Further With Teaching Licensure or Endorsements
Continuing your education will unlock rewarding opportunities in your teaching career. Some positions in education require a teaching licensure, certification, or endorsement. Licensure and certification requirements vary among states, but Shenandoah is committed to helping you graduate ready to succeed in a vital and evolving industry.
To explore your options for becoming a professional licensed teacher, or to learn about add-on teacher endorsements, visit our Teaching Licensure and Certification page.
Inspire Student Success as a Professionally Licensed High School Educator
Fill a vital role in your community by helping meet the demand for qualified educators with Shenandoah’s online professional certificate – secondary education. This supportive academic pathway streamlines your pursuit of professional licensure as a high school teacher, unlocking new career opportunities and moving you up the salary scale. Take advantage of our strong community partnerships and lay the groundwork for professional advancement while growing your skill set to positively impact students.
Gain Career-Focused Education Credentials
High School Teacher $64,580 per year2
Number of Jobs Nationwide 1,094,500 in 20242
Value of a Certificate
Take a major step forward in your career with the online professional certificate – secondary education. Designed for educators seeking to advance their credentials, this CAEP-accredited program accelerates your path to professional licensure as a high school teacher in Virginia. You’ll thrive in small classes where instructors know your name and enthusiastically support your future success.
Adding this career-focused certificate to your resume distinguishes you as a confident, dedicated educator whose ability to apply developmental principles that drive real student growth puts you in high demand. Completed credits from this certificate program can be applied to a full master’s degree, reducing your time to completion should you decide to seek an advanced credential at a later time.
Create Inclusive Learning Spaces for High School Students by Learning To:
- Understand school culture and educator roles, and accurately observe, interpret and reflect on secondary classroom environments.
- Demonstrate knowledge of adolescent development across cognitive, emotional, social, physical and language domains, and apply this understanding to instructional decisions.
- Apply effective classroom management strategies that promote positive relationships, structure, consistent routines and smooth transitions.
- Design and analyze assessments using a variety of tools — including technology-enhanced options — to evaluate student learning and guide instruction.
- Plan, design and deliver effective, standards aligned curriculum and instruction that actively engage diverse secondary learners.
- Collaborate effectively with cooperating teachers, peers and other professionals through co-teaching, feedback cycles and reflective practice.
- Support literacy development across content areas, integrating strategies for vocabulary, comprehension, writing and background knowledge-building.
- Demonstrate readiness for the teaching profession through supervised clinical practice, reflective instructional planning, creation of a Teacher Work Sample (TWS) and development of a professional e-portfolio.
How To Apply for the Online Professional Certificate – Secondary Education
Application Deadline 08/17/26
Start Date 08/31/26
Fast track your path to gaining career-advancing credentials with the online professional certificate – secondary education program. With no application fee and no entrance exam requirements, you can get started quickly and reach your goals sooner. After reviewing the following table to ensure you meet the qualifications, submit your application today.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Degree and Minimum GPA | Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0; however, applicants with GPA below a 3.0 are welcome to apply and will be reviewed holistically |
| Transcripts |
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| Additional Requirements | Must be the current instructor of record in a K-12 classroom and hold a Virginia provisional teaching license. Must also submit the following:
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International Students
If you are an international student, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To do so, you may be required to meet the minimum requirement for one of the following exams: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET). Fill out a Request for Information form to speak to an engagement specialist and learn more.
| TOEFL Minimum Requirement | 79 |
|---|---|
| IELTS Minimum Requirement | 6.5 |
| PTE Minimum Requirement | 53 |
| Duolingo Minimum Requirement | 105 |
Earn a Teaching Credential That Fits Your Budget
$490 Cost per Credit
24 Total Credits
Maximize your potential, and your return on investment, with the online professional certificate – secondary education. Shenandoah is proud to offer competitively priced tuition. You can pay one course at a time as you strengthen your instructional decision making and prepare for professional licensure in Virginia. Add a valuable education credential to your resume to increase your earning potential and stand out as a confident, qualified teacher who can positively impact students.
Tuition & AidSources
- Colleges of Distinction. “Shenandoah University.” Retrieved March 3, 2026, from https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/shenandoah-university/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “High School Teachers.” Retrieved March 3, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm.