Rhode Island Teacher PD Requirements (2026)

100 hours every 5 years for teachers

Source

Source: https://ride.ri.gov/teachers-administrators/educator-certification/renewals-and-reinstatements
Last verified: May 25, 2026

Primary source: RIDE Renewals and Reinstatements page + Certification Regulations (200-RICR-20-20-1, 2025 edition). RI is in the middle of a PLU phase-in: full 100 PLUs / 5-year cycle required starting 2030. For 2026-2030 renewals, transitional reduced totals apply (see RIDE FAQ "Renewal Requirements for Certificates Expiring in 2025 ONLY"). 1 PLU = 1 hour of approved PD. Initial → Professional advancement requires 25 PLUs/year × 3 years (= 75 PLUs total), a separate process from the Professional cert renewal cycle. RIDE does not collect individual evidence; LEAs verify completion.

Teachers

Annual hours: —
Cycle hours: 100
Cycle years: 5

Rhode Island uses Professional Learning Units (PLUs); 1 PLU = 1 hour of approved professional learning. Phasing in the full requirement of 100 PLUs per 5-year cycle (~20 PLUs/year), to be fully required beginning in 2030. For certificates expiring 2026-2030 there are transitional reduced totals; check RIDE FAQ for the year-specific figure. Initial certificate progression to Professional requires 25 PLUs/year of employment (75 total over 3 years). RIDE does not collect individual PLU evidence — educators maintain their own records; LEAs verify completion in the Personnel Data Collection system.

Counselors

Annual hours: —
Cycle hours: 100
Cycle years: 5

School counselors hold a Professional certificate and follow the same PLU framework as teachers (phasing to 100 PLUs / 5-year cycle by 2030). The PLU requirement is uniform across Professional certificate types per RIDE; no counselor-specific add-on identified.

Administrators

Annual hours: —
Cycle hours: 100
Cycle years: 5

Administrators (Building Administrator, Superintendent) hold a Professional certificate and follow the same PLU framework: 100 PLUs / 5-year cycle by 2030 (phasing in for 2026-2029). RIDE does not publish a separate administrator-specific PLU sub-distribution.

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Information current as of May 25, 2026. Verify with your state Department of Education for official licensure decisions.