A. Nothing. These terms are synonymous and used interchangeably to refer to career development or professional training. The measurements for this development are the distinguishing feature.
- 1 CEU = ten contact clock hours
- 1 PDP = 1 clock hour
- 1 RC = 1 clock hour

Q. Are all the states the same in their requirements?

A. No. Each state is different. Check with your state department and local school and district requirements to review the dates and necessary steps to recertification.

Q. What is the typical requirement?

A. Most states require between 150 and 180 points/hours of professional development activities. There is a lot of flexibility in these activities, ranging from conference attendance to curriculum development to educational travel. Each teacher should plan their professional development according to their own needs and district or school goals.

Q. Do I need to have my educational travel plan approved in advance?

A. Yes. You should always communicate your educational goals to your advisor or school administrator before using travel for professional development.

Q. What if I need more help in finding ways to integrate a WorldStrides trip into my professional development plan?

A.Call or e-mail the Director of Education, Amy Westby, at WorldStrides. As a certified teacher and administrator, she can direct you to the correct information for your certification and help you build more tools to support your professional development.

Q. Who keeps track of my professional development points?

A.This is your responsibility. Keep records to support all the points you accumulate. Save ticket stubs, museum guides, pictures or other records verifying your attendance and participation. Keep lesson plans, web resources, or other tools that help improve your teaching to show the impact that the trip had on your professional development.

Q. Can I reclaim points from past trips I’ve taken with WorldStrides?

A. No.

Q. How many points can I earn?

A. See Teachers guide to PDPs for specific point distribution.

Q. How much does it cost to earn professional development with WorldStrides?

A.Nothing. WorldStrides provides this service to educators free-of-charge.

Q. How do I sign-up?

A. You do not need to sign-up. Simply plan and participate on a WorldStrides trip, keep documentation, request a transcript after your travels, and complete any proper documentation for your state or school requirements.

Q. How do I earn professional development through a WorldStrides program?

A. It’s simple. Click on How to get started to begin your process.

Q. What do I receive from WorldStrides?

A. After you have completed your trip, you can request a transcript from WorldStrides that documents your trip, dates, number of points earned, and professional development activities that you completed.

Q. Can chaperone teachers also receive professional development?

A. Yes.