Providers Professional Learning

Professional Development
Unit Provider System

Become a Professional Development Unit Host

(formerly Renewal Unit Provider)

Changes to the Professional Development System

Update: New host applications are temporarily closed.

OPI is transitioning to a new Professional Development system designed to improve clarity, consistency, and alignment with the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) governing Professional Development Units (PDUs).

This transition will take place in phases from June through October, with the current system scheduled to be retired on November 1. Throughout the transition, OPI will share guidance, resources, and timelines to support hosts, instructors, and users.

May Focus: Getting Ready to Apply

To support a smooth application process for the new Professional Development system, hosts and instructors are encouraged to prepare in advance.

As part of this transition, the term “provider” has been retired to clarify roles within the system:

  • Host: The organization responsible for organizing, overseeing, and ensuring that a professional development event meets all ARM requirements and for issuing OPI PDU certificates.
  • Instructor: The individual(s) who design and/or facilitate the professional learning experience on behalf of the host.
  • User: An individual associated with a host account who supports the management and submission of events within the system.

Readiness checklists, overview videos, and one-page guidance documents for both hosts and instructors are available on the PDUPS Application Resource site. These resources are designed to help applicants prepare for the upcoming application process and include guidance on:

  • Required organizational information
  • Professional development descriptions
  • Alignment to ARM expectations
  • Supporting documentation

Use the site menu (top left) to navigate between resources. Reviewing and preparing these materials now will help ensure a timely and accurate submission once applications open in June.

April Focus: What Counts as Quality Professional Development

Under the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM), professional development that qualifies for Professional Development Units (PDUs) must be intentionally designed for adult learners and support meaningful learning, application, and impact within a P–12 educational context.

High-quality professional development typically includes:

  • Clear learning objectives aligned to educator practice and student outcomes
  • Adult learning principles, including relevance, choice, collaboration, and reflection
  • Opportunities for active engagement and application, rather than passive participation
  • Evidence of impact on professional practice, such as reflection, products, or implementation planning

In addition to ARM requirements, OPI encourages hosts to reference the Learning Forward Standards for Professional Learning, which offer guidance on designing and evaluating effective professional learning.

Developing a clear understanding of these expectations now will support stronger professional learning design and help ensure a smoother application process.

March Focus: Understanding ARM Requirements

March is dedicated to awareness and preparation. Hosts, instructors, and users are encouraged to review the ARM requirements for professional development, as these rules form the foundation of both the new system and the PDU approval process.

In particular, review ARM 10.55.714, which outlines the criteria professional learning must meet to qualify for PDUs. These requirements define expectations related to structure, purpose, alignment to P–12 education, and responsibility for issuing OPI PDU certificates.

A clear understanding of these rules is essential for continued compliance and successful use of the new system.

Additional information and resources will be shared monthly to support this transition. To join the mailing list, email OPIPDUPS@mt.gov with your name, email address, and organization.

Professional learning providers have a unique role in ensuring that the professional learning provided to educators is evidence-based and improves student outcomes. Districts and schools may ask providers for applicable research and evidence that the strategies demonstrated in the professional learning opportunity improve student outcomes. Additionally, providers may be one part of a cycle of professional learning and educator development that extends beyond the initial professional learning event. The following resources can help providers understand the shift toward evidence-based professional learning for educators.

Professional learning for educators in the state of Montana should follow certain guidelines and standards. The guidance and standards below can help providers understand professional learning requirements.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) 8101(42) defines "professional development," specifically noting that professional development activities are to be "sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short term workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused..." (ESEA § 8101(42), pg. 401).

There are a number of Administrative Rules of Montana (ARMs) that guide professional learning for education-related personnel, including:

Other ARMs address professional learning requirements for specific licenses and endorsements. Additional resources related to licensure can be found on the Montana Educator Licensing website.

Learning Forward's Standards for Professional Learning outline characteristics of professional learning that support effective teaching, strong leadership, and improved student outcomes (2017). The standards include:

  • Learning Communities – Ongoing, collaborative educator teams focused on continuous improvement, shared responsibility, and aligned goals to support all students.
  • Leadership – Leaders build capacity, advocate for professional learning, and create systems and conditions that sustain effective educator growth.
  • Resources – Time, funding, people, and materials are strategically prioritized, coordinated, and monitored to support high-quality professional learning.
  • Data – Multiple forms of student, educator, and system data inform the planning, implementation, and evaluation of professional learning.
  • Learning Designs – Professional learning is grounded in research and learning theory and uses activities and structures that help educators apply new knowledge.
  • Implementation – Supports, feedback, and follow-up are sustained over time so new practices are implemented with fidelity and lead to long-term change.
  • Outcomes – Professional learning outcomes align with educator performance expectations and student curriculum standards.

It is important to distinguish between valuable training and professional learning that qualifies for Professional Development Units (PDUs).

Many trainings—such as compliance modules, informational updates, or required annual refreshers—are useful, necessary, and contribute to an educator’s overall practice. However, not all valuable training meets the definition of professional development under Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) 10.55.714.

To qualify for PDUs, an event must meet the standards set forth in ARM. Professional development is not defined by topic alone, but by intent, structure, and impact. Qualifying professional learning must be intentionally designed to deepen educator knowledge or skills in essential elements of teaching to high standards, support improved practice, and positively impact student learning.

The table below summarizes the key requirements professional learning events must meet to be eligible for PDUs under ARM 10.55.714 and ARM 10.57.215.

Requirement What this means in practice
Planned and structured The event is intentionally designed with a clear purpose, agenda, and learning outcomes, not an incidental or compliance-only activity.
Aligned to P–12 public school curriculum Learning directly supports instruction, student learning, or educator practice within the P–12 system.
Clear learning objectives Objectives describe what educators will know or be able to do as a result of the learning.
Focus on educator growth Builds knowledge or skills in content, pedagogy, instructional strategies, technology use, or leadership.
Active learning Includes opportunities for engagement, application, practice, reflection, or feedback, not passive participation only.
Ongoing or sustained when appropriate Supports continued learning over time rather than isolated, one-time events when applicable.
Evaluated for impact Designed to improve educator effectiveness and student outcomes, with reflection or evaluation informing future learning.
Time-to-credit alignment One hour of participation equals one Professional Development Unit (1 hour = 1 PDU). Partial hours should not be rounded up.

While many of the following topics do not automatically meet the requirements of ARM 10.55.714, some schools and districts have taken innovative approaches by designing professional learning around these topics that does meet ARM standards.

As a result, some events addressing these topics may be eligible for PDUs, depending on how they are structured and aligned to the criteria above. Local leaders should critically evaluate ARM 10.55.714 before issuing PDUs for:

  • CPR / First Aid
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
  • Mentor teacher activities
  • Mandatory reporting training

Eligibility depends on whether the local offering is intentionally designed as professional learning, not simply attendance or compliance training.

During internal review, the Office of Public Instruction has identified activities for which PDUs have historically been issued but which do not meet the requirements of the Administrative Rules of Montana. PDUs should not be issued for the following:

  • Parent–teacher conferences
  • Grading time
  • Classroom setup or takedown
  • Staff meetings
  • Blood-borne pathogens training
  • Accreditation review committees

These activities are operational, evaluative, or compliance-based and do not constitute professional development as defined in ARM 10.55.714.

The following organizations offer online learning that does not meet Montana’s professional development standards. PDUs should not be issued for participation in virtual training from:

  • Albion Institute
  • IRIS Center
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • Bureau of Education Research
  • Western Washington University – GG
  • ISS EDU Learn

Not all courses offered by ed2go or PESI, Inc. are eligible for PDUs.

When selecting courses from these providers, educators and local approvers must ensure that the course:

  • Meets the requirements of ARM 10.55.714, and
  • Falls within the scope of the P–12 public school curriculum.

Approval is based on course design and alignment, not the provider name alone.

Logging into the Secure Portal for the first time

The OPI Professional Development Unit Provider System is housed within the Secure Portal. The link to the Provider System via the Secure Portal is located on the OPI Providers Professional Learning webpage.

To access this portal for the first time, you will need to reset your password. Step-by-step instructions are available under the sign-in boxes, in the section titled “How to Reset Your Password and Other Frequently Asked Questions.”

When resetting your password, include only the domain name. After your password is set, sign in using your username without the “OPI\” prefix.

Log in to the Professional Development Unit Provider System

Known system issues

Blank certificates – On occasion, providers select “Print Certificate” and the certificate appears blank. This can often be resolved by choosing your provider name again from the dropdown in “Events” and then selecting “Print Certificate.”

User tutorials

Professional Development Unit Provider System User Manual (opens in a new window)

  • Topics include: Administrative Rules of Montana, accessing PDUPS, changing your password, reporting events, issuing certificates, revising existing events, managing usernames and account access, and special considerations for continuously available asynchronous professional development unit activities and virtual conferences.

Username and password tips

  • For first-time access, follow the steps under “Logging into the Secure Portal for the first time” above.
  • Reset a forgotten password
  • If you forget your username, it is most likely the user’s first initial and last name (for example, John Doe would be JDoe).
  • If your email address has changed, email OPIPDUPS@mt.gov so it can be updated.

Adding or updating provider accounts

If your organization is already a registered provider but you need to change the name of your provider account manager, request access to an existing professional development unit provider account by emailing OPIPDUPS@mt.gov with the following information: name of organization, your full name, phone number, and email.

Planning Professional Learning Opportunities

There are many considerations when planning professional learning opportunities for educators. Professional learning providers external to K–12 schools (for example, governmental agencies, accredited colleges and universities, and approved educational organizations) may be unaware of how K–12 education-related personnel choose appropriate professional learning opportunities.

Guidelines and statutes

Specific guidelines and statutes require schools to develop yearly professional development plans and continuous school improvement plans. These plans consider a variety of needs and priorities. Schools are required to provide a minimum of three days for instructional, professional, in-service development, or training, pursuant to ARM 10.65.101. The majority of educators are required to complete 60 Renewal Unit hours of professional learning every five years to maintain licensure requirements. Therefore, most educators receive the appropriate number of Renewal Unit hours for licensure through the required three days of training provided by schools each year. These are important considerations to keep in mind when planning a professional learning opportunity.

Conducting a needs analysis

According to Philip O. Ozuah, author of “ First, There Was Pedagogy and Then Came Andragogy ,” adults typically engage in learning to solve a problem (2005). It is important to partner with educators when planning the professional learning opportunity, as a “one-size-fits-all” approach often does not provide enough depth for educators to make substantial changes in their teaching practices.

Taking the time to conduct a needs analysis of the schools and educators you want to attend your event can help ensure that the professional learning opportunity is focused on what educators need most. There are many needs analysis templates available online, but you may find that you would like to create your own based on the subject matter you are hoping to address. Learning Forward, a professional learning organization, has created a workbook that can help providers consider what districts and schools examine when creating short- and long-term professional learning plans.

Share Your Event

The OPI Professional Learning Portal has been updated and is now housed on the OPI website. We encourage all approved Professional Development Unit (PDU) providers to share their opportunities, now that the portal is more searchable and accessible for educators.

Two submission options are available:

  1. Live events (with start and end dates) – These events will appear in our Google Calendar, making it easy for educators to browse by date and time.

  2. Ongoing / asynchronous events – These events are included in the searchable catalog, which educators can filter by category, provider, grade level, educator type, and cost (Free / Paid).

Eligibility and guidelines

We can only share events that meet OPI requirements. We cannot post opportunities that are:

  • Sales-based
  • In conflict with Montana’s content standards or initiatives
  • Not related to education
  • Missing key details, such as a description, contact information, or a registration link

Next steps

Please fill out the appropriate form above to request review of your event. Once approved, your event will be visible to educators in the calendar or catalog , where the search and filter functions make it easy for educators to find your offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Criteria

If you are an approved professional development unit provider, you may offer online professional learning for OPI professional development units as long as it meets the following criteria:

  • You must be able to verify the amount of time participants spend in the course, or the amount of time the course is designed to take. For example, participants should not be able to fast forward through required videos.
  • The course must meet the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) requirements for eligible Professional Development and Renewal Requirements (ARM 10.57.215) .

Under ARM 10.57.215(3), professional development activities used to renew licenses must be a planned and structured experience, of benefit to the licensee’s professional development as defined in ARM 10.55.714 , and provide exposure to a new idea or skill or an extension of an existing idea or skill.

Participation

Simply providing access to a video does not allow you to verify that the video was watched, unless you are present with the participant or you are using a technology tool that verifies viewing (for example, a learning management system or tools such as Edpuzzle). If you plan to offer asynchronous online professional learning, you must have a method of providing access to the learning and a method of tracking each participant’s progress.

Professional Development Unit Provider System tips

When recording online professional learning in the Professional Development Unit Provider System, use the check mark next to “Online” for accurate reporting.

For asynchronous online courses with open, rolling enrollment, set the start and end dates one year apart. Remember to return to the Professional Development Unit Provider System to update the number of certificates issued within that one-year timeframe. If the course is offered the following year, you will need to enter the information again to create a new certificate.

You may use a digital signature on the OPI professional development unit certificate. For example, some providers insert a signature image using Adobe. You may also send the certificate to the participant by email or make it available for download after verified completion of the online professional learning opportunity.

Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) 10.57.215 outlines what professional learning is appropriate for professional development units.

The professional learning must be:

  • a planned and structured experience,
  • of benefit to the educator's professional development as defined in ARM 10.55.714 ,
  • an exposure to a new idea or skill or an extension of an existing idea or skill,
  • consistent with PK–12 public school curriculum.

Your organization is welcome to ask Professional Learning staff if a professional learning opportunity should be eligible for OPI professional development units.

Professional Learning staff monitor all entries to the Professional Development Unit Provider System, and inaccurate reporting or failure to follow the Administrative Rules of Montana may result in suspension of your approved professional development unit provider status.

Administrative Rule of Montana 10.57.216 guides the reporting requirements for approved professional development unit providers. Accurate reporting is mandatory and is a condition of your approved status.

In most situations, your professional learning opportunity should be entered into the Professional Development Unit Provider System before it occurs. The professional development unit certificate is generated from this information. Please do not estimate the number of certificates you will issue. When the professional learning opportunity concludes, you must return to the Professional Development Unit Provider System and record the actual number of certificates you issued. Entering the information into the system before the activity allows you to issue the certificates at the conclusion of the event.

You are required to maintain records of all professional learning opportunities for which you have issued OPI professional development unit certificates for five consecutive years.

If you are an approved OPI Professional Development Unit provider, you do not need to ask permission to host a professional development unit activity as long as your provider organization follows Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) 10.57.216 Approved Renewal Activity . Status as an approved provider continues as long as the provider does the following:

  • Provides activities deemed appropriate for professional development of licensees in compliance with ARM 10.55.714 and <a href="http://www.mtrules.org/gateway/ruleno

Please review the OPI Professional Development Unit Provider Directory to determine whether your organization is an approved professional development unit provider.

If any of the information for your organization or provider account needs to be updated, please email OPIPDUPS@mt.gov with the details that require updating. Requests may need to be verified with the person listed as the professional development unit provider account contact.

If your organization is interested in becoming a professional development unit provider, please refer to the " Become a Professional Development Unit Provider " section of the website.

Please email OPIPDUPS@mt.gov with any changes you need to your account in the Professional Development Unit Provider System. We can remove accounts or add accounts after verifying your request.

Yes, you may issue OPI Professional Development Unit Certificates digitally. You may sign the certificate using a digital signature, if you have one, or you may print the certificate, sign the paper copy, and then scan the certificate to create a signed digital copy of the certificate.

Information about the MSEIS update can be found on the Licensure website .

Here is an FAQ document that shares answers to common questions. We encourage you to reach out to Licensure staff if you have any additional questions. You can email their team at cert@mt.gov or call (406) 444-3150 during their phone hours, which are Monday–Thursday, 12:00–4:30 MST.

We're here to help!

Professional Development Providers should contact the Professional Learning team by email:

OPIPDUPS@mt.gov