FIRST^® Certified Professional Development

All Certified Trainer positions are currently filled.

We currently have enough trainers to support our delivery requests. We reassess the needs each year and will post in February if the application process will reopen.

Sessions are added a few times a year. 

For in-person and remote courses, dates are posted at least six weeks prior to the start date. 

Do you need approval to attend?

Please download and customize this letter before presenting it to your decision-maker.

The number of credit hours and the time commitment vary by FIRST program selected and whether or not the sessions will be delivered in-person or remotely. 

In-person regional: 

• FIRST LEGO League Discover (grades K-1) – 1 Day (6 hours)
• FIRST LEGO League Explore (grades 2-4) – 2 Days (12 hours)
• FIRST LEGO League Challenge (grades 4-8) – 2 Days (14 hours)
• FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) – 2 Days (14 hours)
• FIRST Tech Challenge Academy (grades 7-12) – 5 Days (40 hours)

Remote: 

• FIRST LEGO League Discover (grades K-1) – (6 hours) either 1 6-hour day or multiple consecutive days with 2-or 3-hour sessions.
• FIRST LEGO League Explore (grades 2-4) – (12 hours) Two 6-hour days or 2-hour sessions spread over multiple days/weeks.
• FIRST LEGO League Challenge (grades 4-8) – (14 hours) Two 7-hour days or 2-hour sessions spread over multiple days/weeks.
• FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) – (14 hours) Two 7-hour days or 2-hour sessions spread over multiple days/weeks.

The materials you need will vary based on the course delivery method. 

All: 

• Computer with internet access 
• Associated software downloaded and updated prior to the first session. View LEGO Education software. 

In-person:

• FIRST materials are provided. 

Remote:

• An additional computer to join the training. (Recommended, but not required)
• Associated FIRST materials (review the course descriptions for required materials).  

On-site:

• Associated FIRST program materials for desired session. 

Cohorts are a group of attendees that participate in all sessions of a remote professional development. 

All members of the cohort will be the same throughout the series. 

Attendance at each session in a cohort is mandatory.

To maintain the integrity of the course and have a cohesive experience, attendance at each session in a cohort is mandatory to receive successful completion credit for the course.

Attendees are also not allowed to switch between cohorts.

Registration depends on the type of Professional Development you are attending. 

You can register for in-personal regional, remote, and academy sessions through Eventbrite events.

If you're looking for on-site options held at your school or organization, you can request a quote. 

For in-person regional and remote sessions, attendees register through Eventbrite. 

You can pay via any of the available payment methods in Eventbrite. Additionally, you can also pay via check (USD funds only, drawn on a U.S. bank) or purchase order by contacting firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org. More information regarding payments is available while registering on Eventbrite. 

There are two steps to create a professional development quote. 

Step 1: register for your desired course through Eventbrite and select "Pay by Invoice"

Step 2: email a screenshot of your registration confirmation to firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org. 

Yes, depending on your location. 

If you reside in Connecticut, New Mexico, South Dakota, or West Virginia sales tax applies. Please email firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org to receive registration payment instructions for these states, or to provide us with a tax-exempt form. Full payment must be received to attend your session(s). If payment is received without applicable taxes, we will contact you.

FIRST Professional Development fees are non-refundable.

Your professional development course can be transferred and applied to another date, location, or person. Please email firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org for assistance.

If you can no longer attend FIRST Professional Development or your selected course is cancelled:

Your course is cancelled by FIRST:

• In-person: A minimum of 4 participants are required.  You will be notified 2 weeks prior if there is not a minimum of participants. If a cancellation occurs, you will be given additional options to attend a different cohort.

• Remote: A minimum of 4 registered participants are required. You will be notified 1 week prior if there is not a minimum of participants and a final decision will be made 4 days prior to the start of the first session.  If a cancellation occurs you will be given additional options to attend a different cohort.

 You need to cancel:

• In-Person: Paid FIRST Professional Development is nonrefundable. If you are unable to attend the paid Professional Development and need to cancel your registration, you may reschedule up to one time to a future date, but within 12 months of the original date. Substitutions (one individual for another) are allowed at any time. Please let us know your intent within 72 hours before the start date by sending an email to firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org. If you do not cancel within 72 hours and do not attend the workshop you will forfeit the opportunity to reschedule.

• Remote: Paid FIRST Professional Development is nonrefundable. If you are unable to attend the paid Remote Professional Development and need to cancel your registration, you may reschedule up to one time to a future date, but within 12 months of the original date.  Substitutions (one individual for another) are allowed at any time. Please let us know your intent within 72 hours before the start date by sending an email to firstprofessionalservices@firstinspires.org. If you do not cancel within 72 hours and do not attend the workshop you will forfeit the opportunity to reschedule.