FIRST® Certified Professional Development
FIRST Certified Professional Development is an immersive learning experience designed for teachers, facilitators, coaches, and mentors to acquire or strengthen project-based learning facilitation skills and gain experience with all aspects of one of the FIRST programs. Each course is led by a FIRST Certified Trainer and provides anyone new to facilitating FIRST the tools and confidenceto bring FIRST programs to your classroom or as a structured afterschool program. Certificates for continuing education or professional development credit are provided following the completion of the session.
During your chosen session, you will use hands-on practice through modeling and demonstration of STEM learning objectives within FIRST programs. Each session is designed to:
- Apply and facilitate a project-based learning environment through active engagement.
- Grow your knowledge, skills, and methods of STEM and playful learning teaching methods.
- Practice student elements of your FIRST program and best practices for implementation.
- Emphasize educational best practices for student engagement.
FIRST Certified Professional Development is available in three ways:
- Remote: Join a cohort via our flexible learning option that features live collaboration using remote meeting tools and includes hands-on learning using your materials. (Cost varies by program, $300-$600 per seat.) > View upcoming sessions
- In-Person Regional: Join us at various locations around the U.S. No need to have your own materials we provide everything you need. (Cost varies by program, $300-$600 per seat.) > View upcoming sessions
- School District On-Site: Custom session to meet your school district's timing, program levels, educator quantity and other needs. (Pricing is customized and starts at $3,000 or $6,000 depending on your program.) > Request a quote
Upcoming In-Person and Remote Sessions
Note: Session registration closes prior to the cohort start date. Remote and in-person have different course descriptions; please read the course descriptions carefully.
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover (grades PreK-1) & FIRST® LEGO® League Explore (grades 2-4)
During the combined FIRST LEGO League Discover (grade PreK-1) and Explore (grade 2-4) professional development, you'll learn how to engage children and harness their natural curiosity with activities that build habits of learning, investigate real-world problems and introduce STEM concepts using LEGO® bricks.
In-Person Regional Sessions - 12 hours
$600 per seat
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In-person course description (Discover).
In-person course description (Explore).
NASA Stennis, Mississippi - Register
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August 26 (Monday), 8:30am – 5:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
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August 27 (Tuesday), 8:30am – 3:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
FIRST Headquarters, New Hampshire - Register
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September 16 (Tuesday), 8:30am – 5:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
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September 17 (Wednesday), 8:30am – 3:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover (grades PreK-1)
During FIRST LEGO League Discover professional development, you'll learn how to engage children ages 4-6 and ignite their natural curiosity with activities that build habits of learning and introduce STEM concepts using LEGO® DUPLO® bricks.
New dates for in-person regionals coming in the Spring of 2024
$300 per seat
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September 2024 Remote Cohort 1 - Register
One six-and-a-half-hour day (6 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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September 13 (Friday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
One six-and-a-half-hour day (6 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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September 21 (Saturday), 11:30am – 6:00pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 3 - Register
Three consecutive two-hour sessions (6 hours)
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September 24 (Tuesday), 7pm – 9pm ET
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September 25 (Wednesday), 7pm – 9pm ET
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September 26 (Thursday), 7pm – 9pm ET
FIRST® LEGO® League Explore (grades 2-4)
During FIRST LEGO League Explore professional development, you'll learn how to engage students in grades 2-4 and harness their natural curiosity to investigate real-world problems, learn to design and code, and create innovative solutions made with LEGO® bricks.
Remote Sessions - 12 hours
$600 per seat
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August 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two six-and-a-half-hour days (12 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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August 17 (Saturday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
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August 24 (Saturday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 1 - Register
6 two-hour sessions, 2 days a week for 3 weeks (12 hours)
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September 17 & September 19 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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September 24 & September 26 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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October 1 & October 3 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two six-and-a-half-hour days (12 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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September 21 (Saturday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
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September 28 (Saturday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
October 2024 Remote Cohort - Register
Two six-and-a-half-hour days (12 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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October 7 (Monday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
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October 8 (Tuesday), 11:00am – 5:30pm ET
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge (grades 4-8)
During FIRST LEGO League Challenge professional development, you'll learn how to engage students in grades 4-8 in research, problem-solving, engineering, and building and coding a LEGO® robot.
$600 per seat
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NASA Stennis, Mississippi - Register
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August 26 (Monday), 8:30am – 5:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
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August 27 (Tuesday), 8:30am – 3:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
FIRST Headquarters, New Hampshire - Register
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September 16 (Monday), 8:30am – 5:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
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September 17 (Tusday), 8:30am – 3:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
$600 per seat
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August 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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August 17 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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August 24 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 1 - Register
7 two hours sessions, 2 days a week for 3.5 weeks (14 hours)
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September 16 & September 18 (Monday/Wednesday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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September 23 & September 25 (Monday/Wednesday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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September 30 & October 2 (Monday/Wednesday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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October 7 (Monday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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September 21 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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September 28 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
October 2024 Remote Cohort - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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October 7 (Monday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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October 8 (Tuesday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
FIRST® Tech Challenge (grades 7-12)
During FIRST Tech Challenge professional development, you'll learn how to engage students in grades 7-12 in the engineering design process and career-ready practices through team-driven robot building and programming.
$600 per seat
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NASA Stennis, Mississippi - Register
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August 26 (Monday), 8:30am – 3:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
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August 27 (Tuesday), 8:30am – 3:30pm CT (60-minute lunch)
FIRST Headquarters, New Hampshire - Register
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September 19 (Thursday), 8:30am – 5:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
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September 20 (Friday), 8:30am – 3:30pm ET (60-minute lunch)
$600 per seat
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August 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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August 17 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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August 24 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 1 - Register
7 two hours sessions, 2 days a week for 3.5 weeks (14 hours)
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September 17 & September 19 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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September 24 & September 26 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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October 1 & October 3 (Tuesday/Thursday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
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October 8 (Tuesday), 7:00pm – 9:00pm ET
September 2024 Remote Cohort 2 - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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September 21 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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September 28 (Saturday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
October 2024 Remote Cohort - Register
Two seven-and-a-half-hour days (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
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October 7 (Monday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
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October 8 (Tuesday), 11:00am – 6:30pm ET
$2500 per seat
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FIRST Tech Challenge Academy: By the end of your five-day, 40-hour learning experience, you'll have the fundamental tools you need to bring the FIRST experience to young people in the classroom or structured after-school environments.
Free, Self-Paced FIRST Program Trainings
For access to free, self-paced FIRST program trainings for coaches, mentors, and teachers, visit our Free, Self-Paced Trainings page.
FIRST Certified Trainers Application
FIRST Certified Trainers deliver professional development for the FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs. 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.
Professional Development FAQs
- Regional In-Person and Remote PD Sessions - You can register yourself or small groups using our Eventbrite registration.
- District PD - You can request a quote for us to come to you if you have a group of 10 or more and a location for delivery. Use our form to request a quote.
- Registration is through the link on this website and Eventbrite. If you have questions or need help with registration, email FIRSTEducation@firstinspires.org.
- FIRST LEGO League Discover (grades PreK-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)
- FIRST LEGO League Discover costs $300 per participant.
- FIRST LEGO League Explore, FIRST LEGO League Challenge and FIRST Tech Challenge cost $600 per participant.
- FIRST Tech Challenge Academy, an extended five-day, 40-hour learning experience, costs $2,500 per participant.
- Payment information and instructions are listed within the registration link on Eventbrite.
- We add additional sessions 6 – 8 weeks prior to the start of the courses.
- Professional development sessions where “we come to you” need to be quoted, then scheduled. We do not provide robots or other FIRST materials for these sessions. Sites must have appropriate equipment on site.