FIRST® Certified Professional Development
FIRST Certified Professional Development is an immersive learning experience that will help you acquire or strengthen your facilitation skills for project-based learning and 21st-century skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in an active learning environment. Each course is led by a FIRST Certified Trainer and provides the necessary tools to 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
- Learn changes in teaching practice towards student engagement, interacting with the community, and increasing rigor and relevance in your curriculum
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.
- In-Person Regional – Join us at various locations around the U.S. no need to have your own materials, we provide everything you need.
- School District On-Site Training – Custom session to meet the needs, program levels, and educator quantity of your choice. Pricing may differ from list pricing. Request a quote.
Program Levels and Pricing
- FIRST LEGO League Discover (grades PreK-1) – 1 Day $250 per seat
- FIRST LEGO League Explore (grades 2-4) – 2 Days $500 per seat
- FIRST LEGO League Challenge (grades 4-8) – 2 Days $500 per seat
- FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) – 2 Days $500 per seat
Learn more about FIRST Certified Professional Development
Upcoming In-Person and Remote Sessions - Note: Session registrations close prior to the cohort start date and remote and in-person have different course descriptions, please read carefully.
$250 per seat
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In-Person Regional Sessions - In-person course description.
More Dates Coming Soon; check Back in February/March for Summer 2024 Dates and Locations
April 2023 - one six and-a-half-hour day (6 contact hours, 30-minute lunch) - George R Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
Tuesday, 18, 2023 , 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Remote Sessions - Remote course description.
February 2023 Remote Cohort 1 - 3 consecutive two-hour sessions (6 contact hours)
February 7 (Tuesday), 7 pm – 9 pm EST, February 8 (Wednesday), 7 pm – 9 pm EST, February 9 (Thursday), 7 pm – 9 pm EST
February 2023 Remote Cohort 2 – one six-and-a-half-hour day (6 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 13 (Monday), 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST
February 2023 Remote Cohort 3 – one six-and-a-half-hour day (6 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 25 (Saturday), 11:30 am – 6:00 pm EST
$500 per seat
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In-Person Regional Sessions - In-person course description.
More Dates Coming Soon; check Back in February/March for Summer 2024 Dates and Locations
April 2023 - Two days (14 contact hours) - George R Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
Monday, April 17, 2023, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, 18, 2023, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Remote Sessions - Remote course description.
February 2023 Remote Cohort 1 – 2 six and a half-hour day (12 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 16 (Thursday), 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST, February 17 (Friday), 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST
February Remote Cohort 2 – 2 six and a half-hour day (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 18 (Saturday), 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST February 25 (Saturday), 11:00 am – 5:30 pm EST
$500 per seat
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In-Person Regional Sessions - In-person course description.
More Dates Coming Soon; check Back in February/March for Summer 2024 Dates and Locations
April 2023 - Two days (14 contact hours) - George R Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
Monday, April 17, 2023, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, 18, 2023, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Remote Sessions - Remote course description.
February 2023 Remote Cohort 1– 2 seven and a half-hour day (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 16 (Thursday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST; February 17 (Friday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST
February Remote Cohort 2 – 2 seven and a half-hour day (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 18 (Saturday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST February 25 (Saturday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST
$500 per seat
Expand (+) the block to see options.
In-Person Regional Sessions - In-person course description.
More Dates Coming Soon; check Back in February/March for Summer 2024 Dates and Locations
April 2023 - Two days (14 contact hours) - George R Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
Monday, April 17, 2023, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, 18, 2023, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Remote Sessions - Remote course description.
February 2023 Remote Cohort 1 – 2 seven and a half-hour day (14 contact hours, 30-minute lunch)
February 16 (Thursday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST February 17 (Friday), 11:00 am – 6:30 pm EST
Register for FIRST Certified Professional Development
FIRST Certified Trainers Application Now CLOSED
Please look for the application again next year, 2023. Certified trainers deliver professional development for FIRST programs. We provide STEM professional development related to FIRST programs and curricula in all 50 U.S. States and Canada.