Invest in your career with an IB educator certificate: IB professional learning at the university level for new and experienced educators, educational administrators and leaders.
What are IB educator certificates?
IB educator certificates are IB credentials that demonstrate that you are prepared to teach and lead at an IB World School (IBWS). Building upon IB professional learning resources and workshops, this university-level offering is earned through completion of IB-recognized undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate teaching or educational leadership degrees. These certificates are currently offered at 50+ institutions across 15 countries.
How do I apply?
- Explore programmes: Search for universities that offer IB-recognized programmes that suit your needs. View a list of universities and the programs they offer.
- Apply directly: You will apply directly to the university that interests you. Contact the university for more information on the application process and admission requirements. Each institution designs and implements its programmes individually, including admissions criteria and fees.
Why pursue an IB-recognized degree?
Our programme welcomes educators who are committed to infusing the IB pedagogy in their teaching and leadership regardless of if they teach in IBWS or other schools around the world.
All educators and leaders who hold an IB educator certificate in either teaching and learning or leadership have demonstrated capabilities that show they are ready to teach and lead in the more than 5,800 IBWS worldwide.
Students who complete IB-recognized programmes leave their universities equipped to:
- deliver the IB curriculum and incorporate the IB standards and practices in their classrooms and schools
- improve the quality of their classroom teaching
- demonstrate a deep understanding of, and engagement in, student learning
- show a commitment to continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning
- infuse higher-order thinking skills into teaching and learning.
Benefits for certificate holders
You will enter the education job market with a significant credential that differentiates you from other candidates. The certificate shows Heads of School and the IB community that you have a deep understanding of IB learning and teaching.
Additionally, IBWS have an incentive to hire certificate holders because they have already completed IB professional learning. Once you register for your certificate, you meet the requirement to attend a category 1 workshop for IBWS authorization and evaluation. The school can waive this requirement at their discretion.
"During my studies ... I learned the significance of inquiry-based learning and how to effectively implement it in my classroom. Additionally, I gained insights into fostering international-mindedness among my students and promoting a global perspective. It also gave me insight into how to integrate the global context into a curriculum." — Nadine Hamdan, IB educator certificate holder and MYP language and literature teacher
Available certificates
Regardless of your level of teaching experience or familiarity with the IB, there is a certificate for you. Learn more about the offerings below.
Teaching and learning certificates
- IB certificate in teaching and learning: Offers students the opportunity to examine the principles and practices associated with one of the IB programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme). The courses that lead to this certificate shape pre-service, new and experienced educators into reflective practitioners and teacher researchers.
- IB advanced certificate in teaching and learning research: Allows educators to supplement their existing IB experience with rigorous, systematic investigative work to broaden their knowledge and experience. Participants delve deeper into curriculum development, pedagogy and assessment by exploring relevant literature and their own IB practices.
Leadership certificates
- IB certificate in leadership practice: Designed for educators and administrators who want to improve their leadership capabilities. Participants new to the IB context develop and refine their capacity to guide a school through IB authorization. Educators experienced in the IB context grow their capacity to support learning and teaching through effective programme implementation and development.
- IB advanced certificate in leadership research: Provides a more profound understanding of leadership responsibilities and capabilities through rigorous investigative work. It includes research within IB leadership contexts and deep reflection on participants’ own leadership practice.
For some certificates, no prior IB experience is required, although it is required for our advanced certificates. Universities also set their own admission requirements.
View which universities offer certificates.
Register with the IB for a formal certificate
After you graduate from an IB-recognized degree, you can register with the IB for the formal certificate.
For the IB advanced certificate in teaching and learning, there is a requirement of teaching in an IB World School for at least three years. If this is not met by the time the educator graduates from their degree programme, the graduate may register for the certificate upon completing this requirement.
Only students entering and graduating from the programme after it has been recognized by the IB are eligible for the certificate.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for prospective students
General
Are IB educator certificates required to teach at IB World Schools?
No, there are no formal qualifications to teach IB programmes. It is up to the individual school's or school district's recruitment policy.
Application
Where do I apply to a programme to earn an IB educator certificate?
Explore the IBEC University Directory to find the university programme that is right for you. You will apply directly to the university that interests you. Please contact the university directly for more information on the application process.
What are the admissions requirements?
Admissions requirements vary by university. Explore our IBEC University Directory to find the program that is right for you.
Can I apply without IB teaching experience?
Yes—we encourage you to explore programmes that offer the IB certificate in teaching and learning. Please check the university requirements, as they vary.
Fees
How much does it cost?
Tuition fees vary by university. Please contact the university directly for more information on their tuition fees. They can also provide scholarship information.
How much does it cost to register for my IB educator certificate?
After you graduate, you can register for your certificate. As of July 2024, the registration fee for an IB educator or leadership certificate is USD 295. Some universities have opted to pay the certificate registration fee for their graduates.
Finding a programme
I already have completed a bachelor’s or master's in education, but I would like to obtain an IB educator certificate. What are my options?
You must complete university-level learning with an IBEC-recognized programme of study to earn an IB educator certificate. You can choose to pursue another degree at one of our 50+ partner universities or attend a professional development workshop. If you would like more information about these professional development opportunities, please email [email protected].
What is the difference between obtaining an IB educator or leadership certificate and attending an IB professional development workshop?
IB category 1 workshops and the IB educator certificates are very different. Workshops are delivered in-person over two and a half days or online over four weeks. They are highly effective for engaging IB educators and administrators with what it means to teach and learn in an IB context.
However, IBEC university programmes of study offer a much deeper dive. They provide sustained learning about the IB mission, vision, pedagogy and so on, over the length of a master’s, bachelor’s or post-grad certificate. Embedded within these programmes are practicums and important opportunities for action research and engagement with IB programmes.
I can’t find any universities near me. Are there any programmes offered online?
Yes. Many universities offer their IBEC programmes online. Explore IB-recognized universities and look at the mode of delivery.
If you have any additional questions, please contact [email protected].
Heads of School and hiring teams
An IB educator certificate shows an applicant is ready to teach and lead at an IB World School—or that a current educator has deepened their knowledge of the IB. Because certificate holders have participated in a university program with an extended IB experiential element, they meet certain professional learning requirements for IB authorization and evaluation.
The school makes the decision to hire an IB educator certificate holder without input from the IB. Schools may require additional professional learning from their teams.
Interested universities
Are you a university with programmes of study related to teaching or educational leadership? We want to speak with you about how your programmes can be recognized by the IB!
