Credential standards

What our micro-credentials certify — published, in full.

A credential is only as serious as its standard. Below is the complete standard for every credential FacultyGenius issues: the competency it certifies, the courses and CEU hours behind it, how completion is assessed, and how anyone can verify it. Show this page to your principal or HR office — that's what it's for.

What makes these micro-credentials

Competency-stated: every credential names what the holder can do — not just what they watched.
Conversation-assessed: every course is completed in a genuine back-and-forth with Meri, with mastery checks throughout — there is no skip-to-the-quiz path.
Stackable: credentials build on each other in two ladders; strategic courses are shared across tiers on purpose.
Verifiable: every certificate carries a public verification ID anyone can check at facultygenius.com/verify — name, credential, hours, and date, with no personal data exposed.

Teacher Leadership track

For educators who want to grow without leaving the classroom — from strong practice to mentoring peers to leading adult learning.

Tier 1 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Teacher Leader (CTL)

Certifies that the holder: Runs a well-managed classroom, builds productive partnerships with families, and adapts instruction so every learner in the room makes progress.

Required courses (7 CEU hours total):

Practical Classroom Management for the First Five Years — 3 CEU hrs
Effective Parent Communication — 2 CEU hrs
Differentiated Instruction Without Burning Out — 2 CEU hrs

How it's assessed: each required course is completed in conversation with Meri with mastery checks throughout; the credential issues only when every required course is complete. The certificate is publicly verifiable and shows this competency statement.

Tier 2 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Instructional Mentor (CIM)

Certifies that the holder: Uses assessment evidence to drive instructional decisions, coaches peer teachers through real practice, and models current, technology-informed teaching for colleagues.

Required courses (6 CEU hours total):

Assessment Literacy for Busy Teachers — 2 CEU hrs
Instructional Coaching Foundations — 2 CEU hrs
Using AI in the Classroom — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 3 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Master Educator (CME)

Certifies that the holder: Practices trauma-informed, inclusive instruction — including for English language learners — and designs and leads professional learning for other adults, all from within the classroom.

Required courses (6 CEU hours total):

Trauma-Informed Classroom Practices — 2 CEU hrs
ELL Strategies for the Mainstream Classroom — 2 CEU hrs
Leading Adult Learners — 2 CEU hrs

Administrator & Principal track

For educators stepping toward building and district leadership — culture, coaching, data, change, and the principalship itself.

Tier 1 · Administrator & Principal

Aspiring Leader Certificate (ALC)

Certifies that the holder: Facilitates adult learning effectively and contributes deliberately to a healthy school culture beyond their own classroom.

Required courses (4 CEU hours total):

Leading Adult Learners — 2 CEU hrs
Building School Culture — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 2 · Administrator & Principal

Instructional Leadership Certificate (ILC)

Certifies that the holder: Designs and runs instructional coaching cycles and leads a team or building with an honest, evidence-based data culture.

Required courses (4 CEU hours total):

Instructional Coaching Foundations — 2 CEU hrs
Data-Driven School Leadership — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 3 · Administrator & Principal

Principal Preparation Certificate (PPC)

Certifies that the holder: Leads organizational change that lasts and is prepared for the operational, relational, and instructional demands of first-time building leadership.

Required courses (5 CEU hours total):

Leading Through Change — 2 CEU hrs
The First-Time Principal — 3 CEU hrs

Tier 4 · Administrator & Principal

District Leadership Certificate (DLC)

Certifies that the holder: Leads improvement across multiple schools: sets a focused system strategy and cascades it across campuses, stewards a school or district budget as a mission document — including enrollment-driven revenue and financial communication to boards and families — and develops, supervises, and coaches the building leaders and leadership teams who run individual schools.

Required courses (8 CEU hours total):

District Strategy & Systems: Leading Improvement Across Schools — 3 CEU hrs
School Finance & Budget Stewardship for Leaders — 3 CEU hrs
Leading Leaders: Developing Principals & Leadership Teams — 2 CEU hrs

For principals and HR offices

Every certificate names its credential or course, its CEU hour value, and a verification ID you can check in seconds at facultygenius.com/verify. Whether these hours count toward a specific renewal requirement is your district's call — see where we stand on state approvals, stated plainly. Questions about the standard itself: schools@facultygenius.com.

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What our micro-credentials certify — published, in full.

What makes these micro-credentials

Competency-stated: every credential names what the holder can do — not just what they watched.

Conversation-assessed: every course is completed in a genuine back-and-forth with Meri, with mastery checks throughout — there is no skip-to-the-quiz path.

Stackable: credentials build on each other in two ladders; strategic courses are shared across tiers on purpose.

Verifiable: every certificate carries a public verification ID anyone can check at facultygenius.com/verify — name, credential, hours, and date, with no personal data exposed.

Teacher Leadership track

For educators who want to grow without leaving the classroom — from strong practice to mentoring peers to leading adult learning.

Tier 1 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Teacher Leader (CTL)

Certifies that the holder: Runs a well-managed classroom, builds productive partnerships with families, and adapts instruction so every learner in the room makes progress.

Required courses (7 CEU hours total):

Practical Classroom Management for the First Five Years — 3 CEU hrs
Effective Parent Communication — 2 CEU hrs
Differentiated Instruction Without Burning Out — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 2 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Instructional Mentor (CIM)

Certifies that the holder: Uses assessment evidence to drive instructional decisions, coaches peer teachers through real practice, and models current, technology-informed teaching for colleagues.

Required courses (6 CEU hours total):

Assessment Literacy for Busy Teachers — 2 CEU hrs
Instructional Coaching Foundations — 2 CEU hrs
Using AI in the Classroom — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 3 · Teacher Leadership

Certified Master Educator (CME)

Required courses (6 CEU hours total):

Trauma-Informed Classroom Practices — 2 CEU hrs
ELL Strategies for the Mainstream Classroom — 2 CEU hrs
Leading Adult Learners — 2 CEU hrs

Administrator & Principal track

For educators stepping toward building and district leadership — culture, coaching, data, change, and the principalship itself.

Tier 1 · Administrator & Principal

Aspiring Leader Certificate (ALC)

Certifies that the holder: Facilitates adult learning effectively and contributes deliberately to a healthy school culture beyond their own classroom.

Required courses (4 CEU hours total):

Leading Adult Learners — 2 CEU hrs
Building School Culture — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 2 · Administrator & Principal

Instructional Leadership Certificate (ILC)

Certifies that the holder: Designs and runs instructional coaching cycles and leads a team or building with an honest, evidence-based data culture.

Required courses (4 CEU hours total):

Instructional Coaching Foundations — 2 CEU hrs
Data-Driven School Leadership — 2 CEU hrs

Tier 3 · Administrator & Principal

Principal Preparation Certificate (PPC)

Certifies that the holder: Leads organizational change that lasts and is prepared for the operational, relational, and instructional demands of first-time building leadership.

Required courses (5 CEU hours total):

Leading Through Change — 2 CEU hrs
The First-Time Principal — 3 CEU hrs

Tier 4 · Administrator & Principal

District Leadership Certificate (DLC)

Required courses (8 CEU hours total):

District Strategy & Systems: Leading Improvement Across Schools — 3 CEU hrs
School Finance & Budget Stewardship for Leaders — 3 CEU hrs
Leading Leaders: Developing Principals & Leadership Teams — 2 CEU hrs

For principals and HR offices