Professional Learning

Professional learning opportunities are available to enhance educator skills and practices to improve student learning. These include licensure renewal and graduate credit courses, paraeducator certification; substitute authorization training, and informational classes held face-to-face, virtually, and in a blended environment.

Browse the catalog and register using these instructions:

• Log into the AEA Professional Learning Registration site (use the same login information as you do for Bloodborne Pathogens, Mandatory Reporter, etc)
• If you do not have an account, create an account at AEA Learning Online. The next business day, log into our statewide AEA Professional Learning Registration site  using the same email and password you used on the AEA Learning Online site.
• On the courses tab, you can type in the course or section number or search for substitute authorization.

AEA Learning Online offers educators a wide array of facilitated and personalized online learning options focused on some of the most pressing professional development areas.

• Facilitated, online courses give learners the opportunity to interact with an instructor and colleagues from across the state. Courses are available for license renewal or graduate credit.
• Self-paced modules, are inexpensive, flexible solutions that allow users to complete mandatory trainings or meet license renewal, sub-authorization, or paraeducator certificate renewal requirements.

Northwest AEA sends a Connections newsletter twice a month to educators so they can view upcoming professional learning opportunities and gather tips and suggestions in the areas of classroom, student, and mental health resources.

• Jan. 4, 2022
• December 14, 2021

The Iowa Department of Education, in partnership with AEA Learning Online, offers evaluator approval training through iEvaluate. More details can be found on the Iowa Department of Education website. To register, visit the AEA Professional Learning Registration System and search the course tab to for iEvaluate 1.2.

Instructors teaching a licensure renewal or graduate credit course must hold a valid teaching license and a master’s degree with exceptions based on experience in a specialty area. If there are multiple instructors for a course at least one of the instructors must hold a master’s degree.

The link to the Instructor Center can be found at https://aealearning.truenorthlogic.com. Once logged in, the Instructor Center is one of the links in the menu.

Visit the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners website for information about the licensure application and renewal process.

The AEA Learning Online System offers mandatory and non-mandatory training online. Training available through this system include Mandatory Reporter: Child and Dependent Adult Abuse, Bloodborne Pathogens Training, medication administration training and other non-mandatory training.

There is a $25 fee for the Mandatory Reporter training for all users. The other offerings are available to all employees in participating districts for no cost.  Use of this system is intended for employees of Iowa Area Education Agencies, employees of the public and private school districts they support, and other authorized users. Unauthorized use or distribution of passwords is prohibited.

A district password is required when registering into the system with a district or when changing districts.  District passwords can be obtained from your district system administrator.  If you are already registered into the system, but have forgotten your login information, your principal or district system administrator may be able to assist you. AEA Learning Online System Site directions sheet

Paraeducator certification programs are specifically designed for paraeducators already employed by a school district. Individuals interested in becoming a paraeducator in order to obtain a school district job should contact their local community college to enroll in their program.

Here you will find an archive of trainings provided by Northwest AEA:

EdInsight Training, Fall 2020
Video; Slide deck

FastBridge Training, Fall 2020
Video; Slide Deck

Intro to Panorama, Fall 2020
Video; Slide deck

Return to Learn Academic Standards, Fall 2020
Video; Slide deck

Return to Learn Leadership & Infrastructure, Fall 2020
Video; Slide Deck

Return to Learn SEBH, Fall 2020
Video; Slide Deck

Return to Learn Special Ed, Fall 2020
Video; Slide Deck

Transition Training for New Providers, Fall 2020
Video; Slide deck

Transition Training for Returning Providers, Fall 2020
Video; Slide deck

Quick Bite: Health & Safety, Fall 2020
Video; Slide Deck

The 20-hour course is designed to meet the requirements for the Substitute Authorization License.  According to the Governor of Iowa’s Proclamation as of July 17, 2020, and for the duration of the proclamation, you can receive a Substitute Authorization License if you hold a bachelor’s degree to an associate’s degree or 60 semester hours through a regionally-accredited institution.  The age requirement is 20 years of age or older. *

Certified Paraeducators must also have a substitution authorization license to serve as a substitute teacher.

• If the paraeducator holds a regular substitute authorization, they may serve as a substitute teacher in any classroom except driver’s ed (this is not a change).
• If the paraeducator holds the limited substitute authorization to serve as a substitute teacher only in their own special education classroom, they may substitute in any classroom during this proclamation.

Holders of a career and technical authorization with at least one year of experience may serve as a substitute in any classroom (except driver education) as long as they hold the substitute authorization license.

The course includes components on ethics, diversity, instructional strategies, and behavior management.

*Changes to the day limitation, degree requirement, and allowing persons with additional authorizations allowed to serve as substitute teachers are proposed as permanent rule changes and are awaiting final approval.  The proposed permanent changes do not include the above temporary changes to the age requirement or the authority of a paraeducator.

When you are ready to register:

• Log into the AEA Professional Learning Registration site (use the same login information as you do for Bloodborne Pathogens, Mandatory Reporter, etc)
• If you do not have an account, create an account at AEA Learning Online. The next business day, log into our statewide AEA Professional Learning Registration site  using the same email and password you used on the AEA Learning Online site.
• On the courses tab, you can type in the course or section number or search for substitute authorization.

Transcripts are available within the AEA Professional Learning Registration System.

My Courses > My Transcript > Search >  Print Official Transcript / Email Official Transcript