Q: I am a new teacher and have heard that I can make more money by taking professional development courses. How do I go about doing this and is it worth it?

A: Many school districts offer salary increases for teachers who take a certain number of courses or professional development credits beyond their master's degrees. You may be able to move up to a higher salary increment by taking courses outside the classroom that will also make you better at your job. This provision is collectively bargained between your union and your school district, and is not offered in all districts, so consult your contract for specifics.

If you are interested in taking in-service professional development courses, you may find that NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust has courses that can meet your needs. ELT, NYSUT's professional development arm, offers 15-hour professional development courses for teachers for $125 a course, and materials are included. The classes can be delivered in person - if enough teachers in your district are interested - or online.

If your district offers salary advances for professional development hours, there is certainly a strong economic argument for taking courses. The salary advances you receive will stay with you throughout your employment and will be used to calculate the size of your pension in retirement. So, you may find that professional development courses pay for themselves many times over.

Of course, you should never approach professional development from just an economic perspective. After all, the real goal of professional development is to make you better at your job. There are organizations that will sell you inexpensive courses that require very little work, but in the end you get what you pay for.

You should thoroughly research any professional development organization before deciding to take courses, and, of course, check your union contract and your school district to make sure the credits can be applied toward potential salary advances. Some of the questions you should ask before taking a professional development course are:

• What are the learning objectives of the course?
• Will the course provide content that will be applicable to my job?
• What are the qualifications of the course instructor?
• Are materials included, or will I have to spend extra on books?
• What have been other teachers' experiences with the courses?
• Can the organization provide references?

If you are interested in taking professional development courses, try contacting ELT first. ELT offers quality, relevant programming from experienced teachers and has provided professional development to more than 300,000 educators over the past 30 years. For more information on ELT's 15-hour courses, call (800) 528-6208.