Earn 6 PD hours teaching cybersecurity to your students.
Complete our free 6-module Educator Bootcamp and receive a verifiable
PD certificate — accepted toward teacher recertification in all 50 states.
No credit card. Work at your own pace.
Accepted in all 50 statesVerifiable with unique codeInstant PDF downloadISTE & CSTA alignedNo credit card required
6
PD Clock Hours
6
Course Modules
50
States Accepted
Free
No Credit Card
📌 For principals and district administrators
Every teacher who runs a Cyber Heroes HQ pilot earns 6 PD hours at no cost to the district. This lets you fund the program from existing PD budget instead of curriculum spending — bypassing the approval cycle that kills most ed-tech pilots. Teachers are motivated to engage deeply with the platform before class starts, and they have a verifiable artifact to submit to their PD coordinator.
6 modules. 6 hours. One certificate.
Each module combines a scrollable lesson, an 8-question knowledge check (70% to pass), and a brief reflection. Work at your own pace — modules unlock sequentially so you can complete them over days or weeks.
🌐
Module 1 · ~1 hr
Why K-12 Cybersecurity Matters
The 3.5 million job gap, threat vectors kids face today, why early education works, and CISA's K-12 mandate. Includes data on click rates, password reuse, and gaming fraud targeting minors.
5 questions
🎓
Module 2 · ~1 hr
Teaching with Cyber Heroes HQ
Dashboard walkthrough, classroom code setup, the progress matrix, knowledge gap reports, and the activity feed. Includes an interactive step: create your first classroom and confirm it live.
5 questions
🎮
Module 3 · ~1 hr
Play a Mission Yourself
Complete the Phishing Inbox Detective mission end-to-end with ≥80% accuracy. Experience what students experience — Cipher hints, XP, badges, score debrief — so you can introduce it confidently in class.
Mission play
📋
Module 4 · ~1 hr
Bringing It to Your Classroom
Three proven launch formats (Independent Practice, Class Tournament, Guided Walkthrough), standards alignment overview, parent communication kit, and your first implementation reflection.
5 questions + reflection
🔐
Module 5 · ~1 hr
Password Hygiene & Two-Factor Authentication
NIST 2023 guidelines on password length, credential stuffing explained, comparison of 2FA methods (SMS vs TOTP vs FIDO2), and practical classroom approaches to teaching password management.
5 questions
📊
Module 6 · ~1 hr
Assessment, Differentiation & PD Reflection
Using the pre/post diagnostic to measure learning gains, differentiation strategies for struggling students, submitting Learning Gains reports to school leadership, and a final reflection essay on your implementation plan.
5 questions + reflection
What you receive
A verifiable PD certificate, instantly downloadable.
📄Downloadable PDF certificate — professional-grade, suitable for district HR submission
🔑Unique verification code (e.g. PD-CHHQ-A4F2-9X81) — districts verify authenticity at our public verification page
🌐Public verification page at /verify/[code] — HR coordinators can confirm in 10 seconds
📧Email delivery — certificate download link sent to your inbox automatically on completion
🎓6.0 PD clock hours — documented with course name, completion date, and issuing organization
Most US states allow teachers to self-select PD activities that meet their professional growth standards, with documentation from the provider. Our certificate includes the course name, completion date, PD hours, and a verifiable code — everything your district coordinator needs. Below are notes for the states where we see the most teacher usage.
⚠️ Accreditation note
Cyber Heroes HQ is not a nationally accredited CPE provider (such as ISTE or ASCD). Our PD hours are issued as provider-documented professional learning hours, accepted by most districts under state PDUs/CEUs as "other professional learning activities." We recommend checking with your district's PD coordinator before starting if your recertification depends on accredited-only sources. The overwhelming majority of US districts accept provider-documented hours for partial recertification credit.
Texas
California
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
North Carolina
Michigan
Virginia
New Jersey
Washington
Arizona
Tennessee
Massachusetts
Indiana
Missouri
Maryland
Wisconsin
Colorado
Minnesota
South Carolina
Alabama
Louisiana
Kentucky
Oregon
Oklahoma
Connecticut
Utah
Nevada
Iowa
Arkansas
Mississippi
Kansas
New Mexico
Nebraska
Idaho
West Virginia
Hawaii
Maine
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Montana
Delaware
South Dakota
North Dakota
Alaska
Vermont
Wyoming
Frequently asked questions
Is this course accredited by a national body like ISTE or ASCD?
No — we are a provider-documented PD course, not nationally accredited. Most districts accept provider-documented hours under their "other professional learning" category. We recommend confirming with your PD coordinator if your recertification requires accredited-only sources. If your district approves, it works seamlessly; if not, the course is still worth taking for your own classroom practice.
How does my district verify the certificate?
Every certificate has a unique code (e.g. PD-CHHQ-A4F2-9X81) and a public verification URL at cyberheroeshq.com/verify/[code]. Your PD coordinator can visit that page in 10 seconds to confirm the certificate is authentic, who it was issued to, and when. No email required, no account needed on their end.
Do I need to complete all 6 modules at once?
No. Modules unlock sequentially as you complete each one, but your progress is saved automatically. You can start Module 1 today and finish Module 6 three weeks from now — the certificate issues as soon as you complete the final module.
What is the passing score for the knowledge checks?
Each module's quiz requires a 70% score (or 80% for modules with explicit passing scores) to mark the module complete. You can retake immediately with no penalty — incorrect answers show an explanation so you understand the concept before retrying.
Do I need a paid account to earn the certificate?
No. You need a free teacher account (sign up at /pilot — it's free, no credit card). The PD course and certificate are completely free for any verified teacher account.
Can I use this for my Annual Professional Development Plan (APDP) or local equivalent?
In most states, yes — provider-documented hours from curriculum-aligned courses count toward local PD plans. The certificate includes the course title, completion date, PD hours, and issuing organization. This is typically everything needed for APDP documentation. Check with your district HR for your specific requirements.
Start earning your 6 PD hours today.
Free. Self-paced. Takes about 6 hours total. Certificate downloads immediately on completion.