OVERVIEW
Earn Your AI for K–12 Teachers Certificate Online
Prepare for the future and enhance your résumé with an AI for K–12 Teachers Certificate from the WGU School of Education. This certificate is designed for K–12 educators, including classroom teachers, instructional coaches, school administrators, paraeducators, education support staff, and aspiring educators. No teaching license or AI experience is required.
In this certificate, you will:
- Plan lessons and learning objectives with AI.
- Use AI to create and revise instructional materials.
- Set expectations and guide responsible student AI use.
- Design AI-supported activities that align to learning goals.
- Review AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and instructional fit.
- Use AI ethically while keeping human judgment central.
Do you work in a leadership role? Learn about our AI for K–12 Education Leaders Certificate.
Cost
$699
No additional fees
Courses
2 online courses
5 total credits
Time to Complete
3 months
15 to 20 hours per week
COURSES
AI for K–12 Teachers Courses
As AI becomes more common in education, you can prepare for what’s next by building AI literacy. This certificate helps you develop the knowledge and judgment to use AI tools responsibly and effectively in K–12 teaching and learning. It does not require a teaching license and is designed for classroom teachers, instructional coaches, administrators, curriculum specialists, technology integration specialists, paraeducators, education support staff, and aspiring educators.
Course Structure
This certificate is a self-directed, competency-based program that you complete on your own schedule. You’ll complete two courses with readings, videos, and interactive elements to help you master the material. Each course includes a graded performance assessment where you’ll apply what you’ve learned.
The 2 courses in this program are:
Artificial intelligence has become part of our everyday lives—at home and in the office. This course introduces generative AI by pulling back the curtain on how it actually works and how you can use it wisely. You’ll start with the foundations. You’ll learn what AI is (and isn’t) and how generative models differ from other kinds of AI. From there, you’ll learn how prompts, instructions, and context shape results. And you’ll discover why AI can sound confident even while being wrong.
The course also addresses the risks and responsibilities associated with this technology. You’ll explore ethical considerations, potential harms, environmental and societal impacts, and the limits of AI’s strengths. In addition, you’ll evaluate outputs for accuracy, bias, and usefulness. You’ll learn how to apply human judgment, protect privacy, and choose the right tasks and tools. Finally, you’ll practice using AI in real-world scenarios.
Teaching in the age of artificial intelligence starts with thoughtful planning and intentional learning design. In this course, you will practice using AI to create and revise instructional materials that support clear goals and strong teaching practices. You will learn how to use AI to develop learning objectives, plan lessons, and improve classroom materials—all while keeping your professional judgment at the center of each decision.
You will also build skills in planning how your students can use AI in ways that support their learning without replacing critical thinking or independent work. You’ll practice setting expectations for student AI use, designing AI-supported learning activities, and evaluating learning when AI tools are involved. You will also strengthen your ability to review AI outputs for accuracy, alignment, and instructional fit. By the end of the course, you will have built a strong foundation for using AI responsibly to support teaching and learning in your K–12 classroom.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Designed for Career Development
Develop practical AI skills that support teaching, learning, and responsible technology use in K–12 settings. In this certificate, you’ll build education-focused AI skills and apply them in classroom scenarios.
Skills You’ll Build:
- Plan lessons and learning objectives with AI.
- Create and revise instructional materials with AI.
- Design AI-supported activities aligned to learning goals.
- Set expectations for responsible student AI use.
- Review AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and instructional fit.
- Apply safeguards for ethical AI use in schools.
- Keep human judgment central when using AI.
Roles that can benefit:
- Classroom teachers
- Instructional coaches
- School administrators
- Curriculum specialists
- Technology integration specialists
- Paraeducators
- Education support staff
- Aspiring educators
COST
Two online courses. One flat cost.
$699 gives you access to your certificate courses for three months, including:
- Program access
- E-textbooks
- Learning resources
Financial aid isn't available, but we do offer monthly payment plans.
Most learners finish within three months. If you need more time, your enrollment will automatically transition to a $149 monthly subscription until you earn your certificate. You can cancel at any time.
$699
Total cost | No additional fees
Payment Plan Option
3 monthly payments of $233
HOW IT WORKS
What to Expect From This Certificate
Requirements
- You must have access to a computer and the internet.
- There is no teaching license or AI experience required.
- Each course includes a final, project-based performance assessment. You must achieve a ranking of Competent on each assessment to pass each course.
Program Expectations
- This certificate is designed for educators and aspiring educators.
- WGU uses a competency-based learning model, meaning you can progress through coursework as quickly as you are able to master the material.
- You should plan to dedicate 15 to 20 hours a week to this certificate program.
- The certificate is designed to be completed in three months, depending on your learning pace.
Why Choose a Certificate?
If you're not quite ready to commit to a full degree program, want to try out online learning, or need a faster way to boost your résumé, a WGU certificate could be the right fit for you. With a certificate program, you can begin any time you want—no need to wait for the first of the month. WGU Certificates are also self-paced, so you can move as quickly as you are able to master the material. Plus, the certificate courses are transferrable to WGU degree programs, so you can continue your education whenever you're ready.
100% Online Courses that Work with Your Schedule
Our certificates are 100% online, and there are no set class times. This means you can work on your certificate whenever it makes sense for you and your busy schedule. You're in the driver's seat of your education.
Full Suite of Support Services
WGU serves students from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds. Our program support, instruction, and career resources will help you complete your certificate and reach your goals.
Explore Your Next Step
With affordable tuition and real-world outcomes—a WGU certificate delivers measurable value. Every WGU certificate is built to help you make progress—whether you're seeking a new opportunity, exploring a new career field, or preparing for a full degree program down the line.
Ready to Strengthen Your AI Literacy in Education?
In just a few months, you can build practical AI skills that help you educate with confidence in today’s K–12 classrooms. Fill out this form to learn more about WGU’s AI for K–12 Teachers Certificate.
Ready to Start?
