Online Teaching Certification Seminars
The Online Teaching Certification Seminar (OTCS) is designed to familiarize instructors with the information they need to deliver quality online learning experiences. The seminar supports the UM System-wide requirement that instructors teaching online courses be certified before teaching online, and our Online Teaching Re-Certification Seminar supports the requirement that re-certification occurs every 5 years.
If you have previously been certified with the UMSystem OTCS, ACUE, or other recognized certification program, you may qualify for the Online Teaching Re-Certification Seminar (OTRS).
To verify your online teaching certification status, please submit this form.
To register for an upcoming session visit Canvas Catalog-S&T, or scroll down to the schedule section on this page.
What's the difference between OTCS & OTRS?
How do the Online Teaching Certification Seminar and the Online Teaching Re-Certification Seminar differ?
The Online Certification Seminar is a 6-week, fully-facilitated program focusing on continued development as an online instructor and strengthening your online teaching through an exploration of 5 Pillars of Quality Course Design. This seminar places an emphasis on learning from and with a cohort of your peers from across Missouri S&T, with facilitation guidance provided by a CAFE staff.
What is the schedule?
- Fully online, in Canvas
- Asynchronous, with a weekly schedule
- 6 weeks, with multiple start dates
- Facilitated by Missouri S&T CAFE staff
- Estimated time for the certification course is 21 hours over a six-week period
The Online Re-Certification Seminar is a 3-week, fully-facilitated program focusing on continued development as an online instructor and strengthening your online teaching through an exploration of 5 Pillars of Quality Course Design. This seminar places an emphasis on learning from and with a cohort of your peers from across Missouri S&T, with facilitation guidance provided by a CAFE staff.
About the course?
- Fully online, in Canvas
- Asynchronous, with a weekly schedule
- 3 weeks, with multiple start dates
- Facilitated by Missouri S&T CAFE staff
- Estimated time for the recertification course is 6-10 hours over a three-week period
OTCS/OTRS Schedule
OTCS and OTRS have open enrollment for the current calendar year. This means you can self-enroll at a time that is convenient for you and complete the course on your schedule.
The 2026 session is now open. The 2027 session will be opened in November 2026.
To register for an OTCS session, visit Canvas Catalog-S&T.
OTRS registrations must be confirmed before they are made. To register for a session, please fill out this form so that the CAFE team can verify you qualify for the re-certification course.
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