Professional Learning

AEA Learning Online offers courses featuring license renewal credit or graduate credit from Drake University, Morningside College, or Viterbo University. The site also has online self-paced trainings that help educators and schools meet mandates.

To search or register for an online course, visit the AEA PD Online "Moodle" course catalog.

If you have questions or need assistance with the site, please contact AEA PD Online at 1-800-255-0405 ext. 14668.

Great Prairie AEA partners with the following post-secondary institutions to offer graduate credit for some of our Professional Development courses.

Drake University

You can continue your professional development and receive a Drake education regardless of your location through Drake’s Extension Education programs. All Extension Education courses are graduate-level offerings. Please visit  Drake's Extension Education website for more information.

For more information about requesting a transcript from Drake University, please click here.

Grandview University

Grand View University offers Professional Development and continuing education opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate credit. While centrally located in Des Moines, most of these programs can be completed entirely online if preferred. Individual courses that are not part of a degree program can be taken for GV graduate credit through the AEA or directly through Grand View. Learn more about Virtual Professional Development through Grand View at
https://www.virtualeduc.com/direct_accounts/index.php?uid=59.

Morningside University

To learn more about graduate education at Morningside University, please click here.

For more information about requesting a transcript from Morningside University, please click here.

• Directions for Instructors
• Instructors Handbook

How do I login?

• Go to https://aealearning.truenorthlogic.com. Your login information is the same information that you use to log into https://training.aealearningonline.org.
• Please contact julie.hannam@gpaea.org if you need help locating your username and password.

Instructor Requirements and Responsibilities

Great Prairie AEA requires all instructors to have a master's degree.  Individuals wanting to become an instructor must submit a VITA in the Statewide Registration System. Click on the Enter Vita tab to begin the process.

Please contact michelle.dickey@gpaea.org for assistance with setting up a Course Proposal.

Renew a Teaching License through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners:

• Update My Information with the BOEE – update your current address and email address. This is essential so that you will receive important updates and expiration reminders.
• The BOEE is no longer printing and mailing licenses. The new system will send you a color PDF of your license. You may also view your license at any time on our website under "search for a license". The website version of your license is considered your official license record.
• Search for a license – view your current license type, endorsement, expiration dates, and if a pending transaction has been processed.

For more information regarding license renewal please visit the Board of Educational Examiners Website.

• Participant Handbook

Paraeducators are integral partners in the education setting so they need top-notch skills to provide the best academic and emotional support to students. To become a certified paraeducator in Iowa you must be at least 18 years of age, complete 3 Generalist Courses (90 hours) and Child/Adult Mandatory Reporter (4 hours), and apply through the Board of Educational Examiners for the certification upon completing the coursework. A 10-hour clinical experience in a classroom is also required. The cost of each course is $120.00 ($360.00 total). Additional fees include fingerprinting and certificate processing fees. Fees paid directly to Fieldprint include $34.45 for fingerprinting, and fees paid directly to the Board of Educational Examiners when applying for the paraeducator certification include $40.00 for processing the application, $35.00 for a State Background Check, and $3.00 for a convenience fee.

Parareducator courses through Great Prairie AEA include face-to-face or virtual time with instructors and online assignments through the Moodle. Please contact julie.hannam@gpaea.org for more information about the courses or visit the Board of Educational Examiners for certification and renewal information.

GPAEA has a number of courses available throughout the year. Learn more and register at https://www.smore.com/cb16f

GPAEA offers Areas of Concentration for paraeducators such as Special Education, Early Childhood, ESL, and Substitute Authorization which apply to the renewal of a paraeducator certificate.

Please note the following if seeking Substitute Authorization with a Paraeducator Certificate:

24.4(9) An individual who holds a paraeducator certificate and completes the substitute authorization requirements set forth in rule 282—22.2(272) but who does not meet the degree requirement in 282—subparagraph 22.2(1)“a”(2) is authorized to substitute only in the special education classroom in which the individual paraeducator is employed, unless emergency permission is granted by the executive director or designee based on documented need provided by the employer.

Click here for the complete rules 282-22.2(272) Substitute Authorization. (See Paraeducator Certificates and then Paraeducator Area of Concentration)

AEA Learning Online Learning System provides educators with access to hundreds of self-paced trainings and courses. Many of the opportunities are free to employees in a participating district. Self-paced courses offer educators affordable options for license renewal or graduate credit* with the added convenience of no deadlines, no waiting for a section to start, and no waiting for a class to finish in order to receive your grade. View the AEA Professional Development Online Learning System Site directions sheet.

*Only select courses

​Statewide Popular Trainings and Courses include:

• Mandatory Reporter: Child Abuse and Mandatory Reporter: Dependent Adult Abuse
• Bloodborne Pathogen Training
• Overview of State Requirements Regarding Seclusion and Restraint: Chapter 103
• Right to Know Training
• Google Apps 101
• Exceptional Learner
• Digital Citizenship
• The Practicing Educator

• Participant Handbook
• Steps for Applying for Substitute Authorization

Substitute Authorization Requirements

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners may issue a substitute authorization to an individual who:

Click here for the complete rules 282-22.2(272) Substitute Authorization

• Has successfully completed all the requirements of the approved Substitute Authorization course.
• Holds an associate’s degree or 60 semester hours or higher from a regionally accredited institute or has completed an approved Paraeducator Certification program and holds a Paraeducator Certificate.
• Has successfully completed an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation background check
• Has successfully completed a national criminal history background check

Substitute Authorization Renewal

The Substitute Authorization is good for five years and may be renewed by taking two semester hours of AEA relicensure or college credit. Click here to find the renewal form on the BOEE website.

Great Prairie AEA Official Transcript

Print an OFFICIAL Transcript from the AEA Professional Learning Registration System. Simply login and scroll down to View and Print Transcripts.

Drake University

For more information about requesting a transcript from Drake University, please click here.

Grand View University

For more information about requesting a transcript from Grand View University click here.

Morningside University

For more information about requesting a transcript from Morningside University, please click here.

Marycrest

Student grade transcript requests or degree verification requests will be available from the University of Iowa upon receipt of a written request from the student. To request a copy of your Marycrest transcript contact:
Office of the Registrar
1 Jessup Hall,
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316
At www.registrar.uiowa.edu/ there is a request form that can be printed and mailed or faxed.