Whether you’re an SLP, special education teacher, early childhood educator, or therapist, staying current with best practices is key to supporting the children in your care. The good news? There are some excellent free (or low-cost) professional development opportunities available right now. Here’s a roundup to help you keep growing — without stretching your budget.
For Teachers & Educators
Facing History Facing History offers summer professional development workshops designed to help educators bring history, ethics, and social-emotional learning into the classroom. Workshops are available in-person and online, with a focus on building inclusive, reflective learning communities.
Bureau of Education & Research (BER) BER provides practical, research-based summer seminars and workshops for K–12 educators. Topics span classroom management, differentiated instruction, literacy, and more. Many seminars offer continuing education credits.
PBS LearningMedia PBS LearningMedia offers a suite of free resources designed to help educators improve their skills and broaden their expertise. By offering real-life scenarios, professional development content allows educators to learn proven techniques and transfer that knowledge to their own classroom environment. Note: Certificates of completion are no longer available for pre-recorded resources, though your local PBS station may offer certificates.
SPARK / SPARKecademy SPARK offers free professional development for PE, early childhood, and after-school educators. SPARKecademy.org is the online professional development hub for K–12 physical educators, elementary classroom teachers, early childhood educators, after-school program providers, and school health professionals. Access online workshops, tutorials, and 50+ free webinars. Credits are required for workshops and tutorials and they never expire).
Waterford.org: Free PD Roundup Waterford.org has compiled a helpful list of free online professional development resources for teachers, covering a wide range of topics and grade levels. A great bookmark for year-round learning.
For Clinicians & SLPs
SLP Summit 2026 — Virtual & Free Dates: July 27–29, 2026 | Registration opens June 15 An entirely free virtual conference created by SLPs, featuring evidence-based, practical strategies you can implement right away. A can’t-miss event for speech-language professionals looking to grow without the cost of travel or registration fees.
Speech Retreat 2026 — Virtual & Interactive Date: July 17, 2026 A high-energy virtual day of professional development offering 0.6 ASHA CEUs. Registration includes digital notes, swag, and access to an exclusive community of peers.
Future-Ready SLP Series — Virtual, Ongoing Dates: Ongoing through August 13, 2026 Hosted by the MGH Institute of Health Professions, this 12-week series covers non-clinical skills like AI literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership (0.6 ASHA CEUs). Ideal for SLPs looking to expand their professional toolkit beyond direct clinical practice.
SS4Kids 2022 ASHA Convention Session Course Available on demand, this session offers a deep dive into the music-language approach backed by clinical research. Earn CEUs while learning how music therapy principles can support children with speech delays, ASD, and language differences.
Explore SS4Kids Professional Training
Looking for a structured, evidence-based program to bring into your clinic, school, or therapy practice? The SS4Kids Training Center for Professionals is your go-to hub for learning how to integrate the Sing and Speak 4 Kids music-language program with the children you serve.
Discover how 10 minutes a day can give kids new words to say — and how you can lead the way.
