Short answer
How do Burlington teachers move to a higher salary column?
Burlington counts graduate-level academic credits in the teacher's academic field, or directly related to their teaching assignment. Credits earned before September 1 and reported in writing to the Superintendent by September 30 raise pay from the start of the school year. Out-of-field and undergraduate courses need the Board's prior written approval.
Source: Burlington 2025-2028 agreement, section 18.4, Burlington School District. Checked .
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How is the Burlington teacher salary schedule organized?
The agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Burlington Education Association, Inc., dated December 11, 2025, runs from September 1, 2025 to August 30, 2028. Appendix A sets the salary schedule for each year in these columns:
- BA
- BA+15
- BA+36 or MA
- BA+51 or MA+15
- BA+66 or MA+30
Section 18.2d closes one option the dual headings might suggest: a teacher who holds a master's degree may not "elect against" it "in order to be compensated on the basis of credits earned beyond the Bachelor's Degree." The Superintendent places new hires on a column and step from their education and experience, and under section 18.2c that decision "shall not be grievable." Pay figures are in Appendix A. Our guide to reading a salary schedule explains columns and steps.
Which units count toward a Burlington column move?
Section 18.4 of the agreement counts "additional graduate level academic credits in their academic field or directly related and relevant to their teaching or teaching assignment(s)." Those credits need no advance approval.
Two kinds of courses need more: courses "outside their academic field or not directly related and relevant to their teaching or teaching assignment(s)," and "any undergraduate level course(s)." Both "must receive prior Board approval in writing."
Career and technical education (CTE) teachers have their own rules. Under section 18.2e and Appendix J, a CTE teacher who receives and keeps a National Industry Certification "shall be treated as having earned a Master's degree and placed appropriately on the salary schedule." CTE teachers move laterally by completing the course and workshop counts in Appendix J, and "all courses/workshops require prior approval by the CTE director," with the Local Standards Board reviewing each recommendation. Our article on graduate-level course types explains the labels transcripts use.
Does Burlington require approval before you take a course?
Only for some courses. For salary credit, section 18.4 of the agreement requires prior written Board approval for out-of-field and undergraduate courses, and none for graduate-level courses in the teacher's field. CTE teachers need the CTE director's prior approval for every course or workshop.
Tuition help has its own step. Under section 19.7, teachers can receive a tuition benefit for graduate courses each year up to the cost of three University of Vermont in-state credits, first come first served. To qualify, a teacher "must notify the Superintendent or designee in writing prior to the commencement of the course" and submit a completed tuition benefit form. A teacher who does not earn a B or better repays the benefit through payroll deduction. Our article on pre-approval forms covers what to keep.
When are the Burlington column move deadlines?
The agreement and its calendar of deadlines set these dates:
- December 1-15: teachers are asked to make reasonable efforts to tell the Board which courses they plan to take for salary credit the next fiscal year, to help with the budget.
- September 30: credits completed before September 1 and reported in writing to the Superintendent by September 30 bring the raise "effective at the start of the school year."
- March 1: the deadline "to notify the Administration of the receipt of graduate level credits for salary schedule movement retroactive to February 1."
Our transcript deadlines article has tips for getting grades posted in time.
Do the same units count toward Vermont license renewal?
Usually, and Burlington makes in-field relicensure credit simple. Section 19.5 of the agreement says credits in the teacher's field or directly related to their teaching, taken for relicensure, are reported to the Superintendent in writing and "shall not have to be approved in advance unless tuition reimbursement is desired." Other relicensure courses, "including workshops and independent studies," need the Superintendent's prior written approval.
The state rules decide renewal itself. Vermont's licensing rules renew a Level II license every five years with 6 credits or 90 hours per endorsement, verified by a local or regional standards board. The Vermont renewal section has the full rules, and the Vermont state guide sets Burlington beside Champlain Valley.
Where can Burlington teachers earn graduate-level units?
Every district, Burlington included, decides for itself whether a course counts for the purpose a teacher needs it for: a column move, a stipend, license renewal or an added endorsement. No provider, university or website can make that decision, so the rules above come first, and written approval from Burlington's human resources office is the safest record to have before you pay.
Before you enroll: Burlington counts "graduate level academic credits in their academic field or directly related and relevant to their teaching or teaching assignment(s)." Credits "outside their academic field or not directly related and relevant" to the assignment, and any undergraduate course, "must receive prior Board approval in writing" (agreement section 18.4). Pick a course in your field or get written approval first.
| Question | What Burlington says | What to look for on the provider's site |
|---|---|---|
| Type of unit | Burlington: Graduate-level academic credit in field; or directly related to the assignment | Semester or quarter units, graduate-level or not, and the university named on the transcript and its accreditor |
| Grade | See units that count | Letter grade or pass/fail on the transcript |
| Deadline | Burlington: September 30; March 1 for a February 1 move | Published grading and transcript-posting time, and any rush option |
| Approval | Burlington: Prior Board approval for out-of-field or undergraduate courses | Course descriptions or syllabi you can attach to an approval form |
| Price | Not set by the district | All-in price per credit, including any university or first-course fee (compare) |
Graduate-level credit providers, listed with the same facts
With those rules in hand, compare providers on the same points. Providers listed on this site, each with the same facts:
- Teacher Friendly: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $336 first course for 3 credits (price notes)
- Credits for Educators: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $297 for 3 credits (price notes)
- CE Credits Online: self-paced, 180 days, units through Valley City State, Augustana, Adams State or Cal Poly Humboldt; from $449 for 3 credits (price notes)
- Connected Classroom Courses: self-paced, letter grade, units through CSU Pueblo; $389 + university fee for 3 credits (price notes)
- Upward Teachers: self-paced, 1 to 6 months, letter grade, units through UMass Global; $240 sale for 3 credits (price notes)
- VESi: self-paced online, 2- or 3-unit courses on special-needs instruction, units through University of the Pacific; $444 for 3 credits (price notes)
The provider directory lists 28 providers and programs by what teachers need them for, and Compare sets published prices for 16 of them side by side, with transcripts from 11 universities. A listing on this site does not mean Burlington has approved a provider or course; only the district can do that. TeacherPayGuide has commercial relationships with some providers it lists; how listings work.
Burlington salary questions teachers ask
What columns does the Burlington salary schedule have?
BA, BA+15, BA+36 or MA, BA+51 or MA+15, and BA+66 or MA+30, in Appendix A of the 2025-2028 agreement.
Do I need approval before taking a course in Burlington?
Not for graduate-level credit in your field or directly related to your teaching. Out-of-field and undergraduate courses need the Board's prior written approval.
When must I report credits in Burlington?
By September 30 for credits completed before September 1, or by March 1 for movement retroactive to February 1.
Can I stay on the BA+ columns after earning a master's in Burlington?
No. The agreement says a teacher with a master's degree may not elect against it to be paid on credits beyond the bachelor's.
Does Burlington help pay tuition?
Yes. Teachers can receive a tuition benefit for graduate courses each year, up to the cost of three University of Vermont in-state credits, if they notify the district in writing before the course starts and earn a B or better.
Where can Burlington teachers take graduate-level courses for salary credit or renewal?
Burlington decides which courses count, under the rules on this page, so check with human resources before you enroll. Providers that teachers compare include Teacher Friendly, Credits for Educators, CE Credits Online, Connected Classroom Courses, Upward Teachers and VESi. They differ in format, transcript university, grading time and price; the provider directory and the Compare page list 16 providers with the same facts for each.
Sources
- 2025-2028 agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Burlington Education Association, Inc., including Appendix A and Appendix J, Burlington School District. Checked
- Rules Governing the Licensing of Educators, Rule Series 5100, Vermont Agency of Education. Checked
Reviewed November 12, 2026 by TeacherPayGuide editors.Report an error