The IB teacher award—An influential credential every teacher needs
The IB teacher award is a credential that teachers gain through completing professional development provided by IB partner universities. It formally acknowledge teachers’ understanding of the principles and practices associated with IB programmes and their commitment to ongoing professional learning. We offer two awards. Level 1 is for pre-service, beginning or experienced teachers who want to develop their skills as reflective IB practitioners, while level 2 caters for those practitioners who truly want to conduct academic research into an area of IB practice with the support of university faculty.
About the awards
The IB offers two levels of recognition:
The two awards are the IB's formal acknowledgment that teachers have demostrated their knowledge and understanding about IB principles and practices during their academic study and investigation.
Currently, the only means of gaining eligibility for either of the two awards is through completing a recognized undergraduate or graduate course of study. In the future it will be possible for experienced IB teachers to gain eligibility for the level 1 award by compiling a professional portfolio incorporating some critical self-reflection. Future developments in the portfolio route will be announced in the "news" section.
Graduates!
If you have recently graduated from an IB-recognized course of study leading to eligibility for a level 1 award and would like to register for the award, please visit our application and registration page.
About the universities
The IB is partnering with an increasing number of prestigious universities around the world to offer the IB Teacher Award programs. Currently, the following universities and institutions offer IB-recognized courses of study.
- Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia)
- Curtin University of Technology (Perth, Australia)
- Murdoch University (Perth, Australia)
- The University of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia)
- The University of Bath (Bath, UK)
- Oakland University (Michigan, USA)
- Bethel University (Minnesota, USA)
- George Mason University (Virginia, USA)
- Bilkent University (Ankara, Turkey)
- ECIS (United Kingdom)
- The University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
- California State University, San Marcos (California, USA)
Universities interested in finding out more about this initiative, with a view to possible involvement, can contact the IB's teacher education services department for further information.
News
California State University San Marcos Emphasizes IB Philosophy in New Course Offerings
The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IB encourages students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, to learn how to learn, and to participate in community service. California State University San Marcos shares the same goals and values, which is why the university viewed the IB as a solution to its challenge of bringing an international perspective and deeper understanding of people and their cultures to the classroom. The university also wanted to enable local teachers to increase their qualifications and competitiveness in the workforce.
Thus, after a rigorous recognition process, California State University San Marcos became the 12th institution to join the IB’s teacher award initiative with new courses of study--Global Teacher Studies and Preparation: International Baccalaureate Primary and Middle Years Programmes. These courses develop teachers’ understanding of the principles and practices associated with the IB PYP and MYP, and they prepare teachers (K-10) to work in IB World Schools. The Global Teacher Studies and Preparation course is offered in a blended online and face-to-face approach and includes a field study experience in a local IB World School. The courses are well suited for newly credentialed teachers, experienced teachers, teacher leaders, site administrators, teachers already working at IB World Schools, and teachers new to IB. Once a teacher completes this course of study, he or she may apply for the IB teacher award, a certificate that verifies the candidate has completed the comprehensive training to work in an International Baccalaureate PYP or MYP World School.
IB Enters Innovative New Partnership with ECIS and CIE
We are pleased to announce a new program developed by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) in partnership with University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). The recognized course of study is the International Teaching Certificate, which can lead to the Level 1 IB teacher award.
The course allows participating students to create a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates the completion of all the academic requirements of the level 1 IB teacher award for each of the three IB programmes.
The 14-month online program, which features a face-to-face Institute, is offered through ECIS and assessed by CIE. This course is the first to provide students with the exciting opportunity to gain the level 1 IB teacher award through a portfolio pathway.
Stay informed
Would you like to be kept informed of the latest developments specifically related to the IB teacher awards?
If so, let us know by sending an email to teacher.award@ibo.org and we will add your name and email address to our mailing list.
