Computer Science Certificates & Endorsement

RIDE offers two Computer Science credentials for certified teachers:

  1. CS Endorsement

  2. CS4RI Certificate of Completion

For questions on the application process, contact: EQAC@ride.ri.gov | 401-222-4600


CS Endorsement

Eligibility Requirements:

Educators must have completed a Professional Development (PD) program (40+ hours) from at least one of the following providers in order to be eligible to apply for a CS endorsement:

  • Code.org CS Discoveries

  • URI’s Intro to Computing & AI

  • Code.org AP CS Principles

  • PLTW AP CS Principles

🔗 See instructions to apply for CS Endorsement

Competencies FOr Endorsement:

Through the eligible PD programs (above), teachers address the four required competencies specified in the CS Endorsement:

  • Demonstrate and apply grade band appropriate knowledge of computer programming, algorithms,
    abstraction, computer systems, computer networks, data science, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and the
    impact of computing in society.

  • Design and implement grade band appropriate computer science instruction.

  • Understand and apply techniques to foster an inclusive computing culture and environment for instruction.

  • Assess student learning in computer science and use it to inform instruction.

Participants must request a Proof of Requirements for Endorsement Certificate from the University of Rhode Island: urics.k12@gmail.com


CS4RI Certificate of Completion

The CS4RI Certificate of Completion is designed to help teachers who hold, or are working toward, certification in a content area to meet RIDE’s requirements for teaching in an approved Information Technology (IT) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.

Eligibility Requirements:

To earn the CS4RI Certificate of Completion, you must satisfy both of the following requirements:

  1. You must hold a valid RIDE Computer Science Teaching Endorsement.

  2. You must complete three (3) educational experiences from the CS4RI-approved list, in any combination of professional development (PD) courses and academic courses.

🗳️ Submit a Request to Add Course/PD to Approved List

How to Apply for the Certificate

  1. Gather documentation of your three completed educational experiences (transcripts, completion certificates, or equivalent evidence). Typically the documentation for each approved course/training should demonstrate participation of at least 40 hours.

  2. Provide evidence of your RIDE Computer Science Teaching Endorsement.

  3. Submit all materials through the application form.

  4. URI will review your application and, upon verification, issue your CS4RI Certificate of Completion.

  5. Submit the URI-issued CS4RI Certificate of Completion to RIDE as part of your CTE certification application for a RIDE-approved IT CTE program.

Questions? Contact URI K-12 Computer Science at urics.k12@gmail.com