Frequently Asked Questions
Start here to find the answers to many of the most commonly asked questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please reach out to our help desk.
FAQs
We offer our classes in several different formats, including online, on-site, remote learning, hybrid, and self-paced. To find out more information and the difference between each, please visit the course format page of our website.
Learn MoreUpon enrolling in an online course, you will receive a registration confirmation email from register@plsclasses.com with the course and instructor information. No later than the Friday before the class start date, you will receive an email from your class instructor that includes login information for our classroom platform Canvas. In addition, you will receive an introductory phone call from your instructor.
To find out more about your instructor, please visit the instructor section of our website and find your individual instructor to learn more.
Learn MoreParticipants often tell us that our courses have transformed their professional practice and student achievement. (See what participants have to say about their PLS course experience in the testimonials section of our website.) Each course is aligned to the competencies of teacher effectiveness frameworks, enabling you to select the courses that best meet your needs or interests for professional growth. To match a course to your professional learning goals, please visit our alignments page. We are also happy to discuss your professional needs and recommend classes or programs. Contact us at 1-866-757-2527.
Learn MoreYes. The course content and learning experiences are the same, regardless of the college or university awarding credit.
To see an instructor’s upcoming classes, please select your instructor’s name and then select the box labeled “register here for my next class”.
Learn MoreYes. For information on which college partners offer our courses as part of a Masters program, follow the link below.
Learn MoreYes! Our college partners are located in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana, New Jersey, and Michigan. Our courses are pre-approved by our college partners. If you are located in a different state, please be aware that each state, educational district, and college/university has its own guidelines and rules. It is your responsibility to make sure that courses offered through PLS Classes fulfill your school’s/state’s requirements.
PLS Classes was formerly known as Performance Learning Systems, and PLS 3rd Learning is the company behind PLS Classes. Learn more at PLS3rdLearning.com.
Learn MoreOur accredited college and university partners approve our courses and instructors, award the graduate credit, and issue transcripts.
You can register online or by calling our registration department. To register online: Find a class, click register, add to cart, and check out. (You will be able to create an account or log in to an existing account.)
Our college partners may require this information to avoid enrolling individuals with the same name. Additionally, we require your SSN in order to send you a 1098-T education tax credit.
Tuition is determined by the college or university and may vary. Course content and expectations are the same for every college partner.
No. You are only required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $50 at the time of registration. Any balance must be paid in full before the first day of class. To make a payment, you may login to your account and pay by credit card. You may also send a check to PLS Classes, 1275 Glenlivet Drive, Suite 100
Allentown, PA 18106-3107. Or you may call our registration office at 1-866-757-2527 during our business hours Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm EST.
Course registration confirmations are sent once you successfully register. Course confirmation letters are delivered via email approximately two weeks before the course start date. To ensure your course confirmation, register early. If a course needs to be canceled, we will reach out to you to make alternative arrangements.
Most of our college partners require participants to submit registration forms. Select the college partner below to find out the specific requirements for that college partner:
We are pleased to offer several different incentive programs including our refer a friend program, customized cohort program, as well as seasonal promotions. To be the first to know about our promotions, please follow the link below to subscribe to our email list or find out more about our promotions.
Learn MoreIf you are enrolling in the PLS/Wilkes courses EDU# 5030, 5031, 5034, 5035, or 5036, your PLS course enrollment rate uses the Wilkes tuition rate. Visit the link below for more information.
Learn MoreYes. In order to register for this course through PLS and Wilkes University, you must first apply and be accepted (received your emailed acceptance letter), so you can provide PLS with your WIN# during registration. To apply, please contact Tori Reigle, Associate Director of Education by email or phone 1-570-408-4311.
If you are working toward the Online Teaching graduate degree through Wilkes University, you must enroll through the Wilkes University website for ALL classes in this degree program, including PLS Classes. All other degree programs including Educational Development and Strategies and Effective Teaching will register on the PLS website for PLS courses and Wilkes courses on the Wilkes portal.
EDU 558 is the course number assigned when a new PLS course is approved through Wilkes University. This course number is temporary and is typically used for at least one semester. If the district or entity approving your course(s) for reimbursement inquires about EDU-558 being a repeat of a course you have already completed, please contact us at 1-866-757-2527, or email Nancy Seay at nseay@pls3rdlearning.com.
Or here is a form letter that you can print and provide to your district. To see the courses listed with this number, please visit the Wilkes University website: EDU-558 Topics Courses
Learn MoreYou will receive an invitation to join the course directly from our Learning Management Platform called Canvas on the class start date. You will gain access to the course at 9 am on the class start date (always a Tuesday). Log into Canvas, access the course, and your professional learning experience begins!
To prepare for your class, you should review tutorials in Canvas, complete your profile, and set up notification preferences.
Some of our online classes have required reading. If there is a book that you must purchase, it will be listed on the individual course description page with a link to the book on Amazon.
One of the main reasons many educators choose to take a PLS self-paced class is because each particpant is assigned to a dedicated facilitator who provides feedback on assignments. You work at your own pace and your facilitator will check in to ensure you have adequate time to complete any assignments that may require implementation and/or reflection. A recommended pacing guide, for ease of staying on track, will be provided.
Self-paced courses typically begin on a Tuesday, which gives the facilitator a chance to contact the participant after they register to discuss course expectations as well as their role in the learning engagement. After registration, our team will contact you to finalize the registration and make sure you are ready to get started.
Please note, there are no prerequisites for our self-paced courses and they can be taken in any order. The numbering systems for these courses serve as a means to provide accurate course credit on transcripts.
When you register you will pay a non-refundable $50 deposit to hold your spot in class. Review our payment terms for more information.
Learn MoreFor a receipt to a course, call 1-866-757-2527, or log into your account, click Receipt on the left and select the appropriate course.
To check your balance, call call 1-866-757-2527, or log into your account, click Make a Payment on the left and select the appropriate course.
If you have not received a 1098-T in the mail from us by February 15, call us at 1-866-757-2527 or email us at registration@plsclasses.com; we will be pleased to send you the form. Please note that we must have your Social Security number on your account in order to send you a 1098-T.
The facilitator will be available and interacts with course participants for the entire time period during which the course is offered. From the welcome, to a detailed weekly overview of assignments, to comments on the discussion board, the facilitator is an integral part of the course experience. Part of the facilitator’s responsibility is to assign and give feedback on participants’ course work, and you will find that she or he is always ready to help. Participants appreciate the enthusiasm and expertise of their online facilitators.
The time commitment varies depending your individual working style, but is designed to fall within accreditation/college partner requirements for completion of and credit in a graduate course. For most courses, there are no mandatory scheduled meetings; however, weekly interactions are required. Certain courses may require a synchronous meeting time, which will be published on the registration page for that course.
Assignments are sent electronically to the facilitator. Some assignments are posted discussions that reflect the various threads of the course. Other assignments are sent by attachment to the facilitator or attached to an area of the course platform where they can only be reviewed by the facilitator.
To take any of our courses with an online component, you must have a working computer with an Internet connection, and an active email account. PLS Classes and our partners use the term “online course” to refer to courses in which participant/facilitator interaction takes place primarily through an online Learning Management System called Canvas. Our facilitators will guide you through the course, review and provide feedback on weekly assignments, and facilitate discussions. All interaction takes place through Canvas. Use this link to learn more about the online class experience.
Learn MoreOnline tutorials are available to assist you. Facilitators are able to provide support and answer questions relating to the navigation of the online learning environment. Additionally, technology support personnel are available for assistance with non-course specific questions and to assist with operational or hardware concerns. Visit our support pages to learn more.
Learn MoreThe assignments are all due within a specific time period, and should be posted as directed, typically within that week. However, if you need to be away, arrangements can be made at the discretion of the facilitator to work ahead.
Prior to your first day, please download the most current version of Adobe Reader so you are able to highlight, add text, or draw on the PDF. Download all PDFs to your device. For on-site classes, the transportability of your device should be a consideration given the interactivity of our class sessions. Some participants have found that moving around the classroom with a full-sized laptop computer is awkward.
As of Spring 2022, we have eliminated the materials fees from all of our courses. When you enroll in a course, you will have access to a digital copy of any class materials and the option to have printed materials sent to you.
PLS Classes are highly participatory, making it very hard to make up an absence. To discuss your needs on a case-by-case basis, contact us at 1-866-757-2527 or send an email to: registration@plsclasses.com.
Learn MoreOur participant manuals are quite lengthy, 100-300 pages depending on the course, so many students prefer to opt-out of receiving a printed participant manual. If you opt-out of the printed participant manual.
After you register and your class is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation letter outlining how to access the digital materials for your class within our Course Library. The Course Library includes the participant manual as well as a smaller pdf which contains pages you will need to print and have available during class.