Professional Development
Free On-Demand Courses
Visit NSDA Learn to enroll in free, on-demand professional development courses. Courses are open to all member coaches, regardless of whether the school is a member.
Nearly all coaches with speech and debate professional development requirements reported that our courses and certificates meet their needs. Check if you’re among them, and use these courses to satisfy your requirements!
Course content includes:
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- Introductions to coaching new events
- Engaging and mentoring diverse groups of students
- Team management and culture building
- And more
Professional Accreditation
Composed of three levels and two specialization tracks, this professional accreditation program demonstrates expertise to administrators and is a mark of your commitment to speech and debate.
Level 1 – Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement
The first level of the NSDA Accreditation program is the Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement. This foundational endorsement is the perfect stepping stone to expand and illustrate your skills. The accreditation requires the completion of several NSDA Learn and NFHS Learn courses on coaching, protecting students, and team management.
Requirements for Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement:
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- Active NSDA coach membership
- Successful completion of the Intro to NSDA Coaching Course on NSDA Learn (1 Hour)
- Successful completion of the NFHS’ Level 1 Speech and Debate Credential
As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload the completion certificate you’ll receive for each course and pay a $25 fee. Processing takes approximately two weeks, and applicants will be notified of their approval status via email.
Upon completing the required courses, active coach members who have previously earned an NSDA accreditation may apply for this endorsement for free. Anyone interested in doing so should contact Lauren McCool at lauren.mccool@speechanddebate.org before applying.
After completing Level 1, endorsed coaches may choose to continue and obtain one or both of the following tracks:
Coaching Track
The coaching track of the NSDA’s accreditation program is ideal for those who coach programs that compete beyond the school day.
Coaching includes so much more than helping choose pieces or cut cards. Coaches also serve as mentors, care givers, and team administrators. The coaching track seeks to recognize the breadth of skills required of a speech and debate coach.
Level 2 – Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement
Level 3 – Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement
Teaching Track
The teaching track of the NSDA’s accreditation program is ideal for those who teach speech and debate courses.
While all coaches are educators, not all coaches are classroom speech and debate teachers. This accreditation track seeks to recognize the unique skills teaching speech and debate in the classroom setting requires.
Level 2 – Professional Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement
Level 3 – Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement
Coaching Track
Level 2 – Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement
Requirements for Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement:
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- Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement (Level 1)
- Three years of active NSDA coach membership
- Administrator Endorsement Form signed by a school administrator or speech and debate program advisor/director.
- Tournament Attendance Form completed
- Certificate of Completion for one of the following NSDA Learn courses:
- Certificate of Completion for two additional courses found on NSDA Learn not already taken for this level or Level 1.
Level 3 – Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement
Requirements for Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement:
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- Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Coach Endorsement
- Five years of active NSDA coach membership
- Continued endorsement by administrator or program advisor
- Earn 1,500 coaching merit points
- Earn a Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Award – bronze plaque (70 citations)
- Successful completion of three additional NSDA Learn courses not selected in Level 1 or Level 2.
- Pre-approved curricular/education support to the national office (course writing, curriculum writing, webinar, etc.) – must be arranged and completed in advance
- Serve as a mentor to a new speech and/or debate coach using an NSDA provided system
If you intend to pursue the Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Coach endorsement please contact lauren.mccool@speechanddebate.org to discuss the curricular/education support needed.
Teaching Track
Level 2 – Professional Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement
Requirements for Professional Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement:
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- Active paid NSDA coach membership
- Obtain Speech and Debate Coaching (Level 1) endorsement
- Three years of speech and/or debate classroom teaching experience at an accredited institution
- Endorsement by administrator
- Certificate of Completion for one of the following NSDA Learn courses:
- Successful completion of the following NSDA Learn Teaching courses:
Level 3 – Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement
Requirements for Advanced Speech and Debate Teaching Endorsement:
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- Active paid NSDA coach membership
- Obtain Professional Speech and Debate Teacher endorsement
- Three years of speech and/or debate classroom teaching experience at an accredited institution
- Continued endorsement by administrator
- Successful completion of two additional NSDA Learn Teaching courses:
- Successful completion of one of the following NSDA Learn courses that was not selected in Level 2:
- Pre-approved curricular/education support to the national office (course writing, curriculum writing, webinar, etc.) – must be arranged and completed in advance
- Serve as a mentor to a new speech and/or debate teacher to using and NSDA provided system
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If you intend to pursue the Advanced Professional Speech and Debate Teaching endorsement please contact Lauren McCool at lauren.mccool@speechanddebate.org to discuss the curricular/education support needed.
Conference Video Archive
Explore videos from our past National Conferences to learn from experts in coaching, management, and equity.