The New WISC Grades 1-8 Teacher Education Program

WISC’s Grade 1-8 Certification Program is designed to support a wide range of professional backgrounds and life circumstances. Through a blend of in-person intensives, online courses, mentored teaching, and fieldwork, students engage in a rich, immersive training that integrates theory, practice, and inner development.

Both new students, and students who are actively working with children in Waldorf settings will find that their classroom work and program studies mutually enrich one another—coursework deepening their teaching practice and lived experience informing their studies. Most in-person intensives and workshops take place on weekends (typically Saturdays), and online classes are held Tuesdays after 4:00 pm, allowing students to balance professional and family commitments alongside their studies.

WISC faculty are highly experienced and diverse Waldorf educators and adult education leaders. In addition to core faculty, visiting and adjunct instructors contribute specialized expertise, offering students a broad and comprehensive educational experience.

Graduates of the program are awarded an official Waldorf Teacher Certificate..

Length and Format

Our Waldorf Grades Teacher Education program is a 25-month, 700-hour program that spans over three summers and two school years. Most in-person intensives and workshops take place on weekends (typically Saturdays), and online classes are held Tuesdays after 4:00 pm allowing students to balance professional and family commitments alongside their studies.

Enrollment to our full Grades program is now open, classes start on July 1st! We offer a $1,200 early bird discount, deadline May 1st. Tuition assistance available.

During each of the two school years, we bring the coursework in a combination of, 1 in person Saturday intensive per month, (4 in the fall and 5 in the spring), accompanied by weekly, Tuesday online class meetings after 4pm:

  • Monthly 1.5hr Waldorf Essentials class online

  • Monthly 1.5hr Waldorf Enrichment class online

  • Bi-Monthly 1.5hr Anthroposophy class online

  • Monthly 1hr of mentoring online

During the three summers, three week-long sessions are held in-person in Los Angeles and in San Diego.

  • 2 in person Grades summer week intensives (see below)

  • 1 in person Early Childhood summer week intensive (see below)

  • 1 three day online mini week on Human Dignity

Also included each year, are:

  • 1 in person ‘Art of Speech’ Saturday workshop

  • 1 in person ‘Biodynamic Farming’ week-end workshop

  • 1 Threefold Saturday community event

  • Field work (Observation & practice teaching)

Entrance requirements

This program welcomes first time teacher as well as working teachers. All applicants must have earned a high school diploma, have some familiarity with Waldorf education and anthroposophy and be able to satisfy your fieldwork requirements during the course of the program. 

areas of study and experience

We will help guide each new teacher with their development and practice in the areas below

  • Foundational principles of Waldorf education

  • Anthroposophical studies 

  • Pedagogical practices and the Waldorf Curriculum grades 1-8

  • Artistic and handwork activities of Waldorf education

  • Professional and social aspects of Waldorf education

  • Inner holistic development of the educator

  • Independent research

What will you learn

  • To understand the child in depth, through the broader study of human development.

  • To develop skills to practice this understanding in a Waldorf setting based on rhythm, arts, storytelling, music, crafts and imagination.

  • To study together Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy to deepen awareness of the far-reaching effects of a holistic education

  •  To practice tools and capacities for self-development and lifelong research.

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Why join WISC as a full time student?

  • Full-time students are assigned a mentor who supports and visits in the classroom

  • WISC helps organizes ‘Field Work’ in the local schools for full time students.

  • We keep track of the AWSNA course requirements and make sure you stay on track to get certified. Example

  • Full time WISC students get 50% off on our Practical Arts and Emergency and Trauma Training programs

  • 90% of our students get a job before they graduate from WISC

Program Overview

  • Summer 1

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

  • School yr 1

    We offer Monthly in person intensives, weekly online seminars and specialty workshops.

  • Summer 2

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

  • School yr 2

    We offer Monthly in person intensives, weekly online seminars and specialty workshops.

  • Summer 3

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

Summer weeks

The summer weeks can each be taken separately. We recommend enrollment in the full program to get the best experience and the speediest pathway to become a certified Waldorf teacher. It is also the most cost effective option. Sign-up for our summer weeks will be available in May.

We are a local, regional institute where developing a close sense of community provides the foundation of support and growth for personal transformation.

As a member, WISC offers an AWSNA-recognized Waldorf teacher preparation program. Our new full program of 700 course hours (plus Fieldwork) meets and exceeds the 500 minimum hours required by AWSNA. We encourage you to watch the film Waldorf 100 Learn to change the world produced in association with the Waldorf 100 International Forum for Steiner/Waldorf Education.