The number of U.S. teachers participating in some form of distance education is on the rise, yet compared to many nations, distance-based professional learning is fairly new in the U.S. What are common elements of effective global distance education for teachers, and what lessons do they hold for those who design similar programs in the U.S.? Over the course of two years, Education Development Center researched distance-based teacher professional learning in nearly 100 countries. This article presents five key elements and the larger lessons they hold for the U.S.