Michigan Teacher Certification

In Michigan, all individuals teaching at the elementary and secondary levels are required to hold a certificate, permit, or vocational authorization appropriate to their teaching assignment. The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Professional Preparation Services is responsible for Michigan teacher certification and issuing teacher permits. Michigan schools, public and private, are required by law to seek appropriately certified teachers for any teaching assignment. If such an individual cannot be found, they may then apply for one or more types of teacher permits to hire an individual to fill a vacancy.

Michigan issues two types of teaching certificates:

• Provisional Certificate (Initial) - The Provisional Certificate is the initial teaching certificate issued by Michigan. It is valid for up to 6 years.
• Professional Education Certificate - The Professional Education Certificate is Michigan's advanced teaching certificate. It is good for up to 5 years.

Michigan also has two levels of certificates. Michigan issues Provisional and Professional Certificates in elementary education (grades K-8), and secondary education (grades 7-12). Michigan also issues a Vocational Certificate that requires completion of a vocational education program and two years of recent and relevant work experience.

In addition to teaching certificates, Michigan also issues the following types of teacher permits:

• A Substitute Permit that is valid for 150 days. This is also known as the 150 day permit. It allows a qualified individual to substitute teach on a day-to-day basis. It requires that the individual have completed at least 90 semester hours of satisfactory ("C" or better) credit at a college or university.
• A Full-Year Permit that is valid until June 30 of the school year for which it was issued. It requires that the individual have completed at least 120 semester hours of satisfactory college credit at a state-approved teacher preparation institution. 15 of these hours are required to be in the professional education sequence of a K-12 teacher preparation program.
• An Emergency Permit which is valid for the school year for which it is issued, expiring on June 30. It is used in emergency situations where the lack of a qualified teacher will deprive children of an education. It allows the school to employ an individual who is not certified and does not meet the qualifications for a Full Year Permit.

The Process for Michigan Teacher Certification

The process for becoming certified to teach in Michigan is relatively straightforward. To receive a Provisional Certificate, an individual needs to:

• Complete the necessary educational requirements in an approved teacher preparation program either in a Michigan college or university, or an approved program in a college or university that includes student teaching in another state. Individuals completing a program at a Michigan college or university will be recommended by their institution to the Michigan Department of Education for their certificate. Individuals graduating from out-of-state programs must apply, providing the necessary documentation. If there are credit deficiencies because the out-of-state program does not meet Michigan standards, the individual would be notified.
• Pass the necessary Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) tests - all three parts of the Basic Skills test, and either the Elementary Education test for prospective elementary school teachers, or one or more Subject Area tests for prospective secondary school teachers.
• Complete first aid training including CPR for children and adults.

To receive a Professional Certificate, an individual needs to:

• Hold a current or expired Michigan Provisional certificate.
• Complete three years of teaching experience during the valid period of the Provisional certificate.
• Complete at least 18-semester hours in a planned program after receiving a Provisional Certificate or hold a master's or higher degree at any time.
• Complete the required reading methods course work of 3 semester hours for a secondary level certificate or 6 for an elementary level certificate.

Certification for Teachers Certified in Other States

There are several options available to teachers with out-of-state teaching certificates who would like to become certified to teach in Michigan.

• A Temporary Teacher Employment Authorization (T2EA) may be issued to any individual who meets all of the criteria for a Provisional Certificate except the appropriate MTTC tests. Such an individual must submit an application with all required documents (copy of the out-of-state certificate, college transcripts), and the appropriate application fee. The T2EA is valid for one year and is non-renewable. In that time period the individual must pass the appropriate MTTC tests to obtain a Provisional Certificate.
• A Professional Certificate may be issued to an individual who holds an out-of-state teaching certificate that has also met all of the criteria for a Professional Certificate (three or more years of teaching experience, a masters degree or higher or at least 18 credit hours in a planned program following receiving their certificate, completion of Michigan's reading credit requirement of 3 semester hours for a secondary level certificate, or 6 semester hours for an elementary level certificate). Such an individual will not have to take any of the MTTC tests. If an individual meets all of the Professional Education Certificate requirements except the reading methods coursework requirement, a Temporary Teacher Employment Authorization (T2EA) may be issued allowing the individual to teach while they fulfill this requirement.

Certification Testing Requirements

The Michigan Test For Teacher Certification Program (MTTC) has three tests:

• The Basic Skills Test, which consists of three parts, or sub tests: mathematics, reading, and writing. With some exceptions, all individuals seeking a teaching Certificate are required to pass all three parts of the Basic Skills Test.
• The Elementary Education Test must be passed, with some exceptions, by all individuals seeking an Elementary level Teaching Certificate.
• The appropriate Subject Area Tests must be passed, with some exceptions, for all individuals who wish to qualify for a Secondary level Certificate.

The only exception to the testing requirements is for candidates who have an out-of-state teaching certificate that meet all of the other requirements for a Professional Education Certificate.

An elementary school teacher must at a minimum pass the Basic Skills Test and the Elementary Education Test. Passing the Basic Skills Test and the Elementary Education Test allows an elementary education certificate holder to teach grades K-5 in all subjects and grades 6-8 in all subjects in a self-contained classroom. In addition, if an elementary school teacher also passes one or more subject tests, they are eligible to teach grades 6-8 in schools that assign more than one class to a specific teacher, in addition to being able to teach grades K-5. Secondary certificate holders must pass the Basic Skills Test and one or more Subject Area Tests and are eligible to teach grades 7-12 in the in the subject areas tested.

Illinois Professional Certificate Renewal

A Provisional Certificate is valid for up to 6 years. It can be renewed for up to 3 years provided that the holder has completed 10 semester hours in a planned program at an approved teacher preparation school. A second 3-year renewal is possible if the holder has completed 18 semester hours in a planned program. A third renewal of up to three years is possible for any individual who has met the requirements for a Professional Certificate except the three years of teaching experience.

Professional Certificates must be renewed every five years. Renewal requires the completion of 6 semester hours of credit, 18 State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs), or a combination of the two. Three SB-CEUs is the equivalent of 1 semester hour of credit.