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Teacher Certification

For this process, please contact the Assistant Director of Professional Education in CEHS 421.

Postbaccalaureate Students

A postbaccalaureate student is defined as a student with a non-teaching bachelor’s degree from a four-year regionally accredited institution who is seeking teacher certification, a student with a teaching degree who is seeking teacher certification and/or endorsement in an additional area, or a student with a teaching degree who is seeking standard or professional certification and/or endorsement in an additional area.

Standard Teacher Certification for non-degree seeking Postbaccalaureate Students

  1. Postbaccalaureate students must follow the “Standards Leading to Teacher Certification” as published in the Bulletin and meet Michigan Department of Education requirements.
  2. Postbaccalaureate students must have majors and/or minors signed by a department advisor in the department offering the major or minor. The request for the declared major/minor will be initiated by the staff in the EHS Center for Student Services (989-774-3309). Certification will be recommended for those teaching areas in which CMU presently offers a major or minor. Course substitutions may be approved only by the department advisor.
  3. Postbaccalaureate students must complete all Professional Education courses and other degree/certification requirements for either elementary or secondary students as published in the Bulletin.
  4. The Teacher Education and Professional Development Department (TEPD) will submit a list of the names of all students applying for student teaching the following semester to each student’s major and minor department for approval or denial.
  5. The EHS Center for Student Services will audit the BSEd degree of all students to certify that candidates have met all the requirements before confirming them for certification.

Validity of a Standard Teaching Certificate

 (Visit the Michigan Department of Education website, Certification Guidance page for links to the most up-to-date documents and resources – a hyperlink to this page is also available under “Certification Help:” on the MOECS Login page)

The Standard Teaching Certificate is a five-year teaching certificate with unlimited renewals. Each renewal adds five years to the certificate’s validity. A renewal can be requested any time after January 1 of the expiration year, provided the applicant completes the Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal Requirements as described under the heading “Requirements for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal” listed below.

Elementary: A certificate with elementary endorsement issued after September 1, 1988, is valid for teaching all disciplines grades K-5, all disciplines grades K-8 in a self-contained classroom, and the discipline area(s) as listed on the certificate, in grades K-8.

Secondary: A certificate with secondary endorsement issued after September 1, 1988, is valid for teaching discipline area(s), as listed on the certificate, in grades 6 – 12.

Requirements for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal

Requirements: (One of the following)

  • 150 hours of education-related professional learning.
  • An education-related masters or higher degree earned at any time from a regionally accredited college or university (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate).
  • A valid out-of-state teaching certificate (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate).

Education-Related Professional Learning Options:

One of the following education-related professional learning options must be earned since the issue date of the most recent Standard Teaching Certificate or renewal, and they must be entered into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) prior to applying for the renewal for the system to recognize your eligibility:

  • 6 semester hours in a planned course of study** from a regionally accredited college or university; or
  • 150 Michigan State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement; or
  • 150 hours of Michigan District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement.
  • Any combination of the above.

Education-Related Professional Learning Hour Conversion:

  • College credit: 1 semester credit = 25 professional learning hours
  • SCHECH Hours: 1 SCECH hour – 1 professional learning hour
  • DPPD Hours: 1 DPPD hour = 1 professional learning hour

**Credits in a planned course of study may include credits taken as part of an education-related master’s or higher degree or credits in a program that leads to an endorsement.

Requirements and procedures for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal, Progressing to a Professional Teaching Certificate, and Renewal of a Professional Teaching Certificate can be accessed from the Michigan Department of Education’s Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) webpage under the Certification Help: Certification Guidance Documents link.

Certificate Application and Renewal Fees

Michigan Compiled Law (MCL 380.1538) authorizes the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to collect fees for Educator Permit, Authorization, Endorsement, and License Applications and Renewals. The fees do not cover the issuance of a certificate, certificate printing, endorsement or authorization, but rather support the staff who evaluate applications, process paperwork, and provide guidance, technical assistance and support to educators daily. The legislated fees also provide for technological support and regular maintenance to the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).

The document “Certification Fees” can be accessed from the Michigan Department of Education’s Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) webpage under the Certification Help: Certification Guidance Documents link.