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Standards Leading to Teacher Certification

Introduction

Students seeking to enter the Educator Preparation Programs at Central Michigan University are screened using multiple criteria related to teacher excellence. The selection criteria assess characteristics appropriate for candidates pursuing a professional teaching practice that centers around the Michigan Core Teaching Practices and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Standards. Once a student is admitted, academic and non-academic skills are developed and monitored throughout the teacher education experience.

Excellent teachers demonstrate high-level content knowledge, varied pedogeological skills, and an ability to engage all learners. Teacher candidates at CMU are passionate about teaching and learning for all students, dedicated to equitable, just, and inclusive practices, are positive and collaborative communicators, committed to the profession and lifelong learning, and ethically and professionally responsible. Candidates must demonstrate the professional dispositions appropriate to the field of teaching in order to be recommended for certification. Professional dispositions address teacher candidates’ professional attitudes, values, and beliefs as demonstrated to students, families, colleagues and community in the learning process and the teaching profession. Emphasizing the demonstration of dispositions indicates the commitment of CMU Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to create an atmosphere in which teacher candidates are not only taught the value of such dispositions, but the imperative of living out these attitudes, values, and beliefs in all endeavors, professional and otherwise. With an emphasis on teacher leadership, the faculty and staff of CMU’s EPPs expect candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Education to understand and uphold the above dispositions as they aim to meet the unique needs of the students and teaching profession of today and tomorrow as proud CMU educators. Only qualified candidates will be recommended for certification. It is important to note any legal charge or conviction may impede a student’s ability to progress through or be admitted to the teacher education program.

Admission of Candidacy to Educator Preparation Programs

Students seeking an Elementary or Secondary Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate must follow the admission requirements for teacher education at Central Michigan University. These requirements can be found on the  website at www.ehs.cmich.edu/css. Students are admitted to teacher education at CMU three times a year. Students complete the admission criteria for teacher education and then attend a mandatory Admission Meeting. Students may RSVP to an admission meeting through Engage Central a month prior to the admission meeting they plan to attend. After attending the mandatory meeting, they will apply to the program. Within two weeks of application, a student will be sent information regarding their admission status and next steps. Any changes mandated by the Michigan Department of Education may become effective at any time during a student’s program.

Full Admission of Candidacy to Educator Preparation Programs

Full admission has been established to verify a candidate’s ongoing growth and development in CMU’s Educator Preparation Programs. Requirements can be found on the EHS Office of Educator Preparation Programs website. These must be fulfilled to continue to student teaching. The requirements include, but are not limited to items such as successful completion of pre-student teaching, departmental approvals of all major and or minors and successful completion of all Professional Education coursework.

Exit of Candidacy

Upon successful completion of CMU’s Educator Preparation Programs, students will move on to graduation and then will be eligible to be recommended for Michigan certification. For details on certification requirements consult the EHS Office of Educator Preparation Programs website.

Conflict Resolution and Appeal Procedure

  1. A student who has a complaint regarding teacher education decisions should make known his or her complaint as soon as possible, but in no case later than thirty days after the end of the semester. Any exception to the time limitation shall be for unusual and most compelling reasons. At each step of the process, the student will be given the opportunity to present relevant information, and the reasons for the decision will be explained to the student. 
  2. A student who feels that arbitrary and/or capricious decisions have been made in evaluating admission, or continuing requirements for the teacher education program, or in the recommendation for certification, should meet with the Associate Director of Education Preparation (CEHS 421, EHS Office of Educator Preparation Programs).
  3. If the student is not satisfied with the Associate Director’s decision, they may request, in writing, a consultation with the Director of Educator Preparation Programs. The Director of Educator Preparation Programs will evaluate the situation and make a decision.
  4. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Director of Professional Education, the student may submit an appeal, in writing, to the Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) Committee.  The QAS Committee will review the appeal and make a final recommendation.  
  5. Legal or serious dispositional violations may not be granted an appeal. Serious violations will be reviewed by the Director of Educator Preparation and the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services. Decisions will be final. 

Teacher Certification 

For this process, students who have a degree and want to add Teacher Certification will need to earn a second degree. For more information on this process, please visit https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/college-education-human-services/student-resources/student-services-advising. 

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: Completion of a B.S. in Education/Elementary emphasis degree will qualify students for recommendation to the Michigan State Board of Education for the fowling grade bands; Teaching Early Childhood, Birth-Grade K and Early Childhood Special Education, Teaching Early Childhood, Birth-Grade 3 and Early Childhood Special Education, Teaching Grades PK-3, Teaching Grades 3-6, Teaching Grades PK-6 (students will choose one to two grade bands for initial certification).

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 master’s 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 credit hours appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement from a regionally accredited college or university; or
  • 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 Permits, Authorizations, Endorsements, 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.