Navigating Michigan Education Certification Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Becoming a certified teacher in Michigan is a rewarding journey that allows you to make a lasting difference in the lives of students. Michigan supports educators with clear certification pathways, professional growth opportunities, and strong demand across subject areas. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Michigan education certification requirements, covering various pathways, certifications, and endorsements.

Pathways to Certification

Michigan law requires that all individuals complete an approved preparation program to become a teacher. Several pathways are available, including traditional, alternative, and expedited routes.

Traditional Route

The traditional route involves completing a bachelor's degree in education, typically a four-year program. These programs integrate academic coursework with teacher preparation, including student teaching experiences.

Alternative Routes

Alternative certification pathways are designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in a subject other than education. These pathways involve enrolling in a state-approved teacher preparation program, which includes pedagogical coursework and a student teaching component.

One well-known alternative pathway is Teach for America (TFA), which helps recent college graduates earn a teaching certification while serving a two-year teaching commitment in a high-needs school in the Detroit area.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) also offers an alternative route through expedited non-traditional preparation programs. Those who join the program are eligible to seek employment under an Interim Teaching Certificate (ITC), valid for five years and non-renewable. Acceptance into these programs requires a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, passing the Michigan basic skills assessment and the appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC), CPR/First Aid Certification, and a federal background check. Members of this alternative program complete coursework covering child development, family and community relationships, diverse learners, and instructional strategies, along with a field-based experience in a classroom setting. The program guides candidates through the certification process and ensures all requirements are met.

Expedited Pathways

Expedited pathways are offered by approved Michigan Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) at a bachelor’s or post-bachelor's level. They leverage previous experience or skills to allow individuals to complete a program more quickly. Many expedited programs are residencies, designed for individuals interested in being employed as full-time teachers while concurrently working toward certification. Other expedited programs allow for stand-alone special education or English as a second language endorsements on a Michigan teaching certificate.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and Technical Education pathways are available for qualified individuals from business and industry to instruct in a state-approved CTE program. CTE programs provide secondary students opportunities to acquire skills that prepare them for career entry or continuing education after high school. It is best to reach out directly to the provider for additional information, by visiting the MDE’s public directory of approved preparation programs and selecting "CTE" from the “Type:” drop-down menu.

Out-of-State Educators

Educators who complete preparation at institutions or universities outside of Michigan must meet the requirements of that state. Upon completion of the preparation program and eligibility for the out-of-state certificate or license, educators may seek an evaluation under the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification reciprocal agreement held between states.

Levels of Certification

Michigan offers several levels of teacher certification, each with its own requirements:

Standard Teaching Certificate

This is the entry-level certification in Michigan, valid for five years and renewable an unlimited number of times while working towards earning a professional certification. To gain this license you must have a CPR and first aid training certification and pass a federal background check.

To earn this initial certificate for new teachers, you need a bachelor’s degree and completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program, which includes student teaching.

Professional Certification

After holding a standard certification, teachers may advance to a professional certification by meeting the following requirements:

Complete three years of successful teaching.
Complete six semester hours of reading methods coursework as an elementary teacher, or three as a secondary teacher (this requirement is often met for those who completed their teacher preparation program in Michigan since 1985).
Complete three semester hours of reading diagnostics and remediation, including a field experience.
Complete 150 hours of education-related professional learning or hold an education-related master’s degree. 50 hours must be specific to college and career preparation.

Advanced Professional Certification

This is the highest level of teacher certification offered by the MDE. To be considered as an applicant, you must hold a professional certification, complete an approved Michigan Teacher Leader program or gain certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, have highly effective educator ratings on three of your last five annual teacher evaluations, and have no ineffective ratings on the last five.

Requirements for Certification

Regardless of the pathway chosen, all candidates for Michigan teacher certification must meet certain basic requirements:

Hold at least a bachelor’s degree in education.
Complete an MDE-approved teacher preparation program focused on the grade level and subject matter for which certification is sought.
Complete a student teaching experience (a designated amount of in-field hours).
Pass the basic skills exam (SAT).
Pass the appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) content examinations.

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)

The MTTC is a series of content-specific examinations that all teacher candidates must pass to earn certification in Michigan. The exact exam will vary depending on the subject and grade level you plan on earning your certification in. Passage of MTTC content examinations is required before recommendation for certification.

MTTC Examples

Early Childhood Education: The MTTC Early Childhood Education exam covers general and special education.
Elementary Education: The Elementary Education exam qualifies you to teach all subjects for K-5, or one specific subject for K-8.
Secondary Education: The MTTC for secondary school teacher candidates will vary depending on the subject focus of the teacher preparation program.
Physical Education: As a PE teacher candidate you will need to take and pass the Physical Education exam with a score of 220.
Special Education: To earn a special education certification in Michigan you will need to focus your endorsement on a specific special education population, unless you want to teach at the early childhood education level, then you will only need to take and pass the Early Childhood Education exam.
English as a Second Language: The English as a Second Language Exam covers Language, Linguistics, and Comparisons; Culture; Second Language Acquisition and Instructional Practices; Application of Standards-Based Curriculum and Instruction; Assessment; and Professionalism.

Endorsements

In Michigan, each teacher certification must have at least one area of endorsement. These endorsements qualify you to teach a particular subject at a particular grade level. To earn an endorsement you must pass the appropriate MTTC.

Applying for Certification

All applications for licensure can be submitted through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). Once your application has been submitted the MDE will review your submitted information. A recent (within the last two years) background check must be on file in the certification office before you can be recommended for certification. A Michigan iChat will meet this requirement. If you have any misdemeanor or felony conviction(s), official court documents must also be on file in the certification office prior to a certification recommendation. Once you have completed all requirements outlined above, apply for the Standard Teaching Certificate in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System. After application, your identified university will review and recommend the application. Once the fee is paid, you will need to print your certificate and obtain notarization.

School Administrator Certification

Individuals interested in becoming a superintendent, principal, assistant principal or chief business official in Michigan should earn a standard school administrator certification. For building administrators, such as principals, you will need to earn at least a master’s degree in educational leadership or administration through an approved institution. Those interested in becoming central office administrators, such as superintendents, will need to have a master’s degree or higher and complete at least 21 semester hours of post-master’s degree level credits.

Substitute Teaching Permits

Michigan offers substitute teachers five permit options:

Daily Substitute Permit: A substitute with this permit can teach no more than 90 days in one assignment.
Extension of the Daily Substitute Permit: If the 90-day restriction from the daily substitute permit has been met, and the teacher is unable to return and there is no other qualified replacement, this permit may be granted as an extension to the original permit. To be granted an extension you must be observed as satisfactory by a school administrator, be assigned a mentor teacher, and have the extension approved by the State Superintendent.
Full-Year Basic Substitute Permit: Candidates must have at least 90 semester credit hours from a college or university for this permit. If the assignment is in a core subject, you should have a major that relates to the subject or pass the corresponding MTTC. You will be assigned a mentor teacher if the permit is approved.
Full-Year Shortage Substitute Permit: This permit requires that candidates hold a Michigan professional or advanced professional education certification. It can be renewed if you receive effective or highly effective ratings in your teaching assignments.
Expert Substitute Permit: You should have at least five years of exceptional work experience in the subject you plan on teaching to earn this permit. To substitute teach for a core subject area you will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree, and major in the subject area or pass the related MTTC. For non-core subject areas you should have at least 90 hours of semester credit hours and hold a related industry license, or hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Additional Opportunities

Multi-Age Education

Students in the Multi-Age Education program will complete required coursework and clinical experiences in Visual Arts (K-12) Education and Special Education (K-12). The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Multi-Age Education: Visual Arts program leads to teacher certification.

Elementary Education

The MAT Elementary Education program leads to a certification in one of two grade bands: PreK through Grade 3 or Grades 3 through 6.

Middle Childhood Education

In the Middle Childhood Education program, students will complete required coursework and clinical experiences in grades 5-9 in either Mathematics or Science.

Secondary Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) for Secondary Education program leads to a grades 7-12 teacher certification in one of four content areas: English/Language Arts; mathematics, science, or social studies.

Health and Physical Education

Take your teaching skills to the next level with a master’s in health and physical education from Wayne State University. Make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the next generation.

Post-Baccalaureate Program

The post-baccalaureate program allows students to either (1) attain a Standard Michigan Teacher Certification or (2) attain an additional teaching endorsement. Coursework for certification in a concentration area varies based on the area of certification/endorsement sought.

The University of Olivet Teaching Pathway

At The University of Olivet, the Teaching Pathway gives you a direct and flexible way to become a teacher in Michigan without requiring a traditional student teaching semester. By pairing your major with this guided program, you prepare to enter an approved alternative certification track immediately after graduation. That means you can start teaching full-time and earning a salary faster, all while continuing to meet certification requirements.

Reciprocity for Out-of-State Teachers

Educators who move to a new state must earn reciprocity in order to transfer their teaching license and continue teaching. Facilitating reciprocity between the states is the Interstate Agreement. It was created by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and requires that participating states create a guideline that allows teachers to transfer their out-of-state teaching license into an in-state license. Candidates should first apply for the standard license. The MDE will then evaluate your application and send you a letter stating what assessments you must meet. All candidates must pass a test of basic skills, usually the SAT. The MDE will also indicate what subject area test(s) you must take from the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). Applicants who hold a standard out-of-state teaching license but who have not met the assessment requirements can be issued a Temporary Teacher Employment Authorization and teach for one year while completing the assessment requirements. After meeting the assessment requirements, candidates with temporary authorization must apply for the Professional level of licensure.

If elementary certified, the applicant must have six semester credit hours of reading methods coursework. Michigan has two main licensure levels available to out-of-state applicants: Standard and Professional. If a teacher’s out-of-state license meets the standard level of the Michigan professional license and if they have the proper level of experience, described above, then they are eligible to apply for the advanced professional license.

Professional Development and Advancement

Michigan offers various opportunities for professional development and advancement for teachers:

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