College of Education
Teacher Certification for Professional Certificates
Professional requirements for teachers with certificates expiring BEFORE September 1, 2013 have not changed.
Obtaining a Professional Certificate
If you hold a Michigan Provisional Certificate, you may obtain a Michigan Professional Certificate if you present evidence that you have met the following requirements before September 1, 2013:
- Applications for a professional certificate must have a United States Social Security number.
- You must submit satisfactory evidence that you have taught successfully during the life of the provisional certificate for not less than three school years (at least 27 months) in the type of school (Elementary or Secondary) and in the grade level for which the certificate was issued and is valid. Such experience can be accumulated through part time (including substitute) teaching, under the following formula: One half or more of a teaching day (2 ½ or more clock hours) is the equivalent of a day, but no more than one day can be earned in a calendar day; and 150 accumulated days are the equivalent of a year, but no more than one year can be earned in a calendar year. Summer school teaching can apply when it is not both immediately preceded and followed by a regular school year during which 150 or more days were earned. Teaching experience can only be counted if the teaching experience was after the issuance of your Michigan original provisional certificate.
- You must have earned 18 additional semester hours (27 term hours) of credit in an approved institution after the date of issuance of the original provisional certificate. An approved institution is one that has been approved by the State Board of Education for the purposes of developing and maintaining programs in teacher education. It is recommended, but not required, that the 18 additional semester hours prescribed for a professional certificate be in partial fulfillment of a Master’s degree. With the approval of a program advisor, credit earned may be counted toward requirements for a professional certificate and/or additional majors, minors, or an additional certification level.
- Candidates for provisional or professional teacher certification are required to complete course work in the teaching of reading. Applicants for 18-hour elementary or secondary professional certificates must complete six or three semester hours respectively in the methods of teaching reading. Candidates should contact the College of Education to determine appropriate reading courses. If you received a Michigan Provisional Certificate after July 1, 1983 from a Michigan college, you will have already met the reading requirement.
- Effective July 1, 2009, candidates will be required to take an additional approved course in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated and instruction, including field experience is required. Contact the College of Education to determine appropriate course.
Renewing a Michigan Provisional Certificate Before September 1, 2013
- If you do not qualify for professional certification, a first 3-year renewal of the provisional certificate may be granted if you present evidence that you have completed 9 semester hours, since the issuance of the provisional certificate, in a planned course of study or if you hold an approved masters or doctoral degree.
- A second 3-year renewal may be granted if you present evidence that you have earned 18 semester hours, since the issuance of the provisional certificate, in an approved planned course of study applicable toward requirements for a professional certificate or if you hold an approved masters or doctoral degree and met the reading requirement.
- Additional 3-year renewals of a provisional certificate may be obtained after the expiration of the second provisional renewal if all credits for a professional certificate have been completed. An employing Michigan public or private school may sponsor a teacher for additional 3-year provisional certificate renewals. An applicant shall apply to the state board of education for such renewal within 30 days after the employment of the teacher in a full-time or part-time regular teaching assignment.
- Additional renewals are not available for substitute teaching or for applicants who meet professional certificate requirements.
Due to the complexity of state changes in professional certification requirements, it is recommended you contact the College of Education certification coordinator (616-331-6211) for questions regarding new rules and how they may affect your individual needs.
Teachers with certificates expiring AFTER September 1, 2013
Page last modified March 11, 2013
