2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Michigan Professional Certification
Candidates for Michigan Professional Certification must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a Michigan Provisional Certificate.
- Teach successfully for three years after the issuance of the provisional certificate and according to its validity.
- Show evidence of coursework in reading methods: six semester credits for elementary, three for secondary. In Michigan, if provisional certificate was issued after 1983, requirement is met in the initial provisional program.
- Complete an approved state-required course (reading diagnostic) in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated instruction, including field experiences, as part of the professional certificate requirement.
- Complete requirements from the professional development/coursework requirement options. Candidates should contact the College of Education and Community Innovation certification administrator or visit the College of Education and Community Innovation certification website at gvsu.edu/education/apply-for-certification-208.htm for requirements.
If necessary, the provisional certificate may be renewed for a three-year period. Additional information is available at the College of Education and Community Innovation website at gvsu.edu/education/renewals-205.htm.
Renewal of Professional Certificate
The Michigan Professional Certificate must be renewed every five years. Additional information is available on the College of Education and Community Innovation website at gvsu.edu/education/apply-for-certification-208.htm.
Students applying for professional certificate renewal must have an MEIS account and initiate the application process by self-registering online in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). For instructions on how to create your MEIS account and apply for your renewal, go to michigan.gov/moecs.
Applying for Certification and Endorsements
Students applying for educator certificate must have an MEIS account and initiate the application process by self-registering online in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). For instructions on how to create your MEIS account and apply for your initial Standard Teaching Certificate, Professional Teaching Certificate, Administrative Certificate, renewals, or additional endorsements go to michigan.gov/moecs.
Candidates should apply for certificate and/or endorsement(s) at the beginning of the semester in which they expect to complete all requirements. They should also be certain that they have an approved planned program and have met all university requirements for certification. Upon completion of program requirements, candidates must initiate the process online through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). For instructions on how to create an MEIS account and apply for additional endorsements or licensure, go to michigan.gov/moecs.
Planned Program Options for Professional Certification
It is recommended that candidates who select credit hours for professional development meet with an advisor in the College of Education and Community Innovation to select appropriate course(s).
Option One: Master's Degree
Earning a master's degree from an approved teacher education institution with quality graduate education programs will enhance teacher skills at various levels. It is recommended that students meet with an appropriate College of Education and Community Innovation advisor to select a planned program that meets their needs.
See Graduate Programs in Education section in catalog for more information.
Option Two: Additional Major or Minor
The applicant may earn additional endorsements consisting of at least 20 hours within the College of Education and Community Innovation or with approved subject area majors or minors: gvsu.edu/clasadvising. For graduate endorsements, program advisors must approve all additional endorsements. Applicants adding additional subject area endorsements and endorsements at the graduate level must also pass Michigan subject area tests (MTTC).
Option Three: Additional Certificate Level
This option is available for candidates who wish to become certified at a level other than that of their original certificate. For example, a secondary teacher who wants to become elementary certified.
Candidates may select from the following endorsements:
Option Four: Professional Development
Candidates selecting credit hours for their professional certificate may select one of the previously listed options in an approved planned program with a College of Education and Community Innovation advisor or choose courses in subject matter related to the applicant's teaching grade level and content endorsement.
Reading Diagnostics Requirement
Effective July 1, 2009, candidates for the Michigan Professional Certificate are required to complete a course in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated instruction. At Grand Valley State University, this requirement can be met with the following courses (choose one):
- EDR 612 - Reading Assessment: Elementary Teacher (3 credits)
- EDR 613 - Reading Assessment: Secondary Teacher (3 credits)
- EDR 626 - Field-based Literacy Assessment for Learning (3 credits) (This course is only for teachers admitted into GVSU master's in reading program.)
- EDS 636 - Introduction to Specific Learning Disability (3 credits) AND EDS 638 - Educational Interventions for Specific Learning Disability 1 (3 credits) (This combination of courses is only for teachers admitted into the M.Ed. in Special Education - Learning Disabilities.)
Note: The reading diagnostics requirement mentioned previously for progression to the Professional Teaching Certificate is different from the reading methods requirement for the Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate.
Reading Methods Requirement
If you completed an initial teaching certificate at a Michigan Institution of Higher Education after 1985, your coursework likely already meets the reading methods requirement.
If you completed your initial teaching certificate out of state, please verify that the reading methods requirement has been met by your previous coursework with the GVSU teacher certification officer in the College of Education and Community Innovation Student Information and Services Center.
Completion of the reading methods and the reading diagnostics requirements are necessary to obtain a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Please note: All certification requirements are subject to change by the Michigan Department of Education.