To be eligible to receive a Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of degree requirements and teaching major, minor, and education major/professional program requirements.
2. GPA of 2.7 overall and in the major, minor, and education major program. Currently, these content area majors require a 3.0 GPA: Art Education, English (major and minor), History, Language Arts, and Social Studies.
3. Grades of B- or better and positive recommendations in professional fieldwork courses, EDI 310, and EDR 320 or EDR 321, EDT 370 or EDT 476, EDS 378 or EDS 379 (elementary and secondary general education students only), and EDF 485. As programs are transitioning and program requirements may be revised, it is important to work closely with your CLAS advisor to ensure program requirements are met.
4. Passing scores on Michigan Subject Area Tests (MTTC Tests). Taking your subject area tests shortly after completing your content courses is the best time because the content knowledge is fresh in your memory. Before signing up to take an MTTC test, GVSU recommends you contact the Office of Certification and Accreditation at (616) 331-6650 or [email protected] to confirm which test to take. The Placement Specialists in our office can confirm which test is required for your specific certification program.
     • Elementary candidates must pass the Elementary Test(s). If an elementary candidate passes the subject area test in an academic major area or special education endorsement area, these will be added to the teaching certificate.
     • Secondary candidates must pass subject area tests in their teaching major, and it is strongly recommended that you take your minor subject area test as well.
5. If your criminal background information changes at any time, please contact the Certification Officer to confirm the change(s) are on file at GVSU.
6. All Michigan teachers seeking teaching certification of any kind must register with MOECS in order to receive their certificate. Grand Valley State University will no longer be accepting paper applications for certification.