Michigan Teacher Certification Overview Debbie Seyerle Certification Officer dseyerle@umich.edu or 810-766-6825

Michigan Teacher Certification Overview What do I need to complete in order to apply for my standard teaching certificate. How do I apply for my standard teaching certificate. How do I keep my teaching certificate once I have it. Michigan Teacher Certification Overview

Take and Pass the MTTC exam! 1. What do I need to complete in order to apply for my standard teaching certificate. Take and Pass the MTTC exam! Elementary Education teacher candidates must pass the Elementary Education MTTC prior to being able to apply through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) for their teaching certificate. This is a MANDATORY exam! Other subject-area exams are required only if an elementary teacher wishes to teach grades 6-8 in their areas of concentration. However, it is highly recommended that you take these exams even if you don’t think you will want to teach middle school – you don’t know what your future holds!

Secondary Education teacher candidates must pass the MTTC exam in their major. If a teacher candidate has a minor and would like that endorsement on their teaching certificate, than that MTTC exam must also be taken and passed.

Adult/Child CPR card(s) What do I need to complete in order to apply for my standard teaching certificate Submit First Aid AND Adult/Child CPR card(s) Public Act No. 18 requires that teacher candidates, recommended for their standard teaching certificates, complete coursework in First Aid and in CPR. The coursework MUST include standard first aid, ADULT CPR and CHILD CPR. The State-approved providers of this training can be found at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Approved_First_Aid_and_CPR_Providers_397544_7.pdf

The DEADLINE for submitting your First Aid and CPR card(s) is two weeks prior to your graduation date. You can deliver your First Aid and CPR cards to the Center for Educator Preparation: (1) via US mail; or (2) email (dseyerle@umich.edu).

2. How to I apply for my standard teaching certificate? Set up a MOECS account: See your Student Teaching Handbook for the specific directions on using the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) to apply for your Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate. You will complete the entire application process online, make your payment to the State electronically, and receive a PDF version of your teaching certificate….all from the comfort of your computer!

How do I keep my teaching certificate once I have it??? Pay attention to deadlines. The Standard Teaching Certificate is valid for five (5) years. To progress to the next level certificate – the Professional Teaching Certificate – candidates must meet the current requirements of the State of Michigan at the time of the renewal. You can renew your standard teaching certificate without progressing to the professional level certificate every 5 years as long as you meet the current State requirements at the time of renewal.

The requirements for advancing to the Professional Teaching Certificate as of today are: Successfully teach for three years under the validity of their Standard certificate. Complete ONE of the following: (1) Six (6) semester credit hours in a planned program at a teacher preparation university; OR (2) 150 clock hours of state continuing education in approved professional development activities (SCECHS); OR (3) 150 hours of Annual District Provided Professional Development (DPPD). Satisfactory completion of three (3) semester credit hours in an approved course of study in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated instruction per Public Act 451. This course can also be counted in the six (6) semester credit hours listed above! (The courses approved by the State at UM-F for this requirement are EDR440, EDR540, EDR541, EDR645.)

Certification Officer Got Questions? Contact the Center for Educator Preparation… Deb Seyerle Certification Officer 810-766-6825 phone dseyerle@umich.edu

A Teacher takes a Hand, opens a Mind, and touches a Heart