1. Michigan Teacher Certification
Introductions and Overview
Provisional Certification
Applying for the Provisional Certificate
Other Kinds of MI Certification
Out of State Certification
Graduate Programs

2. Provisional Certificate
Initial teaching license/credential issued after successful completion of an approved teacher preparation program
Valid for up to 6 years during which the holder is expected to gain experience as a practicing teacher and continue professional development through advanced study required for the next level of certification

3. Provisional Certification Requirements
Bachelor’s degree conferred
Professional education and subject coursework completed with minimum GPA of 2.5
Teacher preparation program completed, including internship and internship year courses
MTTC – Basic Skills and subject tests passed
Current CPR/First Aid certification
Completion of MDE Online Survey
Approval of Teacher Prep Institution

4. MTTC Subject Exams –Minimum Requirements
Elementary – Passing Elementary test (#83) leads to
K-5 All Subjects (K-8 All Subjects in Self-Contained Classrooms) certification
Secondary – Passing MTTC test for teaching major leads to grades 6-12 certification in subject for most majors
Secondary - K-12 in Major: Art, Music, Physical Education, or Communicative Science & Disorders (Note: if minor test is passed, certification in this subject will be for grades )

5. MTTC Subject Exams –Additional Endorsements
Additional Endorsements – Pass Additional Subject Test(s) in addition to completion of coursework
Elementary: Passing test in major/minors leads to certification for Grades 6-8
Special Education: Passing LD or HI test leads to K-12 certification
Child Development: Passing Early Childhood Education test leads to ZA
Secondary: Passing test for additional major, minor, or endorsements such as RX (Social Studies) and DI (Integrated Science) leads to 6-12 certification

6. Approved Teaching Areas? Teaching Endorsement? Highly Qualified/ “HQ”?
These almost always mean the SAME thing for teachers who completed programs after 1991.
For complete list, search for: “Classes that can be taught” on MDE website:
If your certificate is not endorsed with a subject, you cannot be “HQ” to teach that subject in grades 6 and above (for core areas).
RX and DI endorsements include sub-areas which the holders are “HQ” to teach.

7. CPR/First Aid Certificate
American Heart Association, American Red Cross and other approved courses as listed on the MDE website
Must be certified in adult and child CPR and First Aid
Certification must be valid at the time you are recommended for teaching certificate by MSU
Make copies of the card (front and back) OR certificate – AND SIGN IT. Then attach to provisional application.

8. MDE Online Survey
Link to online survey will be ed to you by Susan Dalebout with the subject line: Required MDE Survey.
Takes about 20 minutes to complete
Please only take the survey once!
Must print final (signature) page and include it with your MSU application (134 Erickson Hall), or your application WILL NOT be processed.
MAKE COPIES!!! Just in case your sheet gets separated from your file, you will have another one to submit

9. Conviction Disclosure Form
Do you have a conviction that has already been reviewed by COE? Indicate type and date of conviction AND attach copy of letter from Certification Officer indicating that you could continue in the TE program
Do you have a conviction that has not been reviewed by COE? Indicate type and date AND attach Register of Actions (ROA) or Judgment of Sentence (JOS) from the court in which you were convicted.
Complete the form thoroughly, date and sign it (in ink)!

10. Applying for the Provisional Certificate
Applying is a two-step process:
(1) Submit materials required by MSU Certification Office in a single packet to 134 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(2) Initiate an application with the Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE) using the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS)
These two steps can be completed in either order or concurrently; however, both steps must be completed before the certificate can be issued

11. Applying for the Provisional Certificate
Materials required by MSU Certification Office:
Provisional Certificate Application
Conviction Disclosure Form completed and signed (in ink)
Applicants with convictions must also submit ROA or letter from MSU Certification Officer
Verification of current MDE-approved adult/child CPR and First Aid certification
Applicants must sign both cards and provide copies of both sides of each card
Signature page from online MDE Survey
Verification of name change (if applicable)
Elementary or Secondary Request for Provisional Certificate without All Endorsements, if applicable

12. Applying for Provisional Certificate
Initiating a Certification Application Using MOECS
See instructions at or
List only major/minor/endorsement areas for which courses are completed AND MTTC tests (and OPT for languages) are passed.
Online application is automatically routed to MSU Certification Office for review.
MSU’s review cannot be completed until all required materials have been received from applicant and final semester grades are available. April MTTC test scores will be included.
When MSU indicates approval, MDE notifies applicant by and requires online payment of $160
Following payment, MDE issues certificate to applicant

13. Timeline for Application Process
January-April: candidates may submit single, complete application packet to MSU Certification Office
January-April: candidates may initiate online MOECS application
May: final semester grades become available and MSU Certification Office begins to approve online applications electronically
When MOECS application is approved by MSU, candidate is notified by MDE by and prompted to pay online fee
When fee is paid online, certificate is issued and mailed to candidate by MDE

14. I Have a Job Letter of Good Standing (late March)
Teacher Fairs, Applications, Interviews

15. Provisional Certification Application Process
Do not begin writing yet!
Where are you going to be this summer, after mid-May?
What will your name be?
How can you be reached this summer, after mid-May?
What is your permanent (reliable for mail, bills, important documents) address?
Use address OR your preferred address

16. Provisional Certificate is Either Elementary or Secondary
Elementary – one major (Lang. Arts, Social Studies) OR
Elementary – two minors OR
Elementary – two majors (Child Dev, & Lang Arts, Special Education & Language Arts)
Secondary – one major and one minor OR
Secondary – K-12 major (Art, Music)
Do you have an additional endorsement (beyond above)?

17. Provisional Certificate w/o All Endorsements
The “Sign Off” or “Waiver” form:
Needed if elementary and not ready to be certified in one or more of your teaching majors, minors, or additional areas (Child Dev, Special Ed, or extra/optional endorsement areas)
Needed if secondary and not ready to be certified in your minor or additional major/minor
World languages: MTTC AND OPT must be passed to be recommended for certification.
Don’t sign off now if taking MTTC test in April.

18. Other MI Certifications
Professional Certification
Renewal of the Provisional Certificate
Renewal of the Professional Certificate

19. Professional Certificate
Michigan’s advanced teaching license/credential:
NOTE that the requirements for earning the Professional Certificate are in the process of changing but the details are still being worked out by the MDE. Check the College of Education’s website under “Certification”, May/June Here’s what we understand so far:
Valid for 5 years; must be renewed every 5 years
Need three years of ratings as “effective” or “highly effective” teaching in your certified area(s) AND,
Completion of 3 credit course in reading instruction and diagnosis*** (TE 846 at MSU)
***this course may count towards some masters programs or toward renewing your certificate.

20. Renewal of the Provisional Certificate
First Renewal – Valid for up to 3 years
Watch for changes. The current requirements are:
Need 9 recent and relevant semester hours on planned program after initial certification and recommendation from teacher preparation institution
Second Renewal – Valid for up to 3 years
Need 18 recent and relevant semester hours on planned program after initial certification and recommendation from teacher preparation institution
Third Renewal – Requires sponsorship by school and approval of Michigan Department of Education

21. Renewal of Professional Certificate
Valid for up to 5 years
The following may be changing. Check our website. The current requirements are:
Need 6 semester hours of coursework that contributes to your professional development, 18 state board approved continuing education units (SB-CEUs) or a combination of both
Obtain directly from Michigan Department of Education (does not require recommendation from teacher prep institution)

22. Out of State Certification
Need valid certificate from Michigan
May obtain temporary authorization or provisional certificate to teach in another state initially
Likely to need institutional recommendation form verifying completion of approved teacher preparation program signed by our Certification Officer (134 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824)
May require specific information about your pre-internship and internship experiences (e.g., where you taught, grade levels/subjects, etc.). If form requires this information, send information with form and your request (do not fill it in on form)

23. Out of State Certifications (Con’t)
It’s possible that another state may question your preparation in one or more areas. If a letter addressing a perceived deficiency is required, you will need to provide the Certification Officer with syllabi for the course(s) in which you believe the relevant material was covered. Keep your syllabi, as some states require a syllabus from the specific course/year/semester/section taken by the candidate.
If you know that you will be applying for certification in another state, please include out-of-state forms with your application for the provisional certificate submitted to the MSU Certification Office.

24. Graduate Programs
Check out prospective graduate programs via internet or publications
Determine deadlines and requirements
Apply early – some programs have enrollment limitations and DO FILL UP.
Graduate Programs at MSU have 5 year completion limitation
- Degree must be completed within 5 years of 1st course used toward the degree (e.g., FS11 in TE801/802, then must finish MA in US16)

25. Graduate Programs MA in Teaching and Curriculum/MATC at MSU
- 9 credits of 800 level TE course work MAY BE transferable from Graduate Certification (GC) level, AFTER admission to the graduate program, providing University policy and time limits are met.
- Endorsements available within MATC for in ESL, K-12; or Reading Specialist, K-12.
(Those with ESL minors can extend to K-12 ESL through MATC!)
Other Master’s Programs at MSU
-You negotiate whether any of the 800 level courses taken during the internship year under GC level enrollment are applicable.
Other Master’s Programs outside of MSU
-You negotiate whether any of the 800 level courses taken during internship can count on another institution’s masters programs.

26. Graduate Programs
800 level coursework taken FOR INITIAL (PROVISIONAL) certification can not be used for renewal of provisional or the professional certificate
Other Master’s coursework and/or 300 level and above coursework TAKEN AFTER INITIAL (PROVISIONAL) certification, on a “planned program”, can be used for renewal of expired provisional certificate for approximately 5 years (coursework must be recent and relevant).

27. MSU Resources MSU College of Education Home Page
- contains valuable information now and for the future, including certification requirements for MI and other states, Michigan MDE, NCLB and MEA resources
MSU account
- retain after graduation
MSU College of Education Alumni Association
See: