Standard Certification

Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate 

The Standard Teaching Certificate is the initial teaching license/credential issued in Michigan.

Michigan law and rules require that all individuals complete an approved preparation program (e.g., math education, elementary education, English education) to become a teacher in Michigan.  

In addition to completion of an approved teacher preparation program, Michigan law requires that teachers:  

  • Complete required reading courses (6 semester credit hours for elementary teachers and 3 semester credit hours for secondary teachers) 
  • Pass the appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) content examinations. Passage of content examinations is required before recommendation for certification.  

The MDE approved Teacher Preparation Program at CMU is the Traditional Pathway, offered at an undergraduate level. Potential candidates must meet the minimum requirements to be admitted into the teacher preparation program. The MDE required reading coursework is offered within the program. Passage of MTTC content examinations is required before recommendation for certification. 

Use this certification checklist Find out which MTTC test you should take

Current CMU program types

B.S. in Education – Elementary Standard Certificate

A certificate with elementary endorsement “ZG” (MTTC Test #103 – Elementary Education), is valid for teaching all disciplines grades K-5, all disciplines grades K-8 in a self-contained classroom 

  • Additional specific discipline area(s) as listed on the certificate (majors and/or minors), are valid in grades K-8.  Special Education or English as a Second Language are valid in grades K-12. 

B.S. in Education, Standard Certificate (Birth-Grade 6) – starting with 2021-2022 Bulletin 

Elementary Band; Birth-Kindergarten (B-K): A certificate with grade-level endorsement “ZN”  {MTTC Test #134 – Early Childhood General and Special Education (Birth-Kindergarten)} is valid for teaching children across the birth-kindergarten continuum including, but not limited to, home visiting, Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Head Start, and public or private school Kindergarten classrooms 

Elementary Band; Pre-K – Grade 3 (PK-3):  A certificate with grade-level endorsement “ZO” {MTTC Sub-tests 117-120  – Lower Elementary (PK-3) Education} is valid for teaching literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies to students in grades PreK-3 in a self-contained classroom or departmentalized setting 

Elementary Band; Grades 3-6:  A certificate with grade-level endorsement “ZP” {MTTC Sub-tests 121-124 – Upper Elementary (3 – 6) Education} is valid for teaching literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies to students in grades 3-6 in a self-contained classroom or departmentalized setting 

B.S. in Education Secondary Standard Certificate

A certificate with secondary endorsement is valid for teaching specific discipline area(s), as listed on the certificate (majors and/or minors), in grades 6-12. 

NOTE: Special Education, Music Education, and the combined Health/Physical Education Major will be listed on the certificate as valid in grades K-12. 

Standard Teaching Certificate renewal 

The Standard Teaching Certificate is a five-year teaching certificate with unlimited renewals. Each renewal adds five years to the certificate’s validity. A renewal can be requested any time after January 1 of the expiration year.  

Requirements - One of the following:  

  • 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning
  • An education-related masters or higher degree earned at any time from a regionally accredited college or university (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate)
  • A valid out-of-state teaching certificate (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Educators who hold the School Counselor (NT) endorsement on a teaching certificate, regardless of current assignment, must meet the requirements of the law (MCL 380.1233(6)) to renew that teaching certificate. Information pertaining to renewing a school counselor credential can be accessed via the School Counselor Credential Renewals document. Endorsements are not renewed; rather, certificates are renewed, and a renewal of that certificate will maintain the existing endorsements. An endorsement can only be removed from a Michigan teaching certificate if the nullification process is utilized. 

Education-related professional learning options  

One of the following Education-Related Professional Learning options must be earned since the issue date of the most recent Standard Teaching Certificate or renewal. These hours must be entered into Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) prior to applying for the renewal for the system to recognize your eligibility:  

  • 6 semester credit hours appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate/endorsement from a regionally accredited college or university; or  
  • 6 semester hours in a planned course of study* from a regionally accredited college or university; or
  • 150 Michigan State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement; or 
  • 150 hours of Michigan District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement. 
  • Any combination of the above.  
Education-related professional learning hour conversion
  • College credit: 1-semester credit = 25 professional learning hours 
  • SCECH Hours: 1 SCECH hour = 1 professional learning hour 
  • DPPD Hours: 1 DPPD hour = 1 professional learning hour  

*Credits in a planned course of study may include credits taken as part of an education-related master’s or higher degree or credits in a program that leads to an endorsement. 

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