All persons teaching in Michigan public schools must be certified by the State Board of Education. Candidates who complete an approved teacher education program apply for teacher certification and are recommended to the State of Michigan by the university.
In order for Michigan State University to recommend a person for a teaching certificate, that person must complete the requirements for the teacher certification program including the successful completion of the student teaching internship.
Initially, Michigan Standard Teaching Certificates are recommended by Michigan State University upon the satisfactory completion of program requirements and are valid for five years.
To be qualified to teach at the expiration of the standard certificate, one must either qualify for a professional education certificate or for the renewal of the standard certificate. Current requirements for advancing to the Professional Education Certificate or renewing a Standard Certificate can be found on the Michigan Department of Education Web site at: http://www.michigan.gov/mde.
Students who intend to pursue a teaching certificate should know that certification requires payment of a fee to the Michigan Department of Education. Payment of the fee is a certificate requirement that must be met prior to issuance of the teaching certificate. The Administrative Rules Governing the Certification of Michigan Teachers require that an application for certification must be made no later than five years after credit requirements have been met. Furthermore, the Administrative Rules Governing the Certification of Michigan Teachers ® 390.1201) states that:
- The state board may refuse to grant or renew, or may revoke or suspend for a fixed term, or may impose reasonable conditions on, a teaching certificate granted pursuant to these rules for the following reasons:
(a) Fraud, material misrepresentation, or concealment in the application for a certificate.
(b) Failure or ineligibility of the applicant or certificate holder to meet the criteria for eligibility for the certificate.
(c) Conviction, as an adult, of an act of immoral conduct contributing to the delinquency of a child, or of a felony involving moral turpitude.
The College of Education solicits information that is used in making decisions regarding admission, continued enrollment in teacher certification programs, internship placements, and recommendations for teacher certification. Information concerning the procedures that the College follows in soliciting and acting on such information may be obtained in the College of Education Student Affairs office. Since the State of Michigan enters into reciprocal agreements with other states in regard to teacher certification, students should be aware that although other states have requirements similar to those of the State of Michigan, other states may impose additional requirements.
The State Board of Education will only issue a teaching certificate to a person who has passed the relevant tests of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). There are fees associated with sitting for the MTTC.