Education Credentials in Michigan

Old System

The old teacher credential system had two tiers of teaching credentials: provisional and professional. State administrators disliked the term ‘provisional’ because, which in Michigan it described a full, initial teaching certificate, other states used the term to describe certificates which were not full teaching credentials.

Additionally, the provisional certificate could only be renewed up to 12 years. After 12 years, teachers had to obtain a professional teaching certificate, or they risked not being allowed to teach in schools. This led to a situation where administrators were forced to find creative ways to skirt the rules by creating other ‘temporary’ types of credentials, so that teachers could keep teaching. An example of this is the two-year extended standard teaching certificate, which was removed in September 2018.

Before the credential system with provisional and professional certificates, Michigan offered 18-hour and 30-hour teaching certificates. The numbers refer to the number of semester credit hours taken above and beyond their initial teacher preparation program. They were removed in 1989. Some teachers continue to be grandfathered into these certificates, and they are fully credentialed to teach under them. They never expire and do not require renewal. Additionally, there is a permanent teaching certificate that was offered pre-18-hour and 30-hour certificates. It was abolished in the 1970s, but a handful of teachers may still use it. It does not expire.

Teacher credentials today

Today, newly trained teachers first apply for a standard teaching certificate. This is a five-year teaching credential with unlimited renewals (renewals add five more years). All old-style provisional teaching certificates were automatically converted to standard teaching certificates in November 2017.

The second tier of teaching credential is a professional teaching certificate. Like the standard teaching certificate, this is a five-year credential with unlimited renewals (renewals add five more years). Teachers qualify for a professional teaching certificate by completion of at least three years of teaching experience, three effective or highly effective ratings, and by completing a reading diagnostics requirement, which focuses on diagnoses and remediation). Some districts may give higher pay for a professional teaching certificate over a standard teaching certificate, but it is not the norm.

The third tier of teaching credential is an advanced professional teaching certificate. This is also a five-year credential with unlimited renewals (renewals add five more years). The advanced professional teaching credential requires completion of a Teacher Leader program or National Board certificate, and highly effective ratings with no ineffective ratings.

In the data, one sometimes see teachers holding both a standard and a professional teaching certificate at the same time. This situation could arise if a teacher advanced to a professional teaching certificate in, say, January, but the standard certificate doesn’t expire until later in the year.

There are a few special case teaching credentials that do persist. The first category covers credentialed teachers from out-of-state who wish to teach in Michigan. These teachers may apply for either a standard temporary teacher employment authorization, or a professional temporary teacher employment authorization. The professional authorization requires completion of the reading diagnostics requirement mentioned above; the standard authorization does not. Both authorizations last only one calendar year from the date of issue, i.e., if the teacher moves to Michigan in the middle of a school year, then their authorization would expire in the middle of the following school year. The idea is that the authorizations act as a bridge to allow an out-of-state teacher to start teaching quickly while applying for and obtaining a Michigan standard or professional teaching certificate.

The other special case category is an interim teaching certificate. This was introduced because one district wanted to develop alternative routes to certification. If a teacher is enrolled in an alternative route and employed as a teacher, they can obtain an interim teaching certificate. It lasts for five years, is non-renewable, and is intended to be a precursor to the standard teaching certificate.

Permits

Permits are the only exception to having a fully certified teacher in a classroom. Permits are a catch-all term to cover people without certificates. Districts own the permit, not individuals, and only districts may apply for permits. Each permit refers to a specific person, meaning a district cannot replace a teacher with another teacher under the same permit without informing the Michigan Department of Education.

The most common reason for a district obtaining a teaching permit is for a substitute teacher. The permit may be used for intermittent daily substitute assignments when a teacher is temporarily unavailable, but not more than 90 calendars days each year. However, a substitute permit may be extended if a teacher is unable to return to the classroom and a certified teacher is unavailable. Alternative permits exist. First, a full-year basic substitute permit has no restriction on the number of days per year and requires that the district/school assign a mentor teacher. It can be renewed up to three times conditional on good teacher ratings. Second, an expert substitute permit requires unusual distinction or exceptional talent in the field of specialization that will be taught, and at least 5 years of work experience in the field of specialization.

Approvals

Approvals are very similar to permits but for special education teachers.

CTE credentials

Career and Technical Education has standard and professional certificates that work similarly to regular teaching certificates. CTE sometimes requires teachers with different backgrounds be permitted to teach courses. CTE authorizations covers individuals who otherwise are not credentials or permitted to teach, to teach CTE courses. In the future, they will be known as career authorizations (e.g., Annual Career Authorization). Authorizations can be used for employing the following non-certified individuals:

1. Individuals from business and industry to instruct in a state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) program;

2. Individuals from business and industry to instruct in a 6-12 non-CTE industrial technology program (e.g. career pathway courses).

Districts may also use the authorization for paraprofessionals who substitute for the teacher of record in state approved CTE programs. CTE paraprofessionals are noncertified staff assigned to support teachers in state approved CTE programs. For more information refer to the CTE: Substitute Teacher guidance.

Only the employing district may apply for an Annual Career Authorization through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). First year issued authorizations must meet the following requirements:

• The individual must possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Confirm a properly certified and endorsed candidate is not available for the assignment.
• The district must verify the applicant’s work experience meets the recent and relevant requirements specified in the CTE: Recent and Relevant Experience Requirements guidance.

For teaching in a subject or field in which a business or industry license or certification is required, at least one of the following is required:

• Holds a professional license or certification in that same subject matter or field.
• Previously held a business or industry license or certification in that same subject matter or field that expired no more than two years before the non-certificated, non-endorsed teacher's initial employment under this section and was in good standing immediately before the license or certification expired.
• The individual must be assigned a mentor teacher.
• The Annual Career Authorization must be applied for, approved, and the fee paid prior to the individual entering the classroom.

A district may continue employing this individual if they meet all of the following renewal requirements:

• Verify the individual maintains hours of experience in accordance with the CTE: Recent and Relevant Experience Requirements.
• Continue with an assigned mentor teacher.
• Teacher has received a rating of effective or highly effective through his/her teacher evaluations.
• The authorization must be applied for, approved, and the fee paid prior to the individual entering the classroom for each school year.

The school district or nonpublic school may apply no more than nine times for renewal of an Annual Career Authorization, unless the Superintendent of Public Instruction grants a waiver at the request by the school district or nonpublic school.

To become a CTE certified instructor, an instructor will need to work with one of the approved CTE educator preparation institutions to complete requirements and be recommended for a Standard CTE Certificate.

Psychologist credentials

Every psychologist first obtains a preliminary certificate while completing their internship. To teach full-time in a school after completing their training, a psychologist must obtain a (full) school psychologist certificate. It may be renewed indefinitely.

Nurse credentials

An interim school nurse certificate is valid for two years and may be renewed once. A standard or professional school nurse certificate is valid for three years and is renewable conditional upon completion of continuing medical education.

Credentials by category

The following table categorizes credentials by occupation type and level (initial, standard, or professional).