Guidance for Educators from Other Countries

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s Degree and Teacher Preparation Program: You must have a bachelor's degree and a completed teacher preparation program outside the United States (U.S.), including a supervised student teaching experience or internship.
• Citizenship and Residency: You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or a Michigan resident to qualify.

Experience Exemption

• If you have been certified outside the U.S. and have successfully taught for three years under a standard (i.e., non-temporary, no restrictions/limitations, clear) teaching certificate or license from another country, you may be exempt from the certification testing requirement in law (MCL 380.1531).

Application Process

• Submit application: Use the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) to submit your application.
• Supporting documents: After you submit your application, MOECS will email you a checklist of all required documents to send to MDE, including:
  • Transcripts: Submit your transcripts via MOECS.
  • Out-of-Country Teaching Certificate or Diploma: Submit your Out-of-Country Teaching Certificate or diploma via MOECS.
  • Course-by-Course Evaluation: Submit a course-by-course evaluation of your out-of-country degree(s)/teacher preparation program from an approved agency.
  • Teaching Experience Report Form: If you have 3 or more years of teaching experience, submit the Teaching Experience Report Form with your application.
  • Cover Letter: MOECS will also provide instructions for including an application cover letter.
  • Application Fee: After you submit your application, MOECS will email instructions for paying the $210.00 application evaluation fee online, using a debit or credit card.

Course-by-Course Evaluation Report (Credential Review)

• Requirement: Provide an official course-by-course report from a recognized evaluation service (unless you completed a teacher preparation program in Canada and hold a teaching certificate from Ontario, Newfoundland, Quebec, or Saskatchewan).
• Purpose: This report converts your coursework, credential(s), and degree(s) into U.S. standards.
• Accepted services: We accept reviews from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).

Setting Up Your MOECS Account

• On the MOECS webpage, under "Educators and Educator Candidates," you will find instructions for setting up an account.

Identification Number

• No U.S. Social Security Number: If you do not have a U.S. Social Security number, you need an identification number. To obtain an identification number, call the Office of Educator Excellence at 517-241-5000 or email MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov with "Identification Number" in the subject line.

Types of Certificates

• Michigan issues several types of certificates.
• Determination: Based on your responses to application questions, the application system (MOECS) determines the certificate type you will be evaluated for by our office. Similar guidance can be found in the out-of-state applicant guide.

Checking Application Status

• MOECS Account: You can view the status of your application at any time using MOECS.
• Evaluation Outcome: You will receive an evaluation report indicating: 
  1. the Michigan Test(s) for Teacher Certification (MTTC) you must take; or
  2. your application is on hold due to missing application materials; or
  3. your application has been denied because the teaching program cannot be verified; or
  4. your Michigan Teaching Certificate has been issued.
• Additional Features: MOECS allows you to print your certificate and use other convenient features.

Access Issues

• If you have trouble accessing MOECS from outside the U.S., contact MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov with "Out-of-Country MOECS Access" in the subject line.