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Progressing to the Professional Teaching Certificate

Progressing to the Professional Teaching Certificate

The Professional Teaching Certificate is Michigan's 2nd tier of licensure. Progression to the Professional Teaching Certificate is optional for Michigan educators. This 2nd tier certificate is a recognition of additional literacy knowledge and teaching experience and is also intended to reflect an educator's completion of new teacher mentoring and induction supports into the profession. It is also available for experienced educators transferring licensure from another state under MCL 380.1531. It is valid for up to 5 years and progression may be applied for any time requirements are met.

Requirements

  1. 3 years of successful teaching since the issue date of the initial Standard Teaching Certificate within the content areas and grade level of the Standard Teaching Certificate; and
  2. 6 semester credit hours of reading methods coursework for elementary teachers and 3 semester credit hours for secondary certified teachers. If you completed your teacher preparation program in Michigan since 1985, you have met this requirement; and
  3. 3 semester credit hours of reading diagnostics and remediation, which includes a field experience. This credit can be applied toward the professional learning requirement listed below, assuming the credit was earned after the issue date of the most recent certificate or renewal; and
  4. Education-Related Professional Learning totaling 150 hours; or An education-related master’s or higher degree earned at any time (even if previously utilized to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate) from a college or university recognized by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

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Important Note

Educators who hold the School Counselor (NT) endorsement on a teaching certificate, regardless of current assignment, must meet the requirements of 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 guidance. 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

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 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:

*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. 

Education-Related Professional Learning Conversion

College credit

1 semester credit = 25 professional learning hours

SCECH

1 SCECH Hour = 1 professional learning hour

DPPD

1 DPPD hour = 1 professional learning hour

Documenting Education-Related Professional Learning

  • College credits must be documented on a transcript and submitted as part of the application. Unofficial transcripts or copies are acceptable.
  • SCECHs are maintained in the system and do not require additional documentation as part of the application process. In order to receive SCECHs, programs must be submitted by the sponsoring entity and educators must complete the evaluation in their MOECS profile.
  • DPPD completed prior to July 1, 2020 must be submitted in the MOECS system and a form signed by the administrator must be submitted as well.