State Approved Tests for Full-Year Permits

Core content areas include Elementary; English Language Arts (including Reading), Mathematics, Sciences (including Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Physics), Social Studies (including Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science), World Languages, Music, and Visual Arts.

For these areas, educators may demonstrate content knowledge through one of the following:

• Possession of a major or minor in the permitted area(s) from a college or university recognized by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or U.S. Department of Education (USDE).
• Completion of at least 20 semester credit hours in the permitted area(s).
  • Credit hours can be combined from one or more college or university.
  • Credits must reflect a grade C or higher.
• Achieving a passing test score on the corresponding state approved discipline area test, the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC).

Prior to requiring an individual to test, districts should first verify that the position is a core content area and that the potential educator does not hold a major, a minor, or 20 semester credit hours relevant to the desired discipline area. 

Once the district verifies the above information, the individual may be directed to take the corresponding state-approved discipline area test as listed in the chart below. Note that, unless otherwise indicated, if more than one test is listed, either test may be taken, regardless of the grade level placement on the intended permit. MTTC tests are available by appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday (excluding some holidays).

Districts may consider covering the costs of testing for the potential educator. Vouchers are available for purchase to provide test takers with full or partial credit toward fees for test registration and preparation resources.

After test completion, districts should use the MTTC Score Report Dates information page to determine when to apply for the permit on MOECS. A permit applied for prior to the reporting of an official test score will be placed on hold and may delay the issuance of the permit.

Registration and Preparation for the MTTC

• Test Registration and Information
• Study Materials
• Preparation Webinar Video
• Preparation Webinar Slides
• Alternative Testing Arrangements
• Frequently Asked Questions

Testing for certification has different requirements. Do NOT use this table to determine the required tests for teacher certification.

There is not a test required for demonstration of content knowledge for these areas and districts may choose how to ensure individuals demonstrate that they have an understanding of the content required for teaching.

Non-core content areas, for the purposes of permits, include:

• Speech
• Psychology
• Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology
• Agriscience and Natural Resources
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Health and Physical Education
• Dance
• Library Media
• Educational Technology
• English as a Second Language
• School Counselor
• Special Education
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Speech and Language Impairment
  • Physical or Other Health Impairment
  • Emotional Impairment
  • Visual Impairment
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Physical Education for Students with Disabilities
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Bilingual Education
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Polish
  • Hebrew
  • Arabic
  • Vietnamese
  • Korean
  • Serbo-Croatian/Bosnian
  • Chaldean
  • Chinese
  • Filipino
  • Japanese
• Early Childhood General and Special Education
• Industrial and Technology Education
• School Social Worker (SPI Waiver Only)

A non-endorsed area is an academic subject for which an endorsement is not offered or has been discontinued. Determining an educator’s content knowledge of a non-endorsed area is at the discretion of the local district. A common method is the utilization of a district portfolio that includes credits, professional learning, certifications, and more relevant indications of content knowledge in the non-endorsed area.

When determining whether or not an endorsement is offered for a course, districts should utilize the Quick Reference: Courses That Can Be Taught guide to search for an endorsement that matches the content¹ of the course. Each non-endorsed area will have an explicit indication in the notes of the endorsement. If the district is offering a course with content that is not covered by any of the endorsements listed on the Quick Reference Guide, the course may be considered a non-endorsed area.

Non-endorsed areas may be taught by:

• An individual with a permit with a "non-endorsed content area" subject area, or
• An individual who holds a valid Michigan teaching certificate with an endorsement appropriate for the grade level at which the course is offered.

¹Titles do not always reflect the content of the course. For example, a course may be called “journalism”, which is reflected on the Quick Reference Guide as a non-endorsed area. However, the content of the course may be used to meet the curriculum requirements for ELA which would require an English (BA) or Language Arts (BX) endorsement. When determining which endorsement is required for a course, districts should focus on the content that is being taught.