Frequently asked questions

Renewals, Professional, Occupational, Administrator and Advanced Renewal Certificates 

I'd like to begin a Professional Development program (as I do not wish to work on any of the other "approved program" options).  How do I decide what classes to take?

There are many courses from which you may choose your 18 hours (for your renewal or professional certificate) at WMU.  Please feel free to look under the titles Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Studies, Educational Technology and Literacy Studies on the Registrar's website.  Then please call us (269) 387-3473 or e-mail your choice to us. Once approved, we'll add it to an 18-Hr Professional Development planned program and send you a copy.  If you have not taken courses at WMU in the past year, fill out a Graduate Non-Degree Application".

I'm obtaining my first certificate (Provisional) when I graduate, and I want to start working on my 18 hours toward my Professional certificate right away, how do I decide what to take?

Good plan.  Just one caveat, remember the 18 hours must be in a planned program and taken after the issue date of your initial Michigan Provisional Certificate.  So make sure you pay for your Provisional as soon as you receive the bill from the Michigan Department of Education.  If the issue date of the Provisional is after you complete your class, then it won't count toward the 18 hours.  An exception to this rule is a completion of an approved master's degree; then the dates don't matter.

Since you won't be able to earn the Professional certificate by June 30, 2009 (as you won't have three years of teaching completed) you could start with the new Diagnostic Reading class, LS 5160 Professional Symposium in Reading, which is required.  Or you could review some of the master's degree options on the graduate programs page.

However, you are not restricted to this list of programs.  You could start a master's degree in one of your minors, like English.  Or add a new undergraduate subject endorsement, like Mathematics.  Or a new grade-level, like Elementary Education (if you are secondary certified).

For now, you should fill out a Graduate-Non-degree application through the Admissions Office while you decide which option to follow, but remember, you must change your admission status to Graduate-Degree status before you complete your ninth hour if you decide to work on a master's degree.   You can find the applications on the graduate applications page.

I have my Professional Certificate and I know I need to take 6 semester hours (or 18 SB-CEU's) every five years to keep my Professional active, how do I decide what 6 semester hours to take for the "advanced renewal of the Professional?"

The Michigan Department of Education has no specific content requirement for the 6 hours every five years to earn the "advanced renewal of the professional."  The MDE says the hours may be from a 2-year OR 4 year college, they may be 6 hours. of semester credits, or 18 SB-CEU's.  You should choose classes that help YOU in your teaching career, whether that is an andvanced photography class, or zoology class.

Start by looking at the course offerings (graduate or undergraduate) and then go to the Admissions site and fill out a graduate/non-degree application.  When you are finished, you need to fill out the "advanced renewal of the professional" application.  You do not have to send a transcript to the MDE unless they request one. Credit earned through correspondence is not acceptable.

I have my Professional Certificate and I have just completed my required 6 semester hours (or 18 SB-CEU's) that I have to take every five years.  What do I do now to let the Michigan Department of Education know that I have completed this?
You will need an Advanced Renewal Application from the Michigan Department of Education when you are finished with the six hours or 18 SB-CEU's. 

I allowed my Professional Certificate to lapse.  I did take 6 hours before June 2002, but did not complete the Advanced Renewal application. May I fill out the application form now in 2008?

Unfortunately in this case, you will need to complete a new 6 hours (or 18 SB-CEU's). Semester hour credits or SB-CEUs must have been completed within the five-year period preceding the date of application and after the date of issuance of the previous
certificate.