Teacher Certification
Levels of Certification
Facts about renewals of Michigan Provisional Certificates
The renewal is available to all persons whose Provisional Certificate has expired and who have not completed the three-year teaching requirement and/or the planned program requirement for the eventual Professional Certificate. A planned program is an approved master's degree program, an additional subject endorsement (a major or minor program), an additional grade-level program, or an 18-hour Professional Development Program signed by the Certification Officer. Application for the renewal should be made to the institution where you are completing the planned program.
First renewal: The requirement for the first renewal is completion of at least nine semester hours of the planned program. These credits must be earned after the issuance of the Provisional Certificate unless you hold an approved master's or higher degree.
Second renewal: A second three-year renewal of the Provisional Certificate is available only if you have completed the 18-hour planned program requirement or hold an approved master's or higher degree. This option is used if the three year-teaching requirement for the Professional Certificate has not been completed.
Third renewal: An additional three-year renewal may be obtained only through the Michigan Department of Education upon the recommendation of an employing Michigan public or private school within 30 days after the employment of the teacher in a full-time or part-time regular teaching assignment. This may be requested after the expiration of the second renewal if all credits (minimum of 18 hours) in the planned program for the Professional or Occupational Education (previously Full Vocational) Certificate have been completed, AND you have met the State of Michigan reading methods requirement.
The renewals are each valid for approximately three years and expire on Jun. 30 of the third year following the calendar year in which the renewal was issued. The renewals are strictly credit-based. They do not require teaching experience. Also note that there is not a time limit in qualifying for, or subsequently requesting the renewal(s). Whenever the appropriate credit has been completed, it can remain "in the bank" until whatever subsequent time you need an active certificate.
You should not apply for a renewal until you are assured of a job requiring an active certificate. Otherwise, the renewal may expire before you can accumulate the three years of successful teaching experience required for the Professional Certificate.
The Professional Certificate
WMU Home Page
Michigan Department of Education Home Page
Cindy DeRyke, Teacher Certification Officer
2104 Sangren Hall
College of Education
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008-5260
Phone: 269 / 387-3473
Fax: 269 / 387-3404
