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Certification Requirements

Certification Requirements

In order to qualify for an elementary or secondary teaching certificate, the candidate must:

1. Complete all general education requirements for the B.S., B.A. or B.M. degree at Â鶹¹ú²ú.
2. Complete the Teacher Education Program coursework and field/clinical experiences, including student teaching.
3. If you were admitted before fall 2021: Complete the requirements for a major and minor for Secondary Teaching Certificate and Elementary Teaching Certificate, approved by the Education Department and affirmed by the Michigan Department of Education.*
4. If you were admitted in fall 2021 or after: Complete the requirements for primary and secondary grade bands for Elementary Certificates.*
5. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in overall coursework at Â鶹¹ú²ú
6. Pass the required Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in appropriate areas.

* are subject to periodic change. Students must meet all requirements in effect at the time of application.

MICHIGAN TESTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION 

To demonstrate content knowledge in the major or minor areas, the State of Michigan requires teacher education candidates to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). 

ALL ELEMENTARY TRACK STUDENTS:

• Must pass the PK–3 Grade Band tests and/or 3–6 Grade Band tests.
• Students are encouraged to complete the subject-area exams in the minors in Spanish, Special Education (Learning Disabilities or Emotional Impairments), or English as a Second Language. Although these tests are not required for an elementary certificate, they must be completed if the candidate plans to teach in the minor area.

ALL SECONDARY TRACK STUDENTS:

• Must pass exams in the major area of study. Minor-area tests are not required for certification but are strongly recommended for marketability.

View the entire .

Don’t attempt these exams until you’ve completed 90% of the coursework in each subject area. Most students take the test immediately preceding or during student teaching. Registration, test objectives and study guides are available on the . 

For information on receiving MTTC Vouchers, view Student Teaching Policies. 

The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) must also be taken by students who are planning to teach a language. Visit to schedule a test.

APPLYING FOR A MICHIGAN TEACHING CERTIFICATE

Once the MTTC scores are officially reported by the testing company, graduates can  through the Michigan Department of Education and then apply for their Standard Teaching Certificate via the  (MOECS). 

CERTIFICATION IN OTHER STATES

Michigan has teacher certification reciprocity with most of the United States through the . This agreement allows teachers certified in Michigan to teach in most states. Other states may impose specific requirements for obtaining a teaching certificate, so it is recommended that students who hope to teach in other states contact Hope’s certification officer for advice. The state may require:

• Additional tests, such as PRAXIS Tests
• MTTC score reports
• Additional courses 
• Official Hope transcript
• A copy of your Michigan Teaching Certificate
• Criminal background check and/or fingerprinting
• Validation that the candidate has successfully completed the Education Program — email forms to the Hope certification officer.

The Â鶹¹ú²ú certification officer will offer licensure advice based on their knowledge and prior experiences. However, it is the responsibility of the Â鶹¹ú²ú teacher candidate to double-check specific state websites for current testing information and certification requirements, given ongoing changes in individual state policies.

ADDING A TEACHING CERTIFICATE OR ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS AFTER GRADUATION

For those interested in obtaining a teaching certificate or additional endorsements after graduating from a 4-year college or university, the state of Michigan offers a in which you can first select the content area that you are interested in teaching, and then view a list of available Educator Preparation Programs in Michigan.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• with each endorsement
• (optional)

CONTACT US FOR ASSISTANCE

For any questions about educator and teacher certification, you are welcome to contact the certification officer, Lori Schneider, via email at schneider@hope.edu or by calling 616.395.7740.