Blue Form Application for Renewals

CERTIFICATION ONLY PROGRAM FOR DEGREE HOLDERS

The University of Michigan-Dearborn welcomes applications from individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who wish to become certified teachers.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

            To be admitted to the Certification Only program you must satisfy the following admission requirements listed below:

1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
   
2. A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75/4.0 scale in the undergraduate degree.
   
3. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in the selected teaching major and the teaching minor.
   The required minimum score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills (An MTTC registration bulletin is available in the School of Education Records Office.  See address at the bottom of this sheet.
   
4. Fingerprinting and criminal background checks are required for work in school settings.  Such work is required of all certification students.  Background checks must be completed within the first semester of admission to the School of Education.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

To ensure that you have satisfied all admission procedures, please place a check mark on the appropriate line.

For request an application to the Post Degree Program, please call 313-593-5090 or email: Judy L Garfield - jlgarfie(at)umd.umich.edu or "Elizabeth M. Morden" -emorden@umd.umich.edu

_____  Fill out the Post Degree Program application.  On page 2 of the application, select PROGRAM A: CERTIFICATION ONLY (COE OR COS).  Return this application, with the fee, to the School of Education Records Office.  Anyone who has formerly paid a University of Michigan application fee need not pay again.

_____  Have one (1) official transcript, from each university/college you have ever attended, sent to the School of Education Records Office.  STUDENT COPIES AND OR HAND CARRIED TRANSCRIPTS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

_____  Send MTTC Basic Skills Test scores to the School of Education Records Office.

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Once steps 1 through 4 have been completed, the School of Education will evaluate your transcripts and you will be notified as to whether or not you are accepted.  If accepted, you will receive the following:

a.       A letter from the School of Education formally admitting you to the School of Education.

b.       Your Plan of Work, the result of evaluating your credits according to your goals.  Follow this Plan of Work to fulfill the requirements of the program.

c.       Registration dates are given in the Schedule of Classes published each term.  You may obtain a Schedule of Classes in the Enrollment Services Office (313-593-5200), University Center or check the Web site at: www.umd.umich.edu/enrollment/index.html

NOTE:  If you do not register for classes in the semester in which you have been admitted, you may register for subsequent semesters within on year of acceptance into the program; however, you must first go to the School of Education Records Office to reactivate your file.  Your file will be retained in the School of Education for one year only.

Michigan Provisional Teaching Certificates are valid for approximately six (6) years and expire on June 30th of the “6th” year from the date of issuance.  The date of expiration is on the front of your certificate.  Within those six (6) years, the State expects you to meet the requirements for a Professional Education Certificate.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MICHIGAN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE:

The teacher education institution where you complete your credits in a planned program is the institution, which will make the recommendation for the Professional Education Certificate, regardless of which institution made the recommendation for the original certificate.  Recommendations cannot be made if the following three requirements have not been met regardless of the number of credits or degree level completed by the applicant:

1.              PLANNED PROGRAM

In order to be recommended by the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a Professional Education Certificate, you must complete 18 semester hours in courses at the 400 level or higher in a planned program, with a grade of “C” or better in each course.  A planned program is defined as an advanced course of study applicable to the applicant’s professional development.  Ten (10) or more semester hours for the Professional Education Certificate must have been earned at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

If your planned program goal includes qualifying for an additional major, minor, or endorsement, a recommendation can be made only after all courses for the major, minor, or endorsement are successfully completed.  This may require more than the minimum 18 semester hours.  It also requires meeting a GPA requirement of 2.75.

2.            READING CREDIT

As of July 1, 1983, the State of Michigan requires six (6) semester hours of approved reading methods for elementary certification and (3) semester hours of approved reading methods for secondary certification.  If you received your Provisional Certificate after that date, you probably have fulfilled this requirement through your teacher certification program.

3.            TEACHING EXPERIENCE

You must successfully complete a minimum of 450 days (3 years) of teaching experience at the level (i.e., elementary, secondary) and in the area (i.e., math, science, etc.) in which you are certified, after the issuance of your Provisional Certificate.  This experience may include teaching done in other states, or other countries.

2 1/2 hrs. in 1 day = 1 day of teaching

15 days = 1 month of teaching

150 days = 1 contract year

MAINTAINING THE VALIDITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

A Professional Education Certificate is valid for a five (5) year period.  To maintain its validity, a teacher must submit, to the Michigan Department of Education (see address below), evidence of having earned either six (6) semester hours of coursework from a teacher preparation institution or evidence of 18 State Board-approved Continuing Education Units (SB-CEU) or a combination of the two within every five year period after receiving the Professional Education Certificate.  If the Professional Education Certificate lapses and/or requirements have not been met, (do not contact the university), write to:           

Teacher Preparation and Certification Services

Michigan Department of Education

P. O. Box 30008

Lansing,  MI  48090

1-800-736-0008

REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF A MICHIGAN PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE:

If you do not complete the requirements for a Professional Education Certificate within six (6) years, the State allows you to renew your Provisional Certificate.

The teacher education institution where you plan your program of advanced study is the institution, which will make the recommendation for the renewal of your certificate, regardless of which institution made the recommendation for the original certificate.  Each renewal is valid for three (3) years.  A renewal of your certificate does not require the reading credit or the teaching experience.  The only requirement is the coursework as described below.

FIRST RENEWAL

To be recommended by the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a 1st renewal of your certificate, you must complete ten (10) semester hours in coursework at the 400 level or higher in a planned program, with a grade of “C” or better in each course.  The majority of these hours (6 or more) must have been completed at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. 

SECOND RENEWAL

To be recommended by the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a 2nd renewal of your certificate, you must complete 18 semester hours in courses at the 400 level or higher in a planned program, with a grade of “C” or better in each course.  The majority of these hours (10 or more) must have been completed at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

ADDITIONAL RENEWALS

Effective July 8, 1989, additional three (3) year renewals are available directly through the Department of Education, not the university.

THE FOLLOWING PERTAINS TO BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE AND RENEWALS OF THE PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE:

THE UNIVERSITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT COURSES SUBMITTED FOR CREDIT.  JUNIOR COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND CORRESPONDENCE CREDIT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, COURSE WORK COMPLETED BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE APPLIED UNLESS AN ADVANCED DEGREE (MASTER’S OR DOCTORATE) WAS EARNED.

IF YOU HAVE EARNED A MASTER’S OR HIGHER DEGREE FROM A REGIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, YOU MUST CONTACT THE TEACHER PREPARATION AND CERTIFICATION UNIT OF THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (SEE ADDRESS ON PRIOR PAGE) FOR INSTRUCTIONS.  THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT HANDLE THIS PROCEDURE.

Michigan teachers are responsible for keeping their teaching certificates up to date.  Your certificate is a license to teach in the state of Michigan.

            An initial provisional certificate is issued by the Michigan Department of Education after you have completed an approved professional preparation program covering curriculum and instruction, student development needs, and your teaching subject areas.

            The provisional certificate is valid for up to six years during which time teachers are expected to seek and meet the requirements toward a professional education certificate.

            If this does not happen, the provisional certificate can be renewed at least twice and possible a third time.  Renewals are valid for three years. 

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

            Holders of a provisional certificate are expected to advance to the professional education certificate.  The professional education certificate is valid for up to five years, and it, too, must be renewed.

            Requirements for the professional education certificate include:

·         Possession of a current or expired Michigan provisional certificate.

·         Having taught successfully for the equivalent of three years under the Michigan provisional certificate and within the subject area endorsements and grade level on the certificate.

·         Having earned at least 18 semester hours after the issuance of the initial Michigan provisional certificate in a “planned program” (or having a master’s or higher degree, earned at any time) or having been awarded National Board Certification.

·         Presenting evidence of having completed a minimum of six semester hours of reading methodology if the teacher holds an elementary certificate or three semester hours for secondary certificate holders.

APPLYING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

            Candidates apply for the professional education certificate through the certification officer of the approved Michigan teacher education institution from which the candidate earned the 18 semester hour “planned program” or master’s or higher degree.

WHAT COMES AFTER THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE?

            Your professional education certificate is valid for up to five years and must be renewed by the completion of six semester hours of appropriate credit from an approved teacher preparation institution or the equivalent in State Board-Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs) or a combination of the two.  Eighteen SB-CEUs are equal to six semester hours (or three SB-CEUs are equivalent to one semester credit hour).

      Renewal applications for the professional education certificate are available in local superintendent offices or the Michigan Department of Education Office of Professional Preparation Services. Applications, along with copies of transcripts for semester hours and/or SB-CEUs, must be returned to the Michigan Department of Education.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

            Each teacher is responsible for obtaining his/her certificate and keeping it current.  All certificates expire on June 30 of a given year.

            Teachers WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED by the Michigan Department of Education.  Teachers need to know the validity period of their certificates and meet the necessary renewal requirements before the expiration date.  The dates of issuance and expiration are on the lower left corner of the certificate. 

            If a teacher lets a certificate lapse, the results may include his/her job and tenure.

Contact the certification officer at your Michigan teacher preparation college/university for questions, applications, etc.

Public Act 339 of 1988 requires the collection of a certification fee by the Department of Education “as a condition of having the application evaluated for conformance with the application requirements.”  As of April 1, 1989, all applicants, both those graduating from in state colleges and those graduating from out-of-state colleges, are being charged certification fees according to the amounts specified in Public Act 339.

The most frequently charged fees are listed below.  For specifics on other certification fees, contact the Office of Professional Preparation Services for a copy of P.A. 339 (as amended).

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203-3470    USA
http://www.ece.org/
Telephone        414-289-3400
Facsimile        414-289-3411
E-Mail            eval@ece.org

World Evaluation Services
Bowling Green Station
P. O. Box 5087
New York, NY  10274-5087 USA
http://www.WES.ORG/
Telephone        212-966-6311
Facsimile        212-739-6100