Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.

For the graduate-level student not electing to pursue a master of arts in education degree, the School of Education provides the opportunity for advanced study in several areas:

Certification
Standard
Professional
Administrator: K-12 Principal
Central Office
(All NMU subject areas approved by the Michigan Department of Education)

Endorsement
Learning Disabilities
Reading K-8
Early Childhood

Approvals
Supervisor of Special Education
Director of Special Education

These programs require adviser approval. Applicants should meet all admission requirements of a general nature as well as those of the department prior to beginning their studies. The department will review and reassess course work taken under these programs, should the student at a later date wish to change to an MAE degree program.

Teachers certified in states other than Michigan should submit their credentials to the Teacher/Administrator Preparation and Certification Services Section of the State of Michigan Department of Education to be evaluated for a Michigan standard certificate.

Public Act 339 of 1988 requires the State of Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to collect a certification fee “as a condition of having the application evaluated for conformance with the application requirements.” This fee must be paid to the MDE before a Michigan teaching certificate or endorsement can be issued.

I.    Standard Teacher Certification

A. Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70.
  2. Passing scores on the Michigan Professional Readiness Exam or appropriate equivalencies.
  3. Compliance with all teacher selection and retention standards (see the Northern Michigan University Undergraduate Bulletin).

B. Standard Certification Plan of Study

Baccalaureate degree graduates without teaching certification may complete a standard certification plan of study for teaching at the elementary or secondary level by enrolling in undergraduate courses. This plan is for a Michigan standard teaching certificate; it is not for an additional degree. For example, if a student has completed courses as an undergraduate which are applicable to a teachable major or minor in a discipline such as biology or history, the undergraduate credits may be counted toward the State of Michigan requirement for standard certification. If additional credits are required, they may be obtained through enrollment in undergraduate courses. In addition to the major and minor requirements, the student must complete the State of Michigan requirement in professional education. Standard certification programs are available in elementary education, secondary education and special education.

Developing a plan of study for standard certification will depend upon the applicability of the student’s undergraduate degree credits and the teachable major/minor selected for certification. All methods courses must be taken no more than five years before the semester in which the student teaching assignment commences. Methods courses completed at other universities or colleges must be approved by the Northern Michigan University director of teacher education student services or the certification counselor in consultation with the appropriate faculty member. Students are required to pass competency tests in all subject areas in which they are to be certified.

The School of Education, Leadership and Public Service must evaluate all transcripts to ensure the filing of complete and accurate standard certification plans of study with the certification officer. Such plans must be filed at least sixty (60) days prior to enrolling in the first course. The evaluation will determine the student’s eligibility for admission to a teacher education program, in accord with the current teacher selection and retention standards.

See the current Northern Michigan University Undergraduate Bulletin for rules and regulations regarding teacher education. For specific requirements concerning Michigan teacher certification, contact the Michigan Department of Education.

Note: Occasionally the university finds it difficult, if not impossible, to secure a student teaching placement. The reasons school personnel typically give for rejecting a student include the student’s academic record and/or past overall performance/behavior. Every student should be aware of this possibility during progress toward a standard certificate in teacher education.

C. Michigan Standard Certificate Requirements

  1. Successful completion of the standard certification plan of study in accordance with the current teacher selection and retention standards, as detailed in the Northern Michigan University Undergraduate Bulletin.
  2. Completion of required competency tests in basic skills and teaching subject areas.
  3. Completion of the following forms: 
    a. application for standard certificate at mynmu.nmu.edu AND
    b. application for standard certificate at www.michigan.gov/moecs
  4. Michigan Department of Education approved providers for adult and child CPR and first aid certification on file at the School of Education.

The initial Michigan standard certification is valid for five years.  Certificates expire on June 30 of the appropriate year.

Admission to the standard certificate program for students who have obtained a baccalaureate degree is administered through the NMU Admissions Office, 2212 C.B. Hedgcock, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.

D. Reciprocity

Persons who complete a teacher education program in Michigan may apply for certification in another state by contacting the appropriate state department of education. Each state has the exclusive responsibility for the quality and content of professional preparation/certification programs in the state and may have unique requirements related to courses, tests, and/or student teaching.

Information concerning certification requirements and the certification agency for each of the states can be found on the University of Kentucky's Web site at http://education.uky.edu/AcadServ/content/50-states-certification-requirements and at the NMU School of Education, Leadership and Public Service Web site at www.nmu.edu/education/node/101.

II.   Standard Renewal Certification

 Renewal

When the Michigan standard certificate expires before the holder is able to fulfill all the requirements for the Michigan professional education certificate (see section III below), such holder can qualify for a renewal of the standard certificate. A standard renewal requires completion of ONE of  the following since the issuance date of the most recent standard certificate or renewal:

  • 6 semester hours in a planned course of study* since the issue date of the initial Standard Certificate at an approved EPI (Educational Preparation Institution, or
  • 150 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement(s) of the certificate held since the issue date of the initial Standard Certificate or
  • Combination of semester credit hours and SCECHs (25 SCECHs equate to 1 semester credit hour) since the issue date of the initial Standard Certificate or
  • Approved master's degree, earned at any time. (may be used one time to renew standard certificate)

A standard certificate has unlimited renewals.

Application for renewal of expired standard certificate is available at www.michigan.gov/moecs.

*Planned Program Options

The planned program of study may be completed through Northern Michigan University in one of the options listed below. Correspondence courses are not permitted. Please note that students choosing to pursue an additional endorsement must comply with the teacher selection and retention standards that are in place at the time of application. Refer to the current Undergraduate Bulletin for details.

  1. Elementary Endorsement upon a Secondary Certificate. The elementary endorsement extends the secondary certificate to grades K-6 (all subjects K-5, and approved majors and minors only for grade 6 in a non-self-contained classroom). The elementary endorsement requirements vary, dependent on the credits already completed in other programs and the major/minor areas pursued. Courses required are at the undergraduate level. For validity of courses, see the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Credit requirements vary.
  2. Secondary Endorsement upon an Elementary Certificate. The secondary endorsement extends the elementary certificate to the secondary grade levels (6-12) in the approved teachable major and minor selected by the student. The secondary endorsement requirements vary, dependent on the credits already completed in other programs and the major/minor areas pursued. Courses required are at the undergraduate level. For validity of courses, see the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Credit requirements vary.
  3. Reading Endorsement. The reading endorsement requires obtaining competencies in the foundations of reading instruction, diagnoses and remediation of reading difficulties, supervising and organizing a school-wide program in reading, and in the related area of language art. The reading endorsement requires a minimum of 18 hours.* The program may extend to a master of arts in education degree with the completion of additional prescribed credits.
  4. Major/Minor Plan of Study. A new major or minor upon a valid Michigan certificate will constitute a plan of study with undergraduate credits for professional certification. Although the minimum 18 semester hours will be required, it is likely that adding a major may require more than the minimum 18 semester hours. Another option is to convert a minor on a teaching certificate into a teachable major. An additional MTTC subject area test may be required.
  5. Special Plan. A special plan may be designed with the approval of the certification counselor.

To obtain the additional endorsement, one needs to pass the MTTC in the subject area and to file the appropriate application with the Michigan Department of Education at www.michigan.gov/moecs. All endorsements must comply with the teacher selection and retention standards.

III. Professional Education Teacher Certification

A. Michigan Teacher Certification

Hold a current or expired Michigan standard (or standard renewal) certificate.

B. Initial Michigan Professional Education Certificate Requirements

A Michigan professional certificate requires ONE of the following since the issue date of the most recent standard certificate or renewal:

  • 6 semester hours in a planned program (see above) at an approved EPI or 6 semester credit hours of academic credit appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement(s) of the certificate at any approved college or university; or
  • 150 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement(s) of the certificate held; or
  • 150 District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) hours in accordance with Michigan School Code Sections 380.1527. The DPPD form is available in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System www.michigan.gov/moecs; or
  • Combination of the equivalancy of six (6) semester credits/SCHECHS/DPPD; or
  • Approved master's degree, earned at any time.
  1. Three years of successful teaching experience since the issue date, initial standard teaching certificate; and
     
  2. Must also meet the basic reading requirements (6 semester hours of teaching of reading or reading methods for elementary or 3 semester hours for secondary); AND

Beginning July 1, 2009, all teachers advancing to the Professional Education Certificate must have completed 3 semester credits of reading diagnostics and remediation, which includes a field experience, in accordance with Michigan Revised School Code MCL 380.1531(4). The following link provides a list of approved Michigan courses that meet this requirement under the Specialty Programs heading at the bottom of the page: www.michigan.gov/teachercert.

Completion of the application for Michigan professional certificate at www.michigan.gov/mcoes.

A Michigan continuing certificate issued prior to July 1, 1992 remains valid, provided the holder is “employed in an educational capacity for a minimum of 100 days in any given five-year period.”

A Michigan professional education certificate issued after July 1, 1992 remains valid up to five years. Candidates issued a Michigan professional education certificate must renew the certificate every five years. Teachers are required to earn any of the options in III. B.1. above.

Correspondence courses are not accepted for the initial or renewal of the Michigan professional or standard certificate.

Renewals of the Michigan professional certificate must be made through the Michigan Department of Education at www.michigan.gov/moecs.

C. Michigan Additional Endorsement Requirements

  1. Successful completion of the additional endorsement plan of study in accordance with the administrative rules governing the certification of Michigan teachers.
  2. Successful completion of the Michigan test for teacher certification (MTTC) in the appropriate subject area.
  3. Completion of the application for additional endorsement certification at www.michigan.gov/moecs.
  4. Compliance with current teacher selection and retention standards.

IV. Professional/Occupational Education Certificate Renewal

Requires one or a combination of the following completed since the issue date of the previous professional or occupational certificate or renewal:

  • 6 semester credit hours in a planned porogram at an approved EPI or 6 semster credit hours or academic credit appropriate to the grade level and content endorsement(s) or the certificate at any regionally accredited college or university.
  • 150 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs)
  • 150 District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) clock hours in accordance with Michigan School Code Section 380.1527. The form is available in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System http://www.michigan.gov/moecs.

NOTE: If DPPD is used in combination with semester credit hours and/or SCECHs, you are required to have 150 hours to renew. You are also required to complete the DPPD form (one per school year) and have it signed by the Principal or Designee of the school district and each page of DPPD activity initialed by the Principal or Designee. Make sure to retain a copy of the signed DPPD form(s) for your records. OPPS will request this information for certificate renewal verification.

V. Professional/Personal Development

Professional development for educators courses (ED 900-level) provide professional development opportunities for certified K-12 educators. The topics are intended to address current issues and trends related to professional practice. The credits do not apply to earning an initial Michigan standard certificate or to Michigan endorsement programs. The credits do not apply to a master of arts in education degree program. The credits do apply to both the renewal of the Michigan professional education certificate and the Michigan standard education certificate.

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Education, Leadership and Public Service department page.

Total Credits Required 0


Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.