Common Questions and Answers About Teaching Certification

•   Certification options
•   For further information

Question: I have my Provisional Teacher Certificate. Now what?  The answer depends on your situation.

Answers: When you receive your Provisional Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education, the front of your certificate will give the date of issuance, the expiration date, the certification level, and endorsement areas. The back of the  certificate lists the procedure for receiving Professional Certification and renewal.

The Michigan State Department of Education requires teachers to complete 18 additional credit hours in a planned program of study, accrue three years of teaching experience in a certified area and fulfill reading requirements. If you received a Michigan Provisional Certificate after 1983, the reading requirement has been met for initial certification. However, effective July 1, 2009, an approved course in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated instruction, including field experience, is required before obtaining the Professional Certificate. Once these requirements are met, a Professional Certificate is granted.

Candidates apply through the GVSU Records Office at the beginning of the semester they expect to complete all requirements. Call (616) 331-3327.

Question: What if my Provisional Certificate expires and I have not met all the requirements for Professional Certification?

Answer:  The state allows two renewals on the basis of credits earned. A three-year renewal of the Provisional Certificate is available after the completion of the first 9 semester credit hours of an 18-semester credit hour planned program.

If requirements are still not met after the first renewal, a second three-year renewal is available after the full 18 credit hours are completed in the planned program. 

Question:  What if I am not currently teaching? Should I renew my Provisional Certificate? Should I "spend" one of my two renewals?

Answer: Unless you need your Provisional Certificate for employment, you are advised to let it lapse. You can renew it at any time if you have fulfilled the credit requirements for renewal described earlier.

Question: If I don't have a full time teaching job, how can I gain my three years experience?

Answer: Substitute teaching counts toward your teaching experience as long as it is in the area you are certified to teach.  Experience can be accumulated through part time (including substitute) teaching, under the following formula:  150 days=1 year; 2 1/2 hours=1 day. No more than one day can be counted in a day; no more than one year can be counted in a year.

Question: If I have a master's or higher degree, do I have to take an additional 18 semester hours to receive Professional Certification?

Answer: A person with an approved master's or higher degree is not required to complete an 18-semester hour required program, regardless of when the master's degree was conferred.

Question: If I have credit hours beyond my required 18 hours for my Professional Certificate, will these hours go towards the six semester hours required to renew my Professional Certificate?

Answer: No. Candidates must hold a Professional Certificate before they can count any new credit hours toward renewing it.

Question: If I have earned my Professional Certificate, what do I have to do to maintain it?

Answer: The Michigan Department of Education requires that six semester hours, or 18 state approved continuing education units, or a combination thereof, in education related courses be completed every five years to renew a Professional Certificate. Candidates apply directly to the Michigan Department of Education for this renewal.

Question: If I have a Continuing or Permanent Certificate and it has lapsed, how do I reinstate it?

Answer:  A lapsed Permanent or Continuing Certificate may be reinstated if the applicant presents evidence that he or she holds a master's or higher degree from an approved teacher education institution or subsequent to that, 6 semester hours of coursework have been taken.

  Certification Options                           

The following are options for completing the required 18-semester hour planned program. See the University catalog for more information. 

Option 1. Master's Degree

If the 18-semester hours are part of a master's degree program in an approved teacher education institution, the applicant for a Professional Certificate must obtain a list of courses signed by an appropriate College of Education advisor. The planned program requirements will be met by following course work prescribed for the M.Ed. No further documentation is necessary.

Option 2. Additional Major or Minor

The applicant may earn additional endorsements consisting of at least 18 hours within the College of Education or in approved subject area majors or minors. Program advisors must approve all additional endorsements. Applicants must also pass Michigan Subject Area tests.

Option 3. Additional Certificate Level

This option is available for candidates who wish to become certified at a level other than that of their original certificate. An example: a secondary teacher who wants to become elementary certified.

Option 4. Professional Development

Candidates choosing an 18-hour professional development program should choose courses from thefollowing areas and plan their program with the College of Education Certification Coordinator.

• Courses in subject matter related to the applicant's teaching major and minor. 
• Courses in professional education such as administration, curriculum, guidance, methods, etc.

For further information contact: 
COE Student Information and Services Center
101 Eberhard Center
301 West Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-6495
Telephone: (616) 331-6650
email: coeserve@gvsu.edu