SCECHs for Michigan Educators
Grand Valley State University is a Michigan Department of Education-approved State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) sponsor. Through Professional and Continuing Education, Michigan educators can access non-credit professional development opportunities, including self-paced online courses and selected workshops. Eligible participants may earn SCECHs upon successful completion of approved requirements.
Explore self-paced online professional development courses designed for Michigan educators. Course access periods, completion requirements, and SCECH awards are identified on individual course pages.
After GVSU verifies successful course completion and submits participation information to MOECS, participants must complete the required program evaluation before their SCECHs are awarded. Participants can then review their awarded hours in their MOECS account.
10 Steps to Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Focused Early Childhood Care
12 SCECHs, Includes Starr Commonwealth certification and one-year StarrPASS CTRS-EC membership
10 Steps to Create Trauma-Informed Resilient Early Childhood Care is a trauma certification program for early childhood specialists. Presented by Dr. Caelan Soma, it provides detailed information and actionable steps to help create a supportive environment for preschool students and the professionals who work with them. This program not only explains the “why” but also offers guidance on the “how” to improve the overall care provided. By completing this certification, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how stress and trauma affect children, and you’ll also acquire practical tools and resources to offer effective support.
10 Steps to a Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Focused School
12 SCECHs, Includes Starr Commonwealth certification and one-year StarrPASS CTRS-E membership
In this foundation-setting course, participants will be walked, step-by-step, through the 10 steps to create a trauma-informed, resilience-focused school.
Adolescent Human Trafficking: An Introduction and Overview
2 SCECHs
In this course, we will define Human Trafficking, and cover many types, to give participants a general overview of what trafficking is and what to look for to spot trafficking out in the world. This course begins with an overview, then digs deeper into child-related human trafficking.
Children of Trauma and Resilience
5 SCECHs
This asynchronous course begins with a strong focus on resilience and explores how core values and beliefs direct how professionals work with children. Participants learn about the experience of trauma as one that impacts a person's body and are shown a demonstration of trauma's impact on the brain. This course offers insight into recognizing when a child is experiencing too much stress and provides a practical resilience recipe for any adult who supports children. This course also offers you with two summaries of the foundational trauma and resilience content. One provides you with "7 Truths" for all individuals to have information about trauma and resilience and the other is specifically for any adult who cares for children (parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc.)
Dismantling Implicit Bias Through Reflective Practices and Reflexivity
4 SCECHs
This asynchronous course invites participants to engage in a personal exploration of implicit bias. The asynchronous online training analyzes implicit bias in a five-segment series that defines explicit and implicit bias. The training examines how implicit bias affects social development and human interactions through an analysis of the systemic and ideological mechanisms, including health care systems, that perpetuate bias. The training concludes with practices and strategies that seek to dismantle the effects of implicit bias through recognition, reflection, and reflexivity.
Schools, districts, intermediate school districts, and organizations seeking SCECH sponsorship for eligible professional development activities may contact GVSU Professional and Continuing Education.
As an MDE-approved SCECH sponsor, GVSU reviews proposed activities for compliance with applicable requirements and determines whether sponsorship is appropriate. Depending on the arrangement, GVSU may support participant registration, completion documentation, SCECH reporting, and required recordkeeping.
Sponsorship and related services are subject to program eligibility, applicable requirements, and GVSU approval.
To discuss a proposed professional development activity, please contact our team at [email protected].
How Many SCECHs Do You Need in Michigan?
Michigan teaching certificates renew every five years. To renew a Standard or Professional certificate you need 150 SCECHs, or 6 semester credit hours of college coursework, or a combination of the two. One semester credit converts to 25 SCECHs, so 3 credits equals 75 SCECHs. Some district-provided professional development (DPPD) can also count toward the total.
Michigan educator certification renewal requirements vary depending on certificate type, individual circumstances, and applicable Michigan Department of Education rules. Educators should consult their MOECS account and current MDE guidance to confirm their specific requirements..
Michigan Department of Education SCECH guidance: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/ed-serv/ed-cert/scech-and-dppd
25 SCECHs = 1 semester credit · 50 = 2 credits · 75 = 3 credits
In MOECS, by the approved sponsor. GVSU reports your hours to the Michigan Department of Ed after you complete a course. You will receive an email from the MDE with an evaluation attached. You will only be issued your SCECHs after you have completed the evaluation.
Make sure that your MOECS account is up to date with your current information. Your evaluation emails will be sent to the email that is on file with MOECS regardless on the email that you may have provided when taking the course.
If you earn SCECH from a non-credit continuing education program provided by GVSU, we will upload the information to MOECS you will receive an email from the MOECS system.
If you are intending to use a GVSU college course towards your professional learning, then the college credits must be documented on a transcript and submitted as part of the application.
In-Person and Live-Online Workshops
Dated workshops for SCECHs, on campus or over Zoom.
We're building our next round of in-person and live-online workshops. Join the interest list and we'll email you when dates open.
Questions About Educator Certification?
For questions about individual certification, renewal, or endorsement requirements, educators should consult the Michigan Department of Education and their MOECS account. Our Professional and Continuing Education team can assist with questions about GVSU SCECH programs, registration, and participation documentation.
Cancellations and Refunds
- Self-paced courses - Cancel within 30 days of purchase for a refund, as long as you haven't opened the course content. Courses not accessed within 365 days are deactivated.
- Workshops - For virtual programs, cancel at least 48 business hours before a live session to qualify. For in person programs, you must cancel by 8 am at least 5 business days prior to the start of the session. Requests inside that window aren't eligible, unless GVSU cancels the session. Then everyone gets a full refund.
- Accommodations - Contact us before your program if you need any accommodations
Your SCECH Team
Chernetta Byl
Program Development Manager. Course operations, registration, instructor and sponsor needs, learner services, accommodations, and SCECH approval and compliance.
Common Questions
150 SCECHs every five years, or 6 semester credits, or a combination. Check your exact requirement in MOECS as they there may be different requirements depending on your certification.
The Michigan Department of Education's conversion is 1 semester credit = 25 SCECHs.
The current catalog is self-paced online. In-person and live-online workshops are added as they're scheduled.
Yes, if a GVSU faculty or staff member is involved in planning or delivering it. Start with the SCECH Approval Form.
You can look up your PIC number on the MOECS website.
Questions About Renewal or Endorsements?
Call us or email and we'll help you figure out what you need and how to get it.