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Applying for Certification
Applying for a certificate, renewal, license or additional endorsement is a two step process. To apply, applicants must:
- Submit materials required by the MSU Certification Office in a single packet to 134 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824 (to view materials required by MSU, click on the appropriate application link below), and
- Initiate an application with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) using the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).
These two steps can be completed in either order or concurrently; however, both steps must be completed before the certificate can be issued. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
I. Instructions for Initiating a Certification Application Using MOECS
II. MSU Certification Applications
- Provisional Teaching Certificate
- First Renewal Of The Provisional Certificate*
- Second Renewal Of The Provisional Certificate*
- Professional Education (Teaching) Certificate*
- Additional Endorsement to a Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate*
- School Administrator Certificate*
- Interim Occupational Certificate*
- Occupational Education Certificate*
- Preliminary School Psychologist License*
- Preliminary School Psychologist License Renewal*
- School Psychologist License*
- School Guidance Counselor License*
*A $50.00 certification processing fee is required
A recommendation for any type of teaching certificate or endorsement from MSU requires:
- Enrollment as an Undergraduate, Graduate, Graduate Certification or Graduate Lifelong Education student at Michigan State University
- Completion of an approved planned program, with the majority of credits earned through MSU (coursework taken through other teacher preparation institutions requires prior approval from a teacher certification advisor)
- Submission of a completed application for the desired teaching certificate and/or additional endorsement
Provisional Teaching Certificate
Candidates are recommended for the initial Michigan teaching certificate after they have completed all requirements for MSU’s teacher preparation program, including the post-graduate internship. The Provisional Certificate is valid for a period of six years; during that time, the certificate holder is expected to gain experience as a practicing teacher and complete the advanced coursework that is required for the next level of certification.
View the MSU Application for Provisional Certificate.
First Renewal Of The Provisional Certificate
The holder of a Provisional Certificate who has not satisfied requirements for the Professional Certificate may apply for a renewal of the Provisional Certificate. For a first renewal, the applicant must have completed nine recent and relevant credits in a planned program after initial certification, with the majority of credits earned through MSU. Coursework used to satisfy requirements for initial certification cannot be used again for the renewal (however, it is possible that some graduate-level coursework completed during the internship can, with faculty approval, become part of a master’s degree program). The renewed Provisional Certificate is valid for up to three years; during that period, the certificate holder is expected to gain experience as a practicing teacher and complete the advanced coursework required for the next level of certification. A $50 MSU processing fee must be paid online before submission of the hardcopy application. View the MSU Application for First Renewal of the Provisional Certificate.
Second Renewal Of The Provisional Certificate
The holder of a renewed Provisional Certificate who has not satisfied requirements for the Professional Certificate may apply for a second, and final, three-year renewal. For a second renewal, the applicant must have completed at least 18 semester credits in a planned program after initial certification, with the majority of credits earned through MSU. Coursework used to satisfy requirements for the Provisional Certificate cannot be used again for the renewal. A $50 MSU processing fee must be paid online before submission of the hardcopy application. View the MSU Application for Second Renewal of the Provisional Certificate.
Professional Education (Teaching) Certificate
The advanced teaching credential issued by the State of Michigan requires (1) at least 18 recent and relevant semester credits earned in a planned program after initial certification, with the majority of credits earned through MSU; (2) at least three years of successful teaching in one or more area(s) in which the applicant is certified; and (3) satisfaction of Michigan's reading requirements. Teachers who apply for the Professional Certificate after July 1, 2009 must take TE 846 to meet Michigan’s newest reading requirement, or a course approved to meet this requirement at another teacher preparation institution in Michigan. Coursework used to satisfy requirements for the Provisional Certificate cannot be used again for the Professional Certificate. A $50 MSU processing fee must be paid online before submission of the hardcopy application. View the MSU Application for Professional Education (Teaching) Certificate.
Additional Endorsement to a valid Michigan Teaching Certificate
Holders of valid provisional, permanent, continuing, or professional teaching certificates can add endorsements that enable them to teach additional populations, grade levels or subjects by completing an approved course of study and passing the relevant Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). Coursework taken to add an endorsement can be used to qualify for the Professional Certificate, but only after all coursework requirements have been met and the MTTC has been passed. A $50 MSU processing fee must be paid online before submission of the hardcopy application.
View the MSU Application for an Additional Endorsement to a MI teaching certificate.
School Administrator Base Certificate
Eligible applicants may apply for the School Administrator Base Certificate with Elementary and Secondary Endorsements (these three credentials are bundled). To be eligible for the School Administrator Certificate through MSU, an applicant must have completed (a) a master's degree in K-12 Administration at MSU after 2006 with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a passing score on program exit exams, or (b) an approved master's degree and an approved 18-credit core administrative studies program at MSU with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a passing score on program exit exams. View the MSU application for School Administrator certificate.
View Frequently Asked Questions about School Administrator Certificates
