Aquinas College :: Education

Overview

General Certification Information

Recent Updates

Certification Process

The final certification process begins with successful completion of Directed Student Teaching. Once the student has successfully completed all certification program requirements and their exit interview with the Director of Student Teaching or the School of Education desginee, the final certification process begins. Students will be issued a 90 day letter from the Certification Officer in the School of Education . This letter can be used in the interviewing process showing the student has completed a certification program.

A roster of qualified names for certification are sent to the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) in group format several times a year. The (MDOE) will send a bill for certification to the teacher candidate for final certification. Once the bill is paid to the State Department of Education, the certificate will be sent directly to the teacher candidate.

Provisional Certificate (Initial):

This certificate is granted by the Michigan Department of Education following the recommendation of the Aquinas College School of Education upon completion of all of your teacher certification requirements and the payment of the Provisional Certificate fee. The certificate is valid for five and half to six years depending on when the certificate is requested. The expiration date of a Michigan teaching certificate is June 30 regardless of when it is issued.

"Provisional Certification" fee of $125 is payable to the Michigan Department of Education. This is due upon receipt of a bill following recommendation by Aquinas College . Certification is not complete until this fee has been paid.

"What do I have to do to keep my certificate valid?"

The provisional certificate may be renewed for three years by completing 10 credit hours in an 18-hour planned program (which must be approved by and carried out with a teacher preparatory institution in the State of Michigan .) The courses must be approved prior to enrolling in the courses. The provisional certificate may be renewed for an additional three years by completing the entire 18 hours of a student's 18-hour planned program (or an approved Master's degree).

Professional Certificate:

This certificate is granted after you have successfully taught for three years (at the level and in the disciplines for which you are certified) and have completed the 18-hour planned program or earned an approved Master's degree. (450 days of teaching equals three years. No more than 150 days may be counted in any one year. Subbing counts! The three years of successful "teaching experience" does not begin to accumulate until after the provisional certificate has been granted.)

The Professional Certificate is valid for five years. It can be renewed for an additional five years by earning six semester hours of academic credit from an approved institution or the equivalent in continuing education units (18 CEU's) approved by the State Board after the issuance of the professional certificate.

Professional certificate holders must continue to renew their certificate in this manner every five years throughout their teaching career. Extra credit hours earned during a five year validity span may not be carried over to be used for a future renewal.

"Professional Certification" fee of $125 is payable to the Michigan Department of Education. (Due upon receipt of bill)

For information on certification requirements for other states, consult the University of Kentucky College of Education information page: http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html

If you have questions regarding certification, please call the Aquinas College Certification Officer directly at

(616) 632-2436.


1607 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799 - (616) 632-8900