Post-Degree Programs

Standard Teaching Certificate Renewals

The Standard Teaching Certificate is a five-year teaching certificate with unlimited renewals.  Each renewal adds five years to the certificate's validity.  A renewal can be requested any time after January 1 of the expiration year.  Please visit the Michigan Department of Education webpage for the most current information on requirements for renewing the standard teaching certificate.

Progressing to the Professional Teaching Certificate

Holders of a Standard Teaching Certificate may advance to the Professional Teaching Certificate. The Professional Teaching Certificate is a five-year teaching certificate with unlimited renewals.  Each renewal adds five years to the certificate's validity.  A renewal can be requested any time after January 1 of the expiration year.

Please visit the Michigan Department of Education webpage for the most current information on requirements for advancing to the Professional Teaching Certificate or this webpage for the most current information on requirements for renewing the Professional Teaching Certificate.

Certification Only Program (Elementary-COE, Secondary-COS)

The Michigan Department of Education has traditionally certified teachers in two different levels, Elementary and Secondary. Starting in Fall 2021, the state began a transition from this level-based certification to a new structure that certifies teachers in grade bands. Degree seeking students can pursue the new Elementary grade band program effective Fall 2022 or the Secondary grade band program effective Fall 2023. 

Please visit the Michigan Department of Education Revised Teacher Certification Structure for more information. 

We will also continue to offer our level-based, post degree certification-only program (COE, COS) for some candidates with a degree from an accredited institution wishing to earn a Michigan Elementary or Secondary Standard Teaching Certificate. 

Our current level-based Certification Only - Elementary program is best suited for:

  • Previous UM-Dearborn students who graduated without certification from one of our 7 level-based certification majors and are able to student teach by the Winter 2025 semester.
  •  New students who have previously earned an undergraduate degree and have a considerable number of credits that apply to one of our 7 level-based majors. Students must be able to student teach by the Winter 2025 semester.


The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification associated with the Elementary Certification program (Elementary Education #103) will no longer be available after July 2026.  If you are unable to take and pass the certification exam for the Elementary Certification program by July 2026, you risk not being able to become certified to teach. The last term of entry for this program is Summer 2023.

Our current level-based Certification Only - Secondary program is best suited for:

  • Students who have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a min overall gpa of 2.75 in one of the teachable majors or minors (e.g., English, Biology, History, etc.)

Possible majors and minors for Level-based Elementary Certification ONLY can be found on the college’s Certification-Only Elementary (COE) website.

Possible majors and minors for Level-based Secondary Certification can be found on the college’s Certification-Only Secondary (COS) website.

Grade Band Teacher Certification

Currently, teacher certification for the grade band structure can only be pursued through our degree seeking (undergraduate) programs beginning Fall 2022; not to individuals interested in a post-degree program.  Visit our grade band certification webpage for 
degree seeking students.

Our new grade band certification programs are best suited for:

  • Current UM-Dearborn students who will not be eligible for student teaching by Winter 2025
  • New incoming transfer student with a minimal number of credits that apply to one of our 7 level-based majors and will not be eligible for student teaching by Winter 2025
  • Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree and are interested in pursuing Elementary teacher certification  but are not able to complete a level-based program by the Winter 2025 deadline


Post-Degree Program Requirements

Candidates with a degree from an accredited institution and wishing to earn a Michigan Elementary or Secondary Standard Teaching Certificate, must meet the following requirements for these programs:

  1.  A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.  Students must have a 2.75 GPA overall to be admitted to the College of Education, Health, and Human Services teacher certification program. Once admitted to the teacher certification program, students must maintain a 3.00 GPA overall, and in their Elementary or Secondary major, and optional minor.
  2. When the desired major/optional minor is incomplete and/or the GPA for the major and/or optional minor is between 2.50 and 2.99, a minimum of 12 semester hours for the major and nine (9) semester hours for a minor must be completed with UM-Dearborn courses and the cumulative GPA must be 3.00 or better.
  3. Potential candidates must observe established procedures in having their credentials evaluated for the certification program. Students are required to submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form in order for credentials to be evaluated for acceptable majors, optional minors, and those supplementary courses, required by the program.
  4. At least two practica at UM-Dearborn shall be required of all COE/COS students prior to student teaching.
  5. A maximum of six semester hours (non-UM-Dearborn courses) will be accepted, if applicable, toward the professional studies sequence, not including directed teaching or seminar. The cumulative GPA in the professional sequence must be 2.75 or better. No community college courses can be used for credit in the EDD (methods) sequence of required courses. Grades earned in professional studies sequence courses must observe the criteria established for directed teaching eligibility.
  6. When there is evidence to warrant an adjustment in requirements for an admitted COE/COS student, the Professional Standards Committee will act accordingly. Students desiring re-evaluations may use the established petition process.
  7. To be eligible for certification, students must have acceptable scores from the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification Subject Area Tests for every major, optional minor and endorsement desired.
  8. No credit toward program is allowable for ROTC and/or physical education.
  9. An English language proficiency test may be required for non-native English speakers.
  10. For all practica and student teaching, the following are required:
    • CPR and First Aid Certification (Adult/Infant/Child)
    • Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases Training
    • Criminal background check consent form
    • Video Recording consent form

To enroll, it is necessary to apply for admission to the UM-Dearborn as a "Certification Only Student," through the College of Education, Health, and Human Services.

International Applicants

Students holding degrees from international institutions must have their credentials evaluated, course by course, with a posted grade point average from one of the following evaluators:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
https://www.ece.org
Telephone: (414) 289-3400

OR

World Evaluation Services
Bowling Green Station
PO Box 5087
New York NY 10274-5087
http://www.wes.org/support
Telephone: (212) 966-6311

Professional Education Certification Program (PEC)

The Professional Education Certificate Program is for persons with a Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate wishing to obtain a renewal of their Standard Teaching Certificate or upgrade to the Professional Teaching Certificate.  Individuals with a Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate can also utilize this program to renew their current certificate.

Curriculum

Certified teachers can qualify for a renewal of their Standard Teaching Certificate or upgrade to the Professional Teaching Certificate (if all other State of Michigan requirements are met) by completing the 6 semester hour post-degree program offered at UM-Dearborn through the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. This  program is ideal for the working teacher who wants to maintain a valid teaching credential but is not interested in pursuing a graduate degree.

The Professional Education certificate program is tailor-made to fit the particular professional needs and goals of the individual teacher. To meet residency requirements, students must satisfactorily complete at least 3 semester hours of advisor-approved courses in a planned 6-hour program. The entire course of study, however, can be completed at UM-Dearborn by attending classes during late afternoons, early evenings, summers, and in some cases, in online courses.

More information can be found on the:

Admission

  1. Admission to this post-degree program (PEC) requires formal application to the program, a Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate, and an approved bachelor's degree. Official copies of transcripts and a copy of the teaching certificate are required.
  2. The plan of study is agreed upon with an advisor who will meet regularly with the student to advise and monitor progress of the 6 semester hour plan of work. It is the student’s responsibility to make annual appointments with the advisor.
  3. Correspondence courses may not be used in this  program for either renewal or continuing certification.
  4. Workshops, online courses from other universities, and conferences offering graduate credit must be approved by the Professional Standards Committee prior to enrollment.
  5. When the Professional Education Certification Program is being used to earn an additional major/minor or endorsement all required coursework for the major, minor or endorsement must be completed prior to recommendation. Also, the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Subject Area Tests must be taken and acceptable scores earned prior to recommendation.

Enhancement Program (EP)

The Michigan Department of Education has traditionally certified teachers in two different levels, Elementary and Secondary. Starting in Fall 2021, the state began a transition from this level-based certification to a new structure that certifies teachers in grade bands. Degree seeking students can pursue the new Elementary grade band program effective Fall 2022 or the Secondary grade band program effective Fall 2023. 

Please visit the Michigan Department of Education Revised Teacher Certification Structure for more information. 

We will also continue to offer our level-based, post degree Enhancement Program for current teachers with a valid teacher certificate from the Michigan Department of Education. 

For Elementary Certification, these content-based endorsements are beginning to be phased out and our last term of entry for these programs will be Summer 2023. Students must be able to complete the course requirements and take and pass the relevant MTTC certification exam prior to the discontinuation of these exams or risk not being able to be endorsed in the pursued content area. Please see the MDE’s timetable (pg 4) of how these tests will be phased out.

For teachers with Secondary certification, we will continue to offer all of our endorsement majors and minors until further notice.

This program (EP) is for persons with a Michigan Standard or Professional Teaching Certificate who wish to enhance their certificate with an additional major, minor, or endorsement. Individuals entering this program are required to meet all requirements leading to the desired additional endorsement on their teaching certificate. Additionally, the MTTC Subject Area Test must be taken and acceptable scores achieved before a recommendation can be made to the state. 

Please visit the Michigan Department of Education webpage for the most current instructions on adding an endorsement to a valid teaching certificate.

For a full list of the current enhancement program majors, minors and endorsements available and to apply, please visit

Information regarding post-degree endorsement options that align with the new grade band certification structure will be available in the near future.