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(989)964-4057

Elementary Education Teacher Certification

Basic Information and Application Instructions

An Elementary Provisional Certificate is the initial document which allows you to teach in the State of Michigan. It is your "license" to teach at the elementary level.  Candidates must have successfully completed all academic and professional studies coursework requirements, student teaching, and the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (M.T.T.C.) in Elementary Education.  In addition, students will need to complete First Aid and adult & child CPR training from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Medic First Aid, or American Safety and Health Institute.  Certification of  training in these areas will be required and must be valid at the time the SVSU Admissions and Certification Office recommends you for a Michigan Teaching Certificate. Please refer to the  Michigan Department of Education website for a complete list of approved courses offered by these CPR and first aid providers.

Elementary certification includes:

  • K-5 all subjects
  • K-8 all subjects when teaching in a self-contained classroom
  • Grades 6-8 in your content area minor(s) - (with passage of M.T.T.C. subject area test(s))

Elementary/Special Education certification includes:

  • K-5 all subjects
  • K-8 all subjects when teaching in a self-contained classroom
  • K-12 Emotionally Impaired (EI) or K-12 Cognitive Impairment (CI)
  • Grades 6-8 in your content area minor - (with passage of M.T.T.C. subject area test(s))

Application Instructions

The SVSU College of Education Admissions and Certification Office will only accept applications for the Michigan Provisional teaching certificate when all coursework requirements are complete (this means that the bachelor’s degree for undergraduate students and final semester grades for post-baccalaureate teacher certification candidates must be posted to the SVSU transcript by the Registrar’s Office).  All required M.T.T.C. tests and the First Aid & CPR requirements must also be complete at the time of application. The following steps must be completed for provisional certification:

The following supporting materials must accompany your application for the Michigan Provisional Teaching Certificate:

  • Michigan Provisional Teaching Certificate Application MOECS Confirmation number
    (Complete steps 1-3 on the MOECS website )
  • MTTC test scores must be submitted to SVSU electronically by selecting institution code #24 when registering, OR an official hard copy of the test results must be sent directly to our office from National Evaluation Series to: Sharon Carlin, Certification Secretary, College of Education, Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI  48710.

Please note: Adding your content area minors to your elementary teaching certificate is optional but highly recommended.  You have the option to add one or both of your content area minors to your teaching certificate. All coursework requirements and the M.T.T.C. test in your minor(s) must be successfully completed in order to be added to your certificate.  One or both of your content area minors can be added as an endorsement after your elementary provisional teaching certificate has been issued if your minors are posted on your SVSU transcript and you have completed the M.T.T.C. test in one or both of your content area minors.  An application for an endorsement can be made through the MOECS .

  • Verification of completion of First Aid and Adult & Child CPR Training from the American Red Cross (ARC), American Heart Association (AHA), the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), or Medic First Aid (MFA).  Evidence of training must be valid at the time the recommendation for a Michigan teaching certificate is made by SVSU .  A summary of the requirements are shown on the  Michigan Department of Education website.  An SVSU staff member will make a copy of the First Aid/CPR cards issued by ARC, AHA, ASHI, or MFA at the time the application and supporting materials are submitted.

  • Students who have taken additional coursework at another college or university since admission to the Teacher Education Program, will be required to submit those transcripts with the application.  The transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the college/university where the credit was completed.

Please Note: The application materials will be returned to the student if the application packet is incomplete.  It will also be returned if the MTTC or First Aid/CPR requirements are pending or not complete.

All supporting materials must be submitted in-person . On campus students must submit their application materials to the College of Education Admissions and Certification Office located in the Regional Education Center.  Macomb students must submit their application materials to the Regional Education Center-Macomb Office, located on 30331 Hickey Road, and Port Huron students must submit their application materials to the Regional Education Center-Port Huron Office, located on 323 Erie Street.

Upon verification of all requirements for certification, the Admissions and Certification Office will forward a recommendation to the Michigan Department of Education in your name for an elementary provisional teaching certificate. The Admissions and Certification Office will release an official letter to you that is valid for 90 days and can legally be used in lieu of your actual certificate to seek employment. The official "90-day" letter will not be released to any student until all requirements for certification have been verified.

The Michigan Department of Education will send you an e-mail notification advising you to pay a certification fee online in the amount of $160.00. Upon receipt of payment, the Michigan Department of Education will forward your Elementary Provisional Certificate to you within 7-14 business days..  It is highly recommended that you review your teaching certificate to verify that it is correct and to become acquainted with the expiration date of your certificate.

Applicants with a Criminal Conviction

If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, you must include court documents indicating the crime of which you were convicted, dates and sentences imposed with your application materials.  The Admission and Certification Office will forward your application with all supporting materials (including your court documents) to the Michigan Department of Education for consideration of a teaching certificate.

The SVSU College of Education cannot guarantee approval of any recommendation made to the State of Michigan for any type of certification.  Final approval of a recommendation made by SVSU is granted only by the Michigan Department of Education based on their policies and procedures current at the time the recommendation for certification is made. The Michigan Department of Education will contact you in writing once they have reviewed your application materials and made their decision.

Additional Endorsements

If you are declaring a Special Education major (Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotionally Impaired, or Cognitive Impairment - K12), an Early Childhood minor, or an English as a Second Language endorsement at the time you submit your application for your elementary provisional teaching certificate, all coursework and M.T.T.C. testing requirements will be verified by the Admissions and Certification Office.  If all requirements have been successfully met, a recommendation will be included with the recommendation for the elementary provisional teaching certificate and no additional charge will be made to you by the Michigan Department of Education.

Validity of a Provisional Certificate

An elementary provisional teaching certificate is valid for a maximum of six years. During this time, you should begin to work on the requirements to obtain a Professional Education Certificate.

SVSU Student Status

Upon completion of all requirements and recommendation for teacher certification, your academic record at SVSU will be deactivated.  If you plan to pursue a new plan of study, you will need to apply for readmission to the University.  Please contact the SVSU College of Education Admissions and Certification Office directly at 989.964.4057 (option #1) for complete details or go to the College of Education Certification website.