Michigan Teacher Certification Renewal
Michigan teacher certification renewal depends on which certificate you hold. Standard Certificate renewal may be based on 150 hours of professional learning, a qualifying master’s or higher degree used once, or a valid out-of-state certificate used once. Professional Certificate renewal allows the 150-hour route or a qualifying out-of-state certificate used once, both applied for through MOECS.
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Michigan Standard, Professional, and Advanced Professional Teaching Certificates all renew on five-year cycles (the Advanced Professional Certificate is valid for up to five years). Renewal doesn’t reset that clock to zero. It adds five more years for Standard and Professional certificates, and you can apply any time after January 1 of the year your certificate expires. The requirements are the same whether your certificate is still valid or has already expired, so there’s no separate “reinstatement” process to worry about if you’re a few months or a few years past your expiration date. If you’re not sure which Michigan credential applies to your situation, the Michigan teaching certification overview walks through each path.
Standard and Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal
Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal
The Standard Teaching Certificate is Michigan’s initial teaching certificate, issued to completers of teacher preparation programs. It’s valid for five years with unlimited renewals, and each renewal adds another five years. You can request a renewal any time after January 1 of your expiration year through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).
To renew, you need one of the following:
- 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning, earned through any combination of:
- 6 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university
- 6 semester hours in a planned course of study from a college or university recognized by CHEA or USDE
- 150 Michigan State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs)
- 150 hours of Michigan District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) completed before July 1, 2020. DPPD hours earned after that date must be entered and reported as SCECHs instead
- An education-related master’s degree or higher from a CHEA- or USDE-recognized institution (this option can be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate)
- A valid out-of-state teaching certificate (also a one-time option for renewing the Standard Teaching Certificate). See Michigan’s teacher reciprocity agreements if you’re coming from another state.
Professional learning hours must be logged in MOECS before you apply, so the system can confirm you’re eligible. College credits need a transcript (unofficial copies are fine); SCECHs post automatically once you complete the sponsoring program’s evaluation.
If you hold a School Counselor (NT) endorsement, you’ll also need to complete, since issuance or your most recent renewal, at least 25 approved hours covering college preparation and selection, and at least 25 approved hours covering career counseling, under MCL 380.1233(6). This applies regardless of your current teaching assignment. Endorsements themselves aren’t renewed separately. Renewing your certificate keeps all endorsements intact.
Progressing to the Professional Teaching Certificate
The Professional Teaching Certificate is Michigan’s optional second tier of licensure. Progression isn’t required. You can stay on the Standard Teaching Certificate and keep renewing it indefinitely.
Advancing to the Professional tier requires all of the following:
- Three years of successful teaching completed under the initial Standard Teaching Certificate
- Required reading-methods coursework: six credit hours for an elementary grade band or three credit hours for a secondary or PK-12 grade band. Michigan program completers have generally already satisfied this as part of their initial certification since 1985
- Three credit hours in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities and differentiated instruction, including a field experience, completed with a grade of C or better
- Either 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning or an education-related master’s degree or higher
Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal
Once you’ve progressed to the Professional Teaching Certificate, it’s valid for five years with unlimited renewals, and each renewal adds another five years. Applications open the same way: any time after January 1 of your expiration year, through MOECS.
Renewal requires one of the following:
- 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning (the same four options listed above for the Standard Teaching Certificate)
- A valid out-of-state teaching certificate, appropriate for K-12 education (one-time use)
Some teachers go on to earn an Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate, which recognizes teaching experience and advanced training in master teaching or teacher leadership. It’s available only to holders of the Professional Teaching Certificate and is valid for up to five years.
| Certificate | Validity | Renewal Requirement (One of) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Teaching Certificate | 5 years, unlimited renewals | 150 hours Education-Related Professional Learning, master’s degree (one-time), or valid out-of-state certificate (one-time) |
| Professional Teaching Certificate | 5 years, unlimited renewals | 150 hours Education-Related Professional Learning, or valid out-of-state certificate (one-time) |
If Your Michigan Teaching Certificate Has Expired
Michigan doesn’t charge a state-level penalty for letting a certificate lapse, though your school district may have its own employment requirements. A district may obtain an appropriate permit for a teacher whose certificate has expired. Still, an educator generally can’t continue teaching under an expired credential unless the employer obtains that permit. Employing improperly credentialed staff can expose a district to state-aid deductions, so this is worth confirming with your district’s HR office if your certificate is close to expiring. If your certificate expired and you don’t hold a valid out-of-state certificate, you’ll complete the same 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning required for a standard renewal. There’s no separate, harder “reinstatement” track and no additional penalty for the lapse itself.
If your certificate expired while you were teaching out of state under a valid certificate there, you’ve already met the professional learning requirement. Michigan offers a one-time renewal to bring you back into a Michigan classroom.
If your certificate expired in June 2020 or earlier, check whether you qualify for a reduction or elimination of the professional learning hours normally required through the Welcome Back Proud Michigan Educator campaign. If you’d like a refresher before heading back to the classroom, the Michigan Education Association’s Teacher Re-Entry Program is built for teachers transitioning back into the workforce, and substitute teaching in Michigan is a lower-commitment way to ease back in while you finish your requirements.
Whether your certificate is valid or expired, you’ll apply for renewal the same way: through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a grace period before my Michigan teaching certificate expires?
Michigan certificates expire on June 30 of their expiration year, and you can apply for renewal starting January 1 of that same year. There’s no state-level penalty if your certificate lapses before you renew it, though your district may have its own requirements for staying employed.
Do I have to meet extra requirements if my certificate has already expired?
No. Renewal requirements are the same whether your certificate is valid or has already expired: 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning, a master’s degree (Standard Teaching Certificate only, one-time use), or a valid out-of-state certificate (one-time use).
Can I use an out-of-state teaching certificate to renew in Michigan?
Yes. A valid qualifying out-of-state teaching certificate may be used one time to satisfy the professional-learning requirement for renewal of either a Standard or Professional Teaching Certificate, subject to MDE review of your application.
How do I apply for renewal?
Log your Education-Related Professional Learning hours, transcripts, or out-of-state certificate information into MOECS, then submit your renewal application any time after January 1 of your expiration year.
What if my certificate has expired for years?
If it expired in June 2020 or earlier, the Welcome Back Proud Michigan Educator campaign may reduce or eliminate the professional learning hours you’d otherwise need. Reach out to MDE’s educator support team to confirm what applies to your situation.
- Michigan Standard, Professional, and Advanced Professional Teaching Certificates renew on five-year cycles. Renewal adds five more years for Standard and Professional certificates rather than resetting the clock, and applications open January 1 of your expiration year.
- Standard Teaching Certificate renewal needs one of three paths: 150 hours of Education-Related Professional Learning, a one-time master’s degree, or a one-time valid out-of-state certificate.
- A lapsed certificate isn’t penalized at the state level. The renewal requirements are identical whether your certificate is current or expired.
- Progressing to the Professional Teaching Certificate is optional. It requires three years of teaching under the Standard Certificate, reading-methods coursework (often already satisfied), a three-credit reading diagnostics course, and either 150 professional-learning hours or a qualifying master’s degree.
- Certificates that expired in June 2020 or earlier may qualify for reduced hours through the Welcome Back Proud Michigan Educator campaign.
Explore Michigan teacher certification and continuing education programs to help you meet your renewal requirements.
