Teacher Certification Programs
Pursuing teacher certification through the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn ensures you receive a high-quality education and valuable field experiences, equipping you to educate future generations effectively. Our degree programs are approved by the Michigan Department of Education, enabling us to recommend graduates for state-issued teacher certification. Additionally, CEHHS is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), affirming our programs meet the rigorous standards of an Educator Preparation Institution (EPI). Starting in Fall 2021, Michigan transitioned from traditional Elementary and Secondary certifications to a new grade band structure. In response, we have developed innovative majors for incoming students to secure certification in one or more grade bands, while continuing to support current students and some transfer students through our existing level-based certification programs. Choose CEHHS to gain the credentials and expertise necessary for a successful teaching career in today's evolving educational landscape.
Making lasting impacts on the next generation
You can make a difference as a teacher
Teachers possess the unique ability to leave a lasting impression and profoundly impact the lives of future generations. Aspiring educators, driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, diligently prepare lesson after lesson with the anticipation of witnessing their students' growth and development. The profession of teaching, imbued with both honor and reward, affords individuals the profound opportunity to inspire others, shape the world, and cultivate the minds of young learners. By becoming a teacher, you embrace the vital role of serving as a role model for students who seek guidance and encouragement, thereby contributing to a brighter and more enlightened future. Your dedication and passion can truly transform lives and effect substantive change within the community.
Elementary Teacher Certification
This certification is aimed at students wishing to teach in self-contained classrooms covering Birth to Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade, and 3rd through 6th grade, with a special emphasis on strategies for these grade levels.
The curriculum is structured in sequential phases as outlined in the Elementary Education Pathway to Teacher Certification. This pathway includes academic coursework, professional preparation through field experiences, and achieving passing scores on the relevant Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) exams, either during or after student teaching.
The College of Education, Health, and Human Services recommends students for certification upon successful completion of program and testing requirements. The Michigan Department of Education ultimately awards the Michigan Elementary Standard Teaching Certificate. For additional information regarding Elementary Teacher Certification, please refer to the provided links.
Secondary Teacher Certification
This certification is tailored for students interested in teaching in a specific content in a middle school or high school classroom. The major provides special focus on the strategies for the unique learning needs of adolescents in these grade ranges. Students in the Secondary Education major are required to choose one concentration from the following options: 5th - 9th Grade Math, 7th - 12th Grade Math, 5th - 9th Grade English Language Arts, 7th - 12th Grade English Language Arts, 5th - 9th Grade Integrated Science, 7th - 12th Grade Integrated Science, 5th - 9th Grade Social Studies, or 7th - 12th Grade Social Studies.
The curriculum is designed for students to complete in sequential phases which are outlined in the Secondary Education Pathway to Teacher Certification. This pathway includes academic coursework, professional preparation through field experiences, and achieving passing scores on the relevant Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) exams, either during or after student teaching.
The College of Education, Health, and Human Services recommends students for certification upon successful completion of program and testing requirements. The Michigan Department of Education ultimately awards the Michigan Secondary Standard Teaching Certificate. For additional information regarding Secondary Teacher Certification, please refer to the provided links.
Licensure Statement
The pathways in our Educator Preparation Program were designed to satisfy educational prerequisites to initial and advanced licensure in only the state of Michigan. We encourage students to contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state in which they are located or, if different, the state in which they intend to seek licensure for more information. While the Educator Preparation Program pathways may or may not fully satisfy educational prerequisites to licensure in other states, academic advisors work with students on an individual basis and are available to discuss teaching certifications and reciprocity opportunities in other states. In addition, the Education Commission of the States website provides solid information as to the expectations each state and the District of Columbia has for obtaining licensure beyond Michigan licensure.