Teacher Certification

Prospective teachers in most states and provinces must earn a Bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate. Contact Shari Brouwer for assistance: (616) 526-6208, certification@calvin.edu .

State of Michigan

The candidate who meets the Michigan requirements receives a Provisional Teaching Certificate which is valid for six years. The state requires a $160 fee to issue the certificate. The candidate may choose to save the certificate bill and wait to pay it for up to five years. In order to be valid, the certificate must be signed and notarized. Certificates can be notarized at Financial Services, Spoelhof Center 365.

The Elementary Certificate qualifies the holder to teach:
Grades K-5, All Subjects
Grades 6-8, All Subjects, Self-Contained Classroom
Grades 6-8, Major(s) and Minor(s) Subject Areas
Grades K-12, Cognitive Impairment (Special Education majors only)

The Secondary Certificate qualifies the holder to teach:
Grades 6-12 or K-12, Major Subject Area
Grades 6-12, Minor Subject Area

Students complete the Application for Teacher Certification during the first student teaching meeting.

The major and/or minor subject areas listed on your certificate are known as "Endorsements." Know your endorsement codes and which classes you are certified to teach.

After the Provisional Certificate expires, the teacher may renew the Provisional Certificate or apply for the Professional Certificate. See the Michigan Department of Education's Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Your Michigan Teaching Certificate Status is available online.

Other States and Provinces

Because Calvin College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education, graduates can more easily obtain certification in other states.

If you hope to teach a particular subject in a certain state or province, it is wise to investigate your options early on to determine which majors, minors, and grade levels you should pursue at Calvin. Although the Michigan certificate will transfer to other states, not all states offer certification in the exact same subjects and grade level combinations that Michigan offers. Contact the state or province department of education to find out which major/minor and program (elementary or secondary) you need to complete at Calvin.

All states listed below have signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement except for Alaska, Iowa, and Minnesota. The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the movement of educators among the states that have signed the Agreement. The Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. Receiving states may impose certain requirements which must be met in a reasonable period of time; for example:

Additional tests, such as the PRAXIS Tests
Copies of your MTTC score reports
Additional courses (such as a course in the history of the particular state)
Application fees
Official transcripts
A copy of the Michigan Teaching Certificate
Criminal background check and/or fingerprinting
Validation that the candidate has completed a college program - send verification forms to the Calvin College Certification Coordinator

If you obtain the Michigan certificate, most states and provinces will give you a temporary license allowing you to begin teaching immediately while any of the above additional requirements are completed.

If you decide not to be certified in Michigan, the state or province will evaluate your Calvin transcripts and may require you to complete additional college courses. You will not be able to begin teaching until those courses are completed, which could cost you significant time and money. For this reason, we recommend that everyone who completes Calvin's Education Program complete all requirements for the Michigan teaching certificate.

The following web sites contain additional information and applications for teacher certification in other states and provinces.

Items Required for Applications

Teacher Certification Requirements in all Fifty States - This information is also available in booklet form at the Calvin Library in the reference collection.