I completed requirements for my professional teaching certificate about a year ago, but why get it early when my provisional didn't expire until June? And so, upon completion of "18 semester hours in a planned course of study after the issuance of the Provisional certificate, completion of Michigan's reading requirement (6 semester hours of teaching reading for elementary teachers or 3 semester hours for secondary teachers) and 3 years of successful teaching experience" (according to the State of Michigan's website), oh, and a $125 processing fee, I received my professional education certificate in the mail yesterday. I am qualified to teach History and Social Science in grades 7-12. (Social Science includes specialized classes in Economics, Geography, Civics, & Psychology).
It's really just a paperwork thing, but it did make me pretty happy to accomplish it. I am "Highly Qualified" in Michigan as well, having taken both certification tests when I graduated college. Of course, I believe the state will constantly change what "Highly Qualified" is and means, as No Child Left Behind continues to become a bigger boondoggle. Now, according to the State of MI, I only have to acquire "completion of 6 semester hours at any four-year or community college listed in the Directory of Michigan Institutions of Higher Education, or 18 State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs) or a combination of the two (3 SB-CEUs are equivalent to 1 semester hour of credit)." I must do this within 5 years, and every 5 years, for the rest of my teaching life... or until the state changes things.
So, lastly, this also means I can earn those credits by returning to graduate school this fall, which I quit when we came home with Roman so Doug could finish. I have 4 or 5 classes to go, and probably at least 1 makeup class (for going over the 7 years granted for completion). But, at least, I'm officially a "professional" teacher.
It's really just a paperwork thing, but it did make me pretty happy to accomplish it. I am "Highly Qualified" in Michigan as well, having taken both certification tests when I graduated college. Of course, I believe the state will constantly change what "Highly Qualified" is and means, as No Child Left Behind continues to become a bigger boondoggle. Now, according to the State of MI, I only have to acquire "completion of 6 semester hours at any four-year or community college listed in the Directory of Michigan Institutions of Higher Education, or 18 State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs) or a combination of the two (3 SB-CEUs are equivalent to 1 semester hour of credit)." I must do this within 5 years, and every 5 years, for the rest of my teaching life... or until the state changes things.
So, lastly, this also means I can earn those credits by returning to graduate school this fall, which I quit when we came home with Roman so Doug could finish. I have 4 or 5 classes to go, and probably at least 1 makeup class (for going over the 7 years granted for completion). But, at least, I'm officially a "professional" teacher.
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