ESL Teacher Certification in Michigan

<h2 id="section---CertificationOverview">Certification Overview</h2> <p>An English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher is an instructor who teaches students in many age groups to develop proficiency in English. To teach ESL in Michigan, candidates must complete a bachelor's degree, earn teaching certification, take ESL coursework, and pass a content exam to add an ESL endorsement. Check out the table below for a quick guide to these requirements. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Bachelor's Degree <br /> Educator Preparation Program (EPP)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Testing Requirements for ESL Endorsement </td><td> Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC): English as a Second Language (086)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Renewal Period </td><td> 5 Years*</td></tr> <tr><td> Renewal Requirements</td><td> 150 hours of professional development*</td></tr> <tr><td> Michigan Mean Salary (2018) </td><td> $48,690 (<i>adult basic and secondary education and literacy teachers and instructors</i>)**</td></tr> <tr><td> National Job Growth (2016-26) </td><td> -5% (<i>adult basic and secondary education and literacy teachers and instructors</i>)**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Michigan Department of Education, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---DegreeInformation">Degree Information</h3> <p>In Michigan, prospective ESL teachers must be certified as primary or secondary teachers to add an ESL endorsement. One possibility is to earn the endorsement alongside initial certification. This requires completing a bachelor's degree and a state-approved teaching certification program that confers the ESL endorsement. The teaching certification program, known as the EPP (Educator Preparation Program), needs to include 20 credit hours of approved ESL coursework. Relevant coursework may include topics such as linguistics and ESL teaching methods. This option may be available as a minor within an elementary or secondary education major. </p> <p>Teachers with a bachelor's degree and teaching certification who are interested in the ESL endorsement can enroll in a post-bacc or master's degree program. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) programs at accredited institutions may lead to the ESL endorsement as approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). </p> <h3 id="section---Testing">Testing</h3> <p>In addition to the exams required for initial licensure, teaching candidates must also successfully complete the English as a Second Language (086) test provided by MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) to obtain ESL endorsement. The test is available year round by appointment, with test sites available nationwide. </p> <p>It is a computer-administered test comprising 100 multiple choice questions, and is two hours and thirty minutes long. It costs $129 to take the test, and a passing score of 220 must be earned. Test scores are available roughly six weeks after the test was taken. To prepare, MTTC has provided study guides and materials that teaching candidates can review. </p> <h3 id="section---ObtainingTheESLEndorsement">Obtaining the ESL Endorsement</h3> <p>Upon successful completion of all aforementioned requirements, teaching candidates can request an ESL endorsement. This request will have to be made online through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). An account will need to be created before an application can be submitted. This endorsement can be added to the Standard Teaching Certificate on MOECS, which will allow the candidate to teach at Michigan schools for a five-year period. </p> <h3 id="section---RenewingTeachingCertification">Renewing Teaching Certification</h3> <p>Teaching certificate renewal can be done online through MOECS. There is no limit to how many times the Standard Teaching Certificate can be renewed. Some requirements, however, are needed in order to renew certification. Teachers must dedicate 150 hours towards professional learning, in which they advance their teaching skills. One possibility for professional development is enrolling in a State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) program, where teachers can attend conferences, workshops, and seminars. Earning an education-related master's degree is another way to renew certification on a one-time basis.</p>