CTE Certification

Career and technical education is offered as either a part of the regular school curriculum as a non-wage earning program for the education of students, or as an occupational, wage-earning program specifically designed to prepare students for employment in an occupational area. This certificate allows the holder to teach in state reimbursed and approved occupational education classrooms in the occupational area(s) in which he or she is endorsed.

CTE certification requirements

Completion of the steps below is required for obtaining the CTE certification:

  • 1. Content Requirements

    Evidence of appropriate major, minor, license, registry, apprenticeship or Michigan Occupational Competency Assessment Center completed in the requested CIP code field. This requirement must also match the work experience and is in addition to the required Workforce Education and Development course work. Official copies of all verifying documents must be on file at the university (transcripts) or in the certification office (other documents). Candidates for the Education General (Teacher Cadet) CIP 13.0000 certification will meet this requirement with their active elementary or secondary continuing teaching certificate, professional teaching certificate, or standard teaching certificate.

  • 2. Work experience

    4,000 hours of work experience in the appropriate CIP code field within the last ten years must be documented for each place of wage-earning employment.

    Submission of a minimum of three forms of documentation, as listed on the CTE Recent and Relevant Experience Requirements guidance document (page three), must be sent to the Office of Certification. The work verification form may be used in lieu of job/position descriptions and letters verifying work experience. An Annual Career Authorization  in the appropriate CIP, may be used to satisfy all documentation requirements; however, it must be active when you are recommended for the CTE certification.

    All submitted documentation must be approved by Dr. Adam Manley in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

  • 3. Background check

    A recent (within the last two years) background check must be on file in the certification office before we can recommend you for certification. A Michigan iChat  will meet this requirement. If you have any convictions, a Judgment of Sentence, Register of Action, or Case History must also be on file in the certification office prior to a certification recommendation.

  • 4. Bachelor's degree

    Bachelor's degree must be awarded and official transcripts that document the bachelor's degree and any other courses used to meet certification program requirements must be on file at the university.

  • 5. Michigan certification testing

    Official scores must be on file at the university. Candidates who are also seeking the standard teaching certificate to teach in general education classrooms must complete additional testing requirements. 

  • 6. Workforce education and development courses
  • 7. Set up your Michigan educator accounts

    Set up your Michigan educator accounts and apply for certification—detailed instructions on setting up your Michigan educator accounts.

  • 8. Standard teaching certificate

    Apply for your standard teaching certificate; if eligible for both general education and CTE endorsements, apply for both.

  • 9. Report convictions

    Honestly report any conviction or civil infraction, excluding speeding tickets.

    • Must report conviction information on all of your applications for current certification and all future certifications.
    • Provide the Judgment of Sentence, Register of Actions or Case History for each offense to the certification office.
  • 10. University review and recommendation

    After application, your identified university will review and recommend the application. Please allow five to seven business days for this process; a conviction may delay this process.

  • 11. Pay for your certification

    The Michigan Department of Education charges a $160 fee for the standard teaching certificate and $50 for an additional endorsement (i.e., anything added to an already earned teaching certificate).

  • 12. Print your certificate

    Once the fee is paid, print the certificate and obtain notarization. The standard teaching certificate is valid for five years.