Subject Area Tests

Note: Initial certification must be obtained within five years of program completion and testing. Failure to be certified within this time period will require a program review and a retake of the subject area test(s).

Secondary education

Candidates seeking initial secondary certification, including K-12, must pass the appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject area test(s) in the major area(s) of preparation—regardless of areas in which they will intern teach—prior to certification.¹

In addition to a passing score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject area test in their language, candidates in Spanish, French, German and Russian must achieve a minimum score of Advanced Low and candidates in Arabic, Chinese and Japanese must achieve a minimum score of Intermediate High on the Oral Proficiency Interview prior to internship and certification

Elementary education

The elementary education test (#103) is mandatory for all candidates seeking elementary certification including early childhood and special education (undergraduate ONLY) candidates.

¹Public act 282 (1992) and 267 (1986).

Successful completion of an approved program and a passing score on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject area test is required to add an endorsement(s) to an existing certificate.

• General Michigan Test for Teacher Certification information
• Online registration
• Test selection—specific information about when and where you can take the test including access to preparation materials.
• Subject area tests by WMU program

Note: Students who need accommodations because of a documented disability must register early and should see registering for alternative testing arrangements.

• Preparing for the exam (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification resources)
• Practice tests—online practice tests are designed to simulate the actual testing experience and include multiple-choice questions representative of the actual test.
• Study guides—study guides for all subject area tests
• Test objective and subarea matching worksheet—developed by the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification
• Exam preparation process—developed by WMU's Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies
• Preparing for the exam—developed by Steven J. Stegink, Ph.D from the Michigan Department of Education
• English resource guide for MTTC test #02—developed by Dr. Philip Egan, Director of Undergraduate Studies in English
• Social studies resource guide for MTTC test #084—from the TRiO Future Educator Success Program.
• K-8 Grade Level Content Expectations for Health Education—developed with the help of 155 teachers, parents, health content experts, and others interested in the health and learning of Michigan's children.