Become a Licensed Teacher in Michigan

Yes, though special education is where Michigan's system looks the most different from Wisconsin's. If you complete an approved Wisconsin special education teacher preparation program and receive a standard Wisconsin teaching certificate for special education, you can apply to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for a Michigan teaching certificate through its out-of-state applicant pathway. Michigan evaluates your preparation against its own special education endorsement structure, which currently works by disability category rather than a single cross-categorical credential — see the next question for what that means for your application. Learn more about Michigan's Out-of-State Applicants page.

Michigan does not currently have a single endorsement matching Wisconsin's Cross Categorical Special Education (K-12) credential. Instead, the Michigan Department of Education issues separate, category-specific endorsements, most of which must be paired with a general education content endorsement (such as Elementary Education) rather than standing alone:

• Individuals who complete a Wisconsin-approved cross categorical special education program are eligible to test for Learning Disabilities, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, and Physical or Other Health Impairment endorsements.
• Individuals who complete a Wisconsin-approved cross categorical special education program may also apply for the Autism Spectrum Disorder, Visual Impairment, Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Physical Education for Students with Disabilities endorsements. In addition to testing, educators will need to have paperwork completed by their university verifying the completed program covers all Michigan preparation standards for the endorsement(s) sought.

In May 2025, Michigan's State Board of Education approved a new, stand-alone special education teacher endorsement that will eventually combine cognitive impairment, emotional impairment, learning disabilities, physical/other health impairment, and resource-room programs under one credential — closer in spirit to Wisconsin's cross-categorical model. This endorsement is not yet available to out-of-state applicants: preparation programs begin offering it in fall 2026, and the first teachers are expected to enter the field with it around spring 2028. Until then, MDE's credential evaluators determine, case by case, which existing Michigan category (or categories) a cross-categorical applicant's coursework and field experience best support — this is not something we can determine for you in advance.

For candidates prepared in Early Childhood Special Education (Birth to Grade 3), Michigan continues to require its own distinct Early Childhood Special Education endorsement, separate from the categories above.

To qualify for a Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate with a special education endorsement after completing the Educate Pathways program, you should expect to need:

• A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.
  • The 10 Sped Program Administrator will confirm your degree when you apply for the program.
• Completion of a state-approved special education preparation program that included student teaching.
  • • 10 Sped is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and offers early childhood (Birth to Grade 3) and cross-categorical (Grades K-12) special education licensure areas. Because Michigan currently pairs most special education endorsements with a general education content endorsement, MDE's evaluators will also look at whether your preparation supports a general education content area (such as Elementary Education) alongside your special education coursework.
• This program is considered an alternative route certification program, not a standard program offered by a university with field based experiences throughout and student teaching at the end. As a result, MDE would not look for student teaching. Instead we would expect verification of a completed program with all requirements satisfied. Since it is an alternative route program, a standard WI teaching certificate issued upon program completion must also be provided.
• Passing scores on the appropriate Michigan Test(s) for Teacher Certification (MTTC), unless you have at least 3 years of successful teaching experience under the validity of your out-of-state certificate.
  • Do not register for any MTTC exam until MDE sends you an evaluation report specifying which test(s), if any, you need to take — including which special education category test applies once your file has been reviewed.
• Payment of Michigan's $210 out-of-state certificate evaluation fee, paid online through MOECS after you submit your application.
• A valid, regular Wisconsin special education teaching license (not emergency or temporary), which is especially valuable given the category-matching uncertainty described above.
  • Holding a completed, named Wisconsin credential gives MDE's evaluators a concrete license to match against Michigan's categories, rather than an unlicensed transcript describing a cross-categorical scope Michigan doesn't currently have a direct equivalent for. It also starts the clock on the 3 years of experience that could later qualify you for a Professional Teaching Certificate without additional testing.

A standard Wisconsin teaching certificate issued upon program completion is required before applying for certification in Michigan.

Yes. If you hold a valid, standard-level teaching certificate from another state but need more time to complete Michigan's testing or literacy coursework requirements, you may be eligible for a Temporary Teaching Certificate — a nonrenewable, one-year certificate that authorizes full employment as a teacher in a Michigan school while you finish those requirements. Apply for the standard or professional certificate, and MDE's evaluators will let you know if you qualify.

The application process is the same as the general education pathway: create an account in MOECS, submit a teaching certificate application, and pay the $210 out-of-state evaluation fee. A specialist will contact you by email requesting documentation such as transcripts, your out-of-state certificate, and work experience forms. Given the category-matching considerations described above, it's worth being as specific as possible about your Wisconsin coursework and field placements when documentation is requested. Learn more from MDE's Out-of-State Applicants page.

Educate Pathways is designed to help you meet Wisconsin special education licensure requirements while planning to teach in Michigan.

Our personalized support includes:

• Guidance on how your early childhood or cross-categorical preparation may align with Michigan's current category-specific endorsements
• Help documenting your Wisconsin coursework and field experience clearly for MDE's evaluators
• Documentation of field experience, student teaching, and program completion for your MOECS application

Michigan has signed an Interstate Compact Agreement with every state, including Wisconsin, agreeing to accept approved out-of-state teacher preparation programs and standard teaching certificates on a reciprocal basis for initial certification. For special education specifically, reciprocity means MDE will attempt to match your Wisconsin credential to its closest current Michigan category, but because Michigan's system is structured differently than Wisconsin's cross-categorical model, that match is determined case by case by MDE's evaluators rather than being automatic.

Educate Pathways programs are designed to prepare candidates for Wisconsin educator licensure and to support candidates who wish to pursue certification in Michigan. Completion of any Educate Pathways program does not, by itself, guarantee certification in Michigan. Certification decisions are made solely by the Michigan Department of Education, and requirements may change at any time. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the most current Michigan Department of Education licensure requirements and for submitting all documentation requested by MDE.

Michigan has identified special education as one of its most significant teacher shortage areas. Learn more about current teaching opportunities, including MDE's Education Workforce Job Fairs, on the Teaching in Michigan page.