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FAQs: Michigan Test for Teacher Certification
(MTTC)
Michigan
Department of Education Office of Professional Preparation and Certification
MTTC
Registration form and Bulletin is available
online at http://www.mttc.nesinc.com
What
is the Michigan Test for Teacher
Certification?
Section
1531 of Public Act 451 (1976) as amended
by Public Act 267 (1986), Public Act 282
(1992), and Public Act 289 (1995) mandates
teacher testing as one aspect of Michigan's
teacher certification requirements. The
purpose of the Michigan Test for Teacher
Certification (MTTC) is to help ensure that
individuals seeking certification have the
necessary basic skills and content knowledge
to perform effectively in Michigan Schools.
If
I have never held a teaching certificate
in any state, what tests will I be
required to take to be eligible for
a Michigan teaching certificate?
Basic
Skills Test: Candidates for
teacher certification in Michigan
must pass the Basic Skills test. Candidates
from in-state teacher preparation
programs for Michigan provisional
teaching certification must take the
Basic Skills test before enrolling
in student teaching. Some colleges
and universities require a passing
score on the Basic Skills test for
admission into a teacher preparation
program. Information about requirements
for admission to teacher preparation
programs should be requested from
individual institutions.
Elementary
Education: Candidates
for Michigan provisional elementary
teaching certification must pass the
Elementary Education test. Candidates
who meet all the requirements for
elementary education and choose to
take, in addition to the Basic Skills
test, only the Elementary Education
test will (if both tests are passed)
be eligible to teach grades K-5 (all
subjects) and grades 6, 7, and 8 (all
subjects , in a self-contained classroom
only). Candidates for elementary certification
who, in addition to passing the Basic
Skills and Elementary Education tests,
choose to take (and pass) subject-area
tests in their major and /or minor
area(s) of study will be eligible
to teach grades K-5 (all subjects),
grades K-8 (all subjects, in a self-contained
classroom), and grades 6, 7, and 8
(in their major and/or minor area(s)
of study).
Secondary and K-12: Subject-area tests
correspond to endorsement areas in
the Michigan certification structure.
Candidates for secondary/K-12 certification
must pass the appropriate subject-area
test in each major and/or minor area
for which they are seeking endorsement.
Candidates who qualify for a secondary
certificate will be eligible to teach
grades 7-12 in the areas of endorsement.
(K-12 areas include art, music, special education, physical education, technology education and Japanese.) These endorsements will
qualify a candidate to teach grades
7-12 in these subject areas
only ( or K-12 as appropriate.) Students take the
subject-area tests at the end of their teacher preparation
program.
Out-of-State
Candidates: Candidates from
out-of-state teacher preparation programs
must also complete the MTTC tests.
These individuals must pass the Basic
Skills and the subject-area and/or
Elementary Education tests as described
above. Candidates from out of state
should seek additional information
from the Michigan
Department of Education's Office of
Professional Preparation and Certification at 517-373-3300.
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What
test will I be required to take if
I hold a teaching certificate from
another state?
Individuals
who hold a teaching certificate from another
state are not required to take the MTTC
tests if they meet all of the following
criteria. They have successfully taught
for at least three years in a position for
which their out-of-state teaching certificate
(from the other state) was valid.
They
have earned, after initial certification
in another state, at least 18 semester credit
hours in a planned course of study at a
state board-approved institution of higher
education, or have earned, at any time,
a state board-approved master's or doctoral
degree.
They
have met the elementary or secondary, as
applicable, reading credit requirement established
under state board rules.
An
individual who holds a teaching certificate
from another state and meets all of the
requirements for a Michigan teaching certificate,
but does NOT meet all three of the requirements
listed above and has not passed the required
Basic Skills and subject-area tests is eligible
to receive a one-year nonrenewable temporary
teaching certificate.
The
State Board of Education will not issue
a teaching certificate after the expiration
of the temporary teaching certificate unless
the individual has passed the appropriate
MTTC tests.
The Michigan Department of Education can be reached at 517-373-3000.
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If
I already have a Michigan teaching
certificate, am I required to take
any tests?
Teachers
who hold a valid Michigan teaching certificate
are required to take the MTTC only if they
are applying to add a new endorsement to
their certificate, if they are applying
for elementary certification when they already
have secondary certification, or if they are taking the test to meet NCLB requirements. A certified
teacher who qualifies and applies for a
new endorsement or elementary-level certification
will be required to pass only the test for
the new endorsement (subject area) or the
Elementary Education test or both, if applicable.
How
were the tests prepared and what are
they like?
There
are two types of test: Basic Skills and
subject area. The Basic Skills test consists
of three components: reading, mathematics,
and writing. The reading and mathematics
portions each have about 45 multiple-choice
questions. The writing portion of the Basic
Skills test requires the candidate to provide
a writing sample in resins to a given assignment.
The subject-area tests consist of approximately
100 test questions in a multiple-choice
format.
The
content of both the Basic Skills and subject-area
tests is defined by content frameworks,
which consist of a set of test objectives
an descriptive statements. The content has
been validated by Michigan educators as
relevant to classroom performance in Michigan
schools. The content frameworks have been
widely distributed throughout the state
and are available from teacher preparation
institutions of the Michigan Department
of Education.
The
content of the tests is based on curricula
used in Michigan schools, including State
Board of Education Core Curriculum and curriculum
guidelines, and reflects the participation
of more than 12,000 Michigan school teachers
and college faculty members. These individuals
participated in the review and validation
of test objectives and test questions, and
made recommendations upon which the passing
scores for the tests were established. Since
1992, the Michigan Department of Education
and committees of Michigan educators have
been involved in a process of reviewing
and updating test content. Each year, four
to five subject-area tests are redesigned
and updated.
Two
legislatively mandated advisory committees
serve in an advisory capacity to the State
Board of Education non the development of
the MTTC: the Teacher Examination Advisory
Committee and the Standing Technical Advisory
Council. Each of these groups is composed
of Michigan teachers, administrators, school
board members, and university/college faculty
who advise on MTTC policy. The result is
a testing program rooted in Michigan classroom
activities and validated for use in the
state.
Where
can I get assistance in preparing
to take the MTTCs?
Study
material for the Basic Skills test is contained
in the MTTC Registration Bulletin, (online at http://www.mttc.nesinc.com).
Study
material for the subject-area test (including
Elementary Education) is contained in the
MTTC composite study guides. You can access these guides at http://www.mttc.nesinc.com.
The
Study guides include general program information,
test content objectives, an sample test
questions for each of the included test
fields.
Where
can I get additional information about
taking the tests?
The
MTTC Registration Bulletin contains program
and registration information, including
test registration forms, policies, and fees;
a list of tests available within the program;
test dates and sites (four times per year
at eleven sites); general program information
and policies; study guide materials for
the Basic Skills test; and general test-taking
suggestions. The registration bulletin is
revised and reissued annually on an academic
year calendar. It is available on the campuses
of Michigan colleges and universities or,
for out-of-state candidates, from the Michigan
Department of Education.
Michigan
institutions of higher education that prepare
teachers can also provide information about
the testing program, especially in terms
of the test(s) a candidate should take in
order to be recommended for certification
or for a given endorsement. The other major
source of information is the Michigan Department
of Education, Office of Professional Preparation
and Certification, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing,
MI 48909.
For
questions about Michigan teacher certification
requirements, call (517) 373-3310.
For
questions about the MTTC, call (517) 373-1925
Study
Guides http://www.mttc.nesinc.com/MI_SG_opener.asp
MTTC
Registration form and Bulletin is available
online at http://www.mttc.nesinc.com
More information can be found at http://www.emich.edu/coe/advising/faqtest.html
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Last
Modified on
May 13, 2008
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