State Licensure Requirements
Liberty meets education requirements.

Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education & General Curriculum – Michigan

Educational Requirements

According to the Michigan Department of Education:

The state of Michigan offers a list of active teacher endorsements.

  • Michigan’s comparable endorsement is Early Childhood-General and Special Education (Birth-Kindergarten). As Michigan does not currently have a comparable cross-categorical special education endorsement, when educators complete a program, apply for certification, and submit documentation verifying the completion of an out-of-state approved teacher certification program for cross-categorical certification or mild/moderate disabilities, the educator is given the option of completing testing for Learning Disabilities (SM), Cognitive Impairment (SA), Emotional Impairment (SE), and/or Physical and Other Health Impaired (SC). The candidate would then be able to earn a certificate with any of those endorsements in which they pass the respective Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification.

Additional Requirements (During Degree Program)

  1. Students must have six semester credit hours of reading methods if elementary certified or three semester credit hours of reading methods if secondary certified. 

Additional Requirements (After Degree Conferral)

  1. Please submit all licensure documents (located on the Gate 4 Checklist) to gate4@liberty.edu.
  2. Students will need to obtain their Virginia license first to qualify for reciprocity.
  3. Gate 4 will complete a College Verification Form which will be used to apply for Virginia licensure. 
  4. After obtaining a Virginia license students can then apply for a Michigan license through reciprocity. 

Reciprocity

Michigan has signed an Interstate Compact Agreement (ICA) with every state agreeing to accept out-of-state approved teacher preparation programs and standard teaching certificates on a reciprocal basis for initial certification. Out-of-state certification programs and credentials may differ from Michigan programs and credentials; however, under the ICA, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) attempts to match out-of-state certificates, grade levels and content endorsements as closely as possible.  Even with reciprocity, Michigan certification is not guaranteed, and ancillary state requirements exist in Michigan law (e.g., testing).