Initial Teacher Certification/ACE Program (Post Baccalaureate)

Admission to SVSU

Interested candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and are seeking teacher certification must first be admitted to Saginaw Valley State University.

Applicants must submit an application packet which includes the following materials to be admitted:

• Application
• $25.00 non-refundable application fee
• Transcripts from every college or university where college credit was earned.
  Transcripts must be issued by the college or university in a sealed envelope and attached to the application. Applicants who have completed credit at SVSU do not need to submit a copy of their SVSU transcript. However, they will be required to request a new set of transcripts from other colleges/universities where they have earned credit. These transcripts must be issued by the college or university in a sealed envelope and attached to the application.

Students who wish to obtain a second bachelor’s degree in education should meet with a certification advisor prior to applying for admission to SVSU. At the conclusion of the advising session, applicants will know whether to apply through the Admissions and Certification Office for teacher certification only or through the Undergraduate Admissions Office for a second bachelor’s degree in education.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

A separate application process is required to obtain admission to the Teacher Education Program. Applications are accepted during the month of September for the following Winter Semester and during the month of January for the following Fall Semester. Complete information on the Teacher Education Program is available on line.

Candidates for the Teacher Education Program have two options to obtain Teacher Certification: the Accelerated Certification Program (ACE) or the Traditional Certification track.

Candidates who are interested in pursuing teacher certification through the Accelerated Certificate Program (ACE) must attend an informational meeting in order to obtain details on program and admission requirements before an individual advising session with a certification advisor can be scheduled. Basic program information and informational meeting dates are available on-line.

Certification advisors are available to speak to interested candidates. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting the Admissions and Certification Office Monday, Thursday & Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday & Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at 989-964-4057 (select option #3). Candidates interested in receiving advising for the ACE program through the SVSU Regional Education Center-Macomb (Chesterfield Twp., Michigan), should contact the main office at 586-749-0067 for an appointment with a certification advisor.

Admission to SVSU does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education Program.

Applicants with a Criminal Conviction

Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or have any outstanding criminal charges or warrants pending against them in Michigan or any other state or jurisdiction, will be required to submit a photocopy of the actual court documents indicating the crime of which they were convicted, dates and sentences imposed with their application materials. If criminal charges are pending, applicants will be required to submit a statement from the issuing court
indicating court date and offense.

Admission to the SVSU College of Education does not guarantee certification by the State of Michigan. The SVSU College of Education cannot guarantee approval of any recommendation made to the State of Michigan for any type of certification. Final approval of a recommendation made by SVSU is granted only by the Michigan Department of Education based on their policies and procedures current at the time the recommendation for certification is made.