Michigan Alternate Route to Certification
Michigan Alternate Route to Certification (M-ARC) has been providing affordable, accessible certification to aspiring educators of all backgrounds for over 15 years. As Michigan’s premier alternative pathway to teacher certification, M-ARC offers an avenue into the teaching profession for candidates who have a bachelor’s degree but have not completed an educator preparation program, and allows experienced teachers to add endorsements to their existing certificates without leaving the classroom.
In Michigan Alternate Route to Certification (M-ARC), our mission is to offer a high-quality pathway into the teaching profession that removes barriers for aspiring educators across the State of Michigan. We are committed to developing well-prepared teachers who provide effective instruction to students from all backgrounds. We use the Marsal Family School of Education’s well-crafted, practice-based approach to support our candidates in honing their practice while leading a classroom.
The M-ARC Difference
Priorities
The passion and dedication that all of my instructors have for education and shifting the narrative to equity and student-focused, trauma-informed teaching is not only obvious, but heart-warming as well.
—Andrea H., 2025 M-ARC Cohort
- Research-based effective teaching practices
- Equity-centered, trauma-informed instruction
- Teaching toward social justice
- Practice-based approach
- Emphasis on reflection and professional growth
Practices
What’s unique about M-ARC is that we are not talking about hypothetical teaching situations that may happen in the future, we’re talking about what happened today in someone’s classroom.
—Maria M., M-ARC Instructor
- 3 years of ongoing individual support
- World-class guidance from U-M instructors and experienced PK-12 educators
- Robust pre-teaching coursework and classroom experiences
- Fully online coursework
- Cohorted model to foster a community of practice
People
The M-ARC program provides an opportunity for educated people that have already served in other professions to follow their passion as a teacher… The candidates who choose this route, WANT it!
—Barbara B., M-ARC Instructor
- Career-changers and experienced education professionals
- Participants with a wide variety of backgrounds and identities
- Teachers in over 150 districts across the State of Michigan
Prestige
I am thoroughly happy that I chose the M-ARC program…This program provides a blend of theory, application, support, and reflection. The staff at M-ARC cares about their students and is truly world class.
—Jordan T., 2022 M-ARC Cohort
- Operates within the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan
- Fully approved by the State of Michigan
- Nationally accredited through CAEP (through 2030)
- Longest-running alternative route program in Michigan (est. 2010)
M-ARC Program Pathways
- Additional Endorsement Pathway
Designed for experienced educators, the Additional Endorsement Pathway will allow you to add content area or grade level endorsements to your existing standard teaching certificate without leaving the classroom.
Support and Training While Teaching
Once you have passed the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for your new endorsement and begin teaching in that content area/grade level, the M-ARC Additional Endorsement pathway provides mentoring and professional development support through 3 components:
Program Component Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Field Instruction: Experienced educators work one-on-one with candidates in their classrooms through observations of teaching practice, coaching conversations, and assessment of growth and proficiency across program standards. Field observations, accompanied by coaching conversations, occur at least six (6) times per year. x x x Content Methods Seminar: Experienced educators facilitate collaborative practice-focused learning experiences for grade level/content area cohorts. These online seminar groups meet about two evenings per month during the first two years of the program.
Content Methods Seminars are waived for candidates seeking endorsements that are adjacent to their existing standard certificate endorsements.x x Portfolio Assignments: Candidates compile artifacts and reflections from their teaching practice in a professional learning inventory, including a capstone comprehensive unit plan assignment, as evidence of their proficiency in program outcome areas. x x x - Initial Certification Pathway
The Initial Certification Pathway is an avenue into the teaching profession for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree. In this pathway, you will work as a certified teacher (with salary and benefits) for 3 years while completing the program. While enrolled in M-ARC, you will hold a MI Interim Teaching Certificate; you will be recommended for a MI Standard Teaching Certificate upon successful program completion.
Support and Training Prior to Teaching
In the initial certification pathway, in order to be recommended for Michigan interim teacher certification and begin teaching in a certified position in a Michigan school, you will be expected to fully and successfully participate in all of the following pre-service induction activities, in addition to passing the appropriate Michigan Test(s) for Teacher Certification (MTTC):
Induction Phase I Coursework
(16 weeks, February–June)Induction Phase II Summer Intensive
(3 weeks, July)Courses - About Teachers & Learners
- Equity Centered Trauma-Informed Education
- Literacy Essentials -or- Disciplinary Literacy
- Core Teaching Practices
- Lesson Planning
- Building Equity-Centered Classroom Climate, Culture, and Community
Clinical Experiences - Small group instruction
- TeachLive assessment (simulated classroom)
- Practicum in a summer school setting with a mentor teacher (includes observation, coaching, and assessment by M-ARC field instructor)
Support and Training While Teaching
Once you have successfully completed the pre-service induction phase (described above) and begin teaching under an interim teaching certificate, the M-ARC Initial Certification pathway provides mentoring and professional development support through 3 components:
Program Component Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Field Instruction: Experienced educators work one-on-one with candidates in their classrooms through observations of teaching practice, coaching conversations, and assessment of growth and proficiency across program standards. Field observations, accompanied by coaching conversations, occur at least six (6) times per year. x x x Content Methods Seminar: Experienced educators facilitate collaborative practice-focused learning experiences for grade level/content area cohorts. These online seminar groups meet about two evenings per month during the first two years of the program. x x Portfolio Assignments: Candidates compile artifacts and reflections from their teaching practice in a professional learning inventory, including a capstone comprehensive unit plan assignment, as evidence of their proficiency in program outcome areas. x x x - TFA-Detroit Partnership Pathway
Our Teach For America (TFA)-Detroit Partnership pathway is exclusively designed for TFA-Detroit corps members pursuing initial teacher certification. Upon admission to the TFA-Detroit corps, you will be automatically enrolled in M-ARC as part of your TFA-Detroit experience. In the Teach For America-Detroit Partnership pathway, in order to be recommended for Michigan interim teacher certification and begin teaching in a certified position in a Michigan school, you will be expected to fully and successfully participate in all of Teach For America’s pre-service induction activities (visit teachforamerica.org for information).
Support and Training While Teaching
Once you have successfully completed the pre-service induction phase (described above) and begin teaching under an interim teaching certificate, the M-ARC TFA-Detroit Partnership pathway provides mentoring and professional development support through 3 components:
Program Component Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Field Instruction: Experienced educators work one-on-one with candidates in their classrooms through observations of teaching practice, coaching conversations, and assessment of growth and proficiency across program standards. Field observations, accompanied by coaching conversations, occur at least six (6) times per year. x x x Content Methods Seminar: Experienced educators facilitate collaborative practice-focused learning experiences for grade level/content area cohorts. These online seminar groups meet about two evenings per month during the first two years of the program. x x Portfolio Assignments: Candidates compile artifacts and reflections from their teaching practice in a professional learning inventory, including a capstone comprehensive unit plan assignment, as evidence of their proficiency in program outcome areas. x x x
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the program?
In accordance with State of Michigan law, M-ARC requires candidates in all pathways to teach under the interim certificate for three (3) academic years while receiving support through our program.
Prior to the 3 years of teaching, the Initial Certification pathway includes about 6 months of spring/summer pre-teaching coursework; the TFA-Detroit Partnership pathway requires participation in the TFA Summer Pre-Service experience.
- Can I complete the program online?
While the majority of our coursework and seminars take place in real time, they are all held online. There are opportunities to participate in some M-ARC experiences in-person in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, however remote attendance is always an option.
- Can I complete the program while working?
M-ARC courses and seminars are designed to be compatible with full-time employment and will require about 6-8 hours per week to complete.
In the Initial Certification Pathway, you will need to be available to participate in a 3-week, full-time summer practicum experience in a school setting. Opportunities will be available to participate in this experience in person in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti or remotely from other parts of the state.
- How much does the program cost?
Additional Endorsement Pathway
$9000 total for the 3-year program (payable in monthly installments)Some program requirements are waived for candidates seeking endorsements that are adjacent to their existing standard certificate endorsements. If this applies to you, your program cost will be reduced accordingly. Please email [email protected] for further information.
Initial Certification Pathway
$9720 total for the 3-year program (payable in monthly installments)TFA-Detroit Partnership Pathway
In most cases, M-ARC program fees are covered in full by Teach For America-Detroit. Please inquire with TFA-Detroit for more information.- Is financial assistance available?
M-ARC is pleased to be a participating institution in the following Future Proud Michigan Educator funding programs:
- MI Future Educator Fellowship
Learn more about how you could receive full funding for your certification program. - Grow Your Own (GYO) Grant
If you are already employed in a Michigan P-12 public or charter school setting, your district may collaborate with M-ARC to apply for full funding to support you in earning your certification. Learn more about GYO Grants.
No university-based financial aid is available.
- MI Future Educator Fellowship
Submit an inquiry
M-ARC Team
Connect with M-ARC
Location
University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education
610 East University Avenue, Suite 3300
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Contact
[email protected]
(734) 647-0219
Application Steps
Complete these steps to be considered for acceptance into M-ARC.
- Additional Endorsement Pathway
Complete the ApplyWeb application.
Application Deadline: August 15, 2026.
Program Start: The next M-ARC Additional Endorsement cohort will begin in September 2026.
Application Details:- No application fee.
- Unofficial Transcript(s) - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will upload your transcript(s). Uploaded transcripts are considered unofficial. You must also submit an official transcript as described below.
- Personal Statements - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will write two brief personal statements. You may review the personal statement prompts before you begin the ApplyWeb application: Personal Statement Prompts
- Recommendation Form - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will provide the name and email address for a recommender. M-ARC will email the recommender with a link to our secure online form. The recommender should be someone who knows you in an academic or professional capacity.
In addition to the ApplyWeb application, please submit the following:
- Official transcript(s) - Request that your official transcript be sent from your university to M-ARC. To be considered fully enrolled in M-ARC, the official transcript for your bachelor's (or higher) degree must be sent directly from the granting institution to M-ARC and must include the date on which your degree was awarded.
- If you have more than one degree, you may choose which one to submit. Only one transcript is required, but the degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.
- Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Please notify [email protected] to retrieve the transcript from your student record.
- Degree not from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Please request that transcript be emailed to: [email protected] (preferred) or mailed to: M-ARC Program, 610 E. University Suite 3300, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
- Non-U.S. Degree: If you completed your degree outside of the U.S., you will need to submit a course-by-course credit evaluation of your transcript which includes a U.S. equivalency of the degree, credits, and GPA. If this is your situation, please email [email protected] to request instructions for the credit evaluation process.
- MTTC test results - Pass the MTTC(s) in the endorsement area(s) you wish to add to your current teaching certificate. M-ARC can only accept test results directly from the testing center. When you take your test(s), please indicate University of Michigan-M-ARC (Institution Code: 55) as your score recipient. If you have already taken the MTTC, email [email protected] for instructions to have your scores sent to M-ARC.
- Initial Certification Pathway
The application for the 2027 cohort will be available in September 2026.
Priority Application Deadline: November 15, 2025 (admission decision provided by December 1)
Final Application Deadline: January 6, 2026
Program Start: The next M-ARC cohort will begin in February 2026.Application Details:
- No application fee.
- Transcript(s) - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will upload your transcript(s). Uploaded transcripts are considered unofficial. You must also submit an official transcript as part of the M-ARC enrollment process (see below).
- Personal Statements - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will write two brief personal statements. You may review the personal statement prompts here before you begin the ApplyWeb application.
- Recommendation Form - As part of the ApplyWeb application, you will provide the name and email address for a recommender. M-ARC will email the recommender with a link to our secure online form. The recommender should be someone who knows you in an academic or professional capacity and can speak to your potential as a K-12 educator and a certification program participant.
If you are offered admission, you will be required to submit the following items; these may be submitted at any time during the application and enrollment process:
- Official transcript(s) - Request that your official transcript be sent from your university to M-ARC. To be considered fully enrolled in M-ARC, the official transcript for your bachelor's (or higher) degree must be sent directly from the granting institution to M-ARC and must include the date on which your degree was awarded.
- If you have more than one degree, you may choose which one to submit. Only one transcript is required, but the degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.
- Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Please notify [email protected] to retrieve the transcript from your student record.
- Degree not from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Please request that transcript be emailed to: [email protected] (preferred) or mailed to: M-ARC Program, 610 E. University Suite 3300, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
- Non-U.S. Degree: If you completed your degree outside of the U.S., you will need to submit a course-by-course credit evaluation of your transcript which includes a U.S. equivalency of the degree, credits, and GPA. If this is your situation, please email [email protected] to request instructions for the credit evaluation process.
- MTTC test results - Pass the MTTC(s) in the endorsement area(s) you wish to teach. M-ARC can only accept test results directly from the testing center. When you take your test(s), please indicate University of Michigan-M-ARC (Institution Code: 55) as your score recipient. If you have already taken the MTTC, email [email protected] for instructions to have your scores sent to M-ARC.
- TFA-Detroit Partnership Pathway
- To apply to be a Teach For America-Detroit corps member, visit teachforamerica.org/register
- Accepted TFA-Detroit corps members will be contacted with instructions for completing M-ARC enrollment requirements.
Funding Opportunities
M-ARC, as part of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, is a participating institution in two Future Proud Michigan Educator funding programs.
- MI Future Educator Fellowship
Recipients may receive up to $10,000. - Grow Your Own (GYO) Grant
Applicants already employed in a Michigan P–12 public or charter school setting may receive up to $10,000 to support certification if their district collaborates with M-ARC.
Connect with M-ARC
Location
University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education
610 East University Avenue, Suite 3300
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Contact
[email protected]
(734) 647-0219
Connect with M-ARC
Location
University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education
610 East University Avenue, Suite 3300
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Contact
[email protected]
(734) 647-0219
Endorsement Areas
under construction
Endorsement Areas
Lower Elementary (PK–3)
Endorsement Code: ZO
The Lower Elementary endorsement will allow you to teach math, science, social studies, and/or language arts in grades PK–3 in a self-contained classroom or as a standalone content area.
MTTCs to take (pass by July 1)
- 117–120 Lower Elementary (PK–3) Education
Foundational Phase 1 (17 Weeks; Feb–June)
Coursework
- Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education
- About Teachers and Learners
- Elementary Literacy Essentials
- Core Teaching Practices & Lesson Planning
Practical Experience
- Leading small group instruction (10+ hours)
- Demo lesson & performance assessment (conducted via TeachLive simulation)
Foundational Phase 2 (3 Weeks; July)
Coursework
- Building Equity–Centered Classroom Climate, Culture, & Community
- Professional Reflective Seminar
Practical Experience
- Summer Intensive internship (45–50 hours in Lower Elementary classroom with mentor teacher)
Teaching Year 1
Coursework
- Lower Elementary Methods Seminar
- Variety of practice-based assignments
Practical Experience
- Working as certified teacher in Lower Elementary classroom
- Lower Elementary field instruction
Teaching Year 2
Coursework
- Lower Elementary Methods Seminar
- Year-long practice-based assignment: Focused Professional Learning
- Poster presentation at Teaching & Learning Exhibition
Practical Experience
- Working as certified teacher in Lower Elementary classroom
- Lower Elementary field instruction
Teaching Year 3
Coursework
- Year-long practice-based assignment: Lower Elementary Unit Plan
- Roundtable presentation at Teaching & Learning Exhibition
Practical Experience
- Working as certified teacher in Lower Elementary classroom
- Lower Elementary field instruction