English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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How to substitute teach in Michigan with 60 credits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
To become a substitute teacher in Michigan, you need at least 60 semester hours of college credit with a C or better, or an associate degree. Then a district, nonpublic school or staffing agency hires you and requests a daily substitute permit from MDE. You do not apply for the permit yourself.
Step 1: count your hours
Collect every college transcript you have, including from schools you left years ago. Add up the semester hours with a grade of C or better. MDE counts hours from two- or four-year colleges recognised by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education, and the law says the 60 do not need to come from one college.
If you studied on the quarter system, your hours convert to fewer semester hours. Ask the district how it does the conversion before you decide how many courses you still need.
- Grades of C or better count; D and F grades do not
- An associate degree meets the rule on its own
- Hours from several colleges are added together
Step 2: find a district or staffing agency
A Michigan substitute permit is requested by the employer, not by you. Many districts hire substitutes directly; others use a staffing agency. Either way, the employer asks MDE for a daily substitute permit once you are hired and your transcripts check out.
Ask the HR office early what it needs: transcripts, an application, and its own background checks. Some districts publish a checklist; others explain it by email.
Step 3: if you are short, close the gap
If your count comes to, say, 45 hours, you need 15 more. That is five 3-credit courses. You can take them at a community college, or take online courses and have a college record the credit.
| Hours you have | Hours still needed | Courses at 3 credits each |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | 6 | 2 |
| 48 | 12 | 4 |
| 45 | 15 | 5 |
| 36 | 24 | 8 |
Where UPI Study fits
UPI Study offers ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended courses such as English Composition, College Algebra, Introduction to Psychology and Educational Psychology. UPI Study is not a college, so the credit has to reach MDE via a college transcript. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit.
Before you enrol, ask the district in writing whether hours from the named courses would count once they are on a college transcript. On PRO at $99 a month you can take courses one after another, so a five-course gap can be closed in a few months if you keep a steady pace.
Step 4: understand the permit you get
Under R 390.1142, a daily substitute permit is valid for no more than 90 consecutive calendar days in the same assignment and is not renewable. Districts can ask for limited extensions, for example after a satisfactory observation and with a mentor assigned. A new permit is requested for each school year. If you want longer assignments or a full classroom, ask the district about other permits and the route to a teaching certificate.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the district's HR office or MDE in writing whether hours from the named ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses would count toward the 60 once they are on a college transcript, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
do i apply to mde myself for a substitute permit
No. The district, nonpublic school or staffing agency that hires you requests the permit. You provide transcripts showing 60 semester hours with a C or better, or an associate degree, and complete the employer's own hiring steps.
is an associate degree enough to substitute teach in michigan
Yes. MCL 380.1233(5) allows either at least 60 semester hours of college credit or an associate degree. If you are close to finishing an associate degree, completing it may be the simplest route.
how fast can i finish the missing credits
It depends on how many hours you need and how much time you have. A self-paced route lets you take one course after another. Allow time for a college to review the courses and send a transcript before the district files the request.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
College Algebra
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Check with your district in writing first, then finish the courses it will count at your own pace.
Sources
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 380.1233 (Revised School Code) (official)Subsection (5): a board may employ a substitute without a teaching certificate who has at least 60 semester hours of college credit or an associate degree from a college, university or community college; the 60 hours do not need to be from the same institution. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Michigan Department of Education: Permits (official)The daily substitute permit requires 60 semester hours of satisfactory credit, grade C or better, from two- or four-year colleges or universities recognised by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Mich. Admin. Code R 390.1142: Daily substitute permitThe permit is issued at a district's or nonpublic school's request for a person who meets MCL 380.1233(5); it is valid for no more than 90 consecutive calendar days in the same assignment and is not renewable, with limited extensions. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.