Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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SCECHs or college credit for Michigan renewal
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
For Michigan renewal, SCECHs count one hour each and college credit counts 25 hours per semester credit. Both add toward the same 150 hours. SCECHs suit short workshops and district events; college credit suits a teacher who wants to fill a large gap in one or two courses from a regionally accredited college.
How each route counts
Michigan renewal is measured in hours of education-related professional learning. The table shows how each route converts toward the 150.
| Route | Counts as | Hours toward 150 |
|---|---|---|
| SCECH (State Continuing Education Clock Hour) | 1 hour each | 150 SCECHs = 150 |
| DPPD (District Provided Professional Development) | 1 hour each | 150 DPPD hours = 150 |
| College credit, regionally accredited college | 25 hours per semester credit | 6 credits = 150 |
| Mix | Add them up | For example 75 SCECHs + 3 credits = 150 |
When SCECHs make more sense
SCECHs come from approved sponsors such as intermediate school districts, conferences and some online providers. They suit teachers who already attend workshops through the year, and many are low cost or paid for by the district. The trade-off is time: 150 clock hours is 150 hours of sessions.
DPPD works the same way but is provided and recorded by your district. If your district runs regular PD days, check MOECS first; you may be closer to 150 than you think.
When college credit makes more sense
One 3-credit course counts as 75 hours. Two courses meet the full 150. That makes college credit the fastest route for a teacher with a large gap close to the deadline, provided the course suits the content and grade level of the certificate and the credit comes from a regionally accredited college or university.
Graduate course providers aimed at teachers charge by the course; Teaching Channel lists $489 for a 3-credit graduate course. Community colleges charge less per hour but run on a semester calendar.
- Large gap and little time: college credit
- Small gap: SCECHs or DPPD
- Pay step goals: ask whether your district needs graduate credit
Where UPI Study fits, and where it does not
UPI Study offers undergraduate courses such as Educational Psychology and Psychology of Diversity with ACE or NCCRS recommendations. UPI Study is not a college and does not issue SCECHs. Its courses can count toward renewal only via a college transcript from a regionally accredited college, and only if MDE agrees the course suits your certificate.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Ask the partner college whether its transcript meets MDE's regionally accredited rule, and ask MDE or your district in writing about the course itself, before you enrol.
A simple way to plan the 150
Start from what MOECS already shows, then fill the gap with the cheapest route that suits your certificate. Planning early also keeps you from paying for hours that will not carry over.
- Count recorded SCECH and DPPD hours since your certificate was issued
- Subtract from 150 to find the gap
- Divide the gap by 25 to see how many credits would fill it
- Ask in writing about any course before you pay for it
Record the hours in MOECS
Whatever route you choose, the hours must be in MOECS before you apply. SCECHs and DPPD are usually entered by the sponsor or district. College credit is shown with a transcript. Leave a few weeks before your certificate expires so that a late transcript does not hold up the renewal.
Keep your own list as you go: the route, the hours, the date, and where the record sits. It makes the renewal application quick and helps if a record is missing.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask MDE or your district certification contact in writing whether each named course, on a transcript from a regionally accredited college, would count toward your 150 hours, 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
can i mix scechs and college credit for michigan renewal
Yes. MDE counts SCECHs, DPPD and college credit toward the same 150 hours, and any mix is allowed. Each semester credit counts as 25 hours, so 3 credits plus 75 SCECHs would meet the total.
does undergraduate credit count for michigan renewal
MDE's rule asks for satisfactory credit from a regionally accredited college or university that suits your certificate's content and grade level; it does not say graduate only. Your district may have its own rule for pay steps, so ask both in writing.
how long do scechs take to show in moecs
The sponsor submits them, and timing varies by sponsor. Check MOECS after each activity and contact the sponsor if hours are missing. Leave a few weeks before your certificate expires so a late record does not delay the renewal.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Psychology of Diversity
Self-paced online Psychology of Diversity course (Psychology 112). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Ask MDE or your district in writing first, then take the courses that suit your certificate at your own pace.
Sources
- Mich. Admin. Code R 390.1129b: Renewal of standard teaching certificateA standard certificate holder may get a 5-year renewal by documenting education-related professional learning hours totaling 150 since the last issue date; hours over 150 do not carry over; one 5-year renewal is available for an education-related master's or higher degree. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Michigan Department of Education: Professional certificate renewal (official)Renewal requires 150 hours of education-related professional learning; satisfactory college semester credit at a regionally accredited college or university counts, with 1 semester credit hour equal to 25 hours, alongside SCECHs and DPPD. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Central Michigan University: Professional Certification (official)150 hours may be met by 6 semester credit hours appropriate to the content and grade level from a regionally accredited college or university, 150 SCECHs, 150 DPPD hours or a combination; 1 semester credit = 25 professional learning hours; hours must be entered in MOECS before applying. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Teaching Channel: Course pricingA 3-credit graduate course is listed at $489. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.