Vocational Certification
Vocational Certification is offered if you major in business teacher education at a state-approved institution such as CMU. In order to obtain vocational certification in business teacher education, you also must complete requirements for a State secondary Provisional Certificate as well as 4,000 hours of recent and relevant work experience in business/office education or marketing.
Possession of the vocational certification allows you to teach in an occupational reimbursed program at the secondary level. Since school districts receive funding from the State for employing vocationally certified teachers nearly every job opening for high school business teachers requires applicants to possess vocational certification.
What is Vocational Certification?
Vocational certification, also referred to as occupational endorsement, is an endorsement on a provisional or professional teaching certificate. This endorsement is an approval granted by the State Certification Office for an individual to teach in an occupational reimbursed program at the secondary level. The endorsement verifies that the holder has the necessary technical skills, work experience, and ability to perform as a teacher.
How do I qualify for Vocational Certification in Business Teacher Education?
You must major in Business Teacher Education at an institution approved by the State Board, such as Central Michigan University.
You must complete the requirements for a State Secondary Provisional Certificate.
You must complete two years (4,000 hours) of recent and relevant work experience in the occupational area of endorsement (office or marketing).
What is "relevant" work experience?
Qualifying work experience will vary depending on your occupational area of experience. This refers to the concentration you choose within the Business Teacher Education major… either a concentration in office or marketing.
If you have an office concentration, your work experience must be relevant to the types of classes you would be expected to teach as a high school business teacher. Thus, your work experience needs to relate to some or all of the following types of skills: Computer/data entry, secretarial duties, filing, accounting, etc.
If you have a marketing concentration, your work experience must be relevant to the marketing classes you would be expected to teach as a high school business teacher. Thus, your work experience needs to relate to some or all of the following types of skills: sales, wholesaling, inventory, merchandising, etc.
