How Many SCECHs Do Michigan Teachers Need? (2026 Guide)

If you are a Michigan teacher working toward certificate renewal, you have probably encountered the term SCECH and wondered exactly how many you need — and what counts. The short answer is 150 SCECHs per five-year renewal cycle, but there are several ways to satisfy that requirement, and understanding how SCECHs compare to college credits can help you choose the most efficient path.

What Is a SCECH?

SCECH stands for State Continuing Education Clock Hour. It is Michigan’s official unit for measuring professional development hours for teacher certification purposes. One SCECH equals one hour of approved professional learning activity. The Michigan Department of Education uses SCECHs to track and verify that educators are completing ongoing professional learning between certificate renewals.

SCECHs replaced the older DPPD (District Provided Professional Development) system as the primary tracking mechanism. Since July 1, 2020, all district-provided PD used for renewal must be entered into MOECS as SCECHs. The result is a unified tracking system where all your professional learning hours — regardless of source — appear in one place.

How SCECHs Are Earned

To earn SCECHs, the professional learning program must be submitted by an approved Michigan sponsoring entity — an organization that has been authorized by MDE to award SCECHs. After completing an approved program, you must complete an evaluation in your MOECS profile. Once you submit the evaluation, the SCECHs are credited to your account automatically.

Common sources of SCECHs for Michigan teachers include:

• Workshops and professional development days offered through your district (entered as SCECHs since July 2020)
• Online courses and programs from SCECH-approved providers
• Professional conferences with SCECH approval
• University courses (which can be converted to SCECHs or used directly as credit hours)

SCECHs vs. College Credits: Which Is Better?

Michigan gives you a choice: satisfy the 150-hour renewal requirement with SCECHs, college credits, or a combination. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right path.

The Conversion Rate: Credits to SCECHs

Michigan uses a conversion rate of 1 semester credit hour = 20 SCECHs for combination purposes. This means 6 credit hours equals 120 SCECHs in the combination calculation — but when you use the straight 6-credit path, it satisfies the full 150-hour requirement without needing to make up the remaining 30 hours. The conversion rate matters mainly when you are mixing credit hours and SCECHs to reach the 150-hour threshold.

Tracking Your SCECHs in MOECS

MOECS (Michigan Online Educator Certification System) is the state’s web-based portal where all your professional learning hours are tracked. Every Michigan teacher should have a MOECS account. When you complete an approved SCECH program and submit your evaluation, the hours appear in your MOECS profile automatically — no additional paperwork required.

It is a good practice to log into MOECS at least once a year to verify your hours are being recorded correctly. Errors do happen — a program that failed to submit your evaluation, a sponsoring entity that didn’t upload the activity — and catching these early is much easier than trying to resolve them in the final months before your certificate expires.

Common SCECH Questions

Do SCECHs carry over to the next renewal cycle?

No. SCECHs must be earned during the current five-year certificate period — specifically, since the issue date of your most recent certificate or renewal. Hours earned before your current certificate period was issued do not count toward your current renewal requirement.

Can I use SCECHs from a previous employer or district?

Yes, provided the SCECHs were earned during your current certificate period and are recorded in MOECS. SCECHs are tied to your individual MOECS account, not to a specific district, so they follow you if you change jobs.

What if I don’t have enough SCECHs before my certificate expires?

You need to complete the remaining hours before submitting your renewal application. If your certificate expires before you complete the requirement, you will need to contact MDE about reinstatement — which is a more complex process than standard renewal. Do not wait until the last minute.

Do CFT courses earn SCECHs or college credits?

CFT courses award graduate semester credit hours through regionally accredited university partners — not SCECHs. Six CFT credit hours satisfy the full 150-hour renewal requirement through the college credit path. They also count toward salary lane advancement, which SCECHs do not.

The Bottom Line

Michigan teachers need 150 SCECHs — or the equivalent in college credits — every five years to renew their Standard Teaching Certificate. SCECHs are Michigan’s official unit for professional development hours, tracked automatically in MOECS. The 6-credit college path satisfies the same requirement and has the added benefit of advancing your salary lane, which SCECHs cannot do. If you are near a lane threshold, graduate credits are almost always the smarter financial choice — the salary increase will pay back the course cost quickly, and many Michigan districts will reimburse the cost through tuition reimbursement programs.