A ZA endorsement is only valid and given in Michigan. The early childhood (ZA) endorsement program helps elementary teachers develop skills to work with adolescent children from birth through the third grade. The ZA is a supplementary area of proficiency for teachers who hold a Michigan provisional or professional elementary certificate.
In 1995, the Michigan Board of Education required any person wanting to teach elementary education or early childhood to have a ZA endorsement. It is not needed if the early childhood center is not school-sponsored.
In most Michigan colleges, a certain amount of experience hours must concentrate on the subject of youth from birth through age eight. These groups must be interacted with via student teaching sections in the different age areas. These age groups include, primary ages, pre-primary ages and infant or toddler.