Ohio Teacher Certification

The Ohio Department of Education is responsible for Ohio teacher certification. In Ohio, teaching licenses are offered in four broad age-based areas, which are: early childhood (ages 3-8, grades preK-3), middle childhood (ages 8-14, grades 4-9), adolescence to young adult (ages 12-21, grades 7-12) and multi-age (ages 3-21, grades preK-12). Other areas for licenses include: intervention specialist, early childhood intervention specialist, and vocational. Ohio offers a two-level certification system issuing the following types of educator licenses:

• Provisional Educator License. This is a two-year, nonrenewable license.
• Professional Educator License. This is Ohio's advanced level license. It is a five-year renewable license.

Ohio has endorsements for their teacher licenses which are valid for teaching the subject or learners named. An endorsement may be added to any Provisional or Professional teaching license, unless limited by age or grade. Endorsements are available for: adapted physical education, adult education, bilingual education, career-base intervention (CBI), computer/technology, driver education, early education of handicapped children, literacy specialist, pre kindergarten, reading, teaching English to speakers of other languages, transition to work, and vocational work-site teacher/coordinator.

Ohio may also issue temporary teaching licenses when no properly licensed and suitable candidate is available.

An Alternative Educator License is available for participants in alternative route to teaching licensure programs. It is a two-year, nonrenewable license. There is also a Conditional Teaching Permit for individuals who meet the requirements for the Alternative Educator License except passing the required PRAXIS II exam(s). It is a one-year, nonrenewable license. Both licenses are limited to teaching specific content in grades 7-12.

The Process for Ohio Teacher Certification

The process to obtain an Ohio Initial Educator License is relatively straightforward. To obtain such a license, an individual must:

• Have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
• Successfully complete a teacher preparation program at an approved Ohio education institution or at an out-of-state institution in a state who is a party to the Interstate Agreement. As an alternative, a person may successfully complete an alternative preparation program under a Conditional Teaching Permit and Alternative Educator License.
• Pass the applicable portions of the PRAXIS II exams.
• Successfully complete a state and FBI background check.

To obtain a Professional Educator License, an individual must:

• Meet all of the requirements and hold a Provisional Educator License.
• Successfully complete a one-year Entry Year Program with a PRAXIS III assessment.
• Complete at least 12 semester hours of reading coursework for applicants for Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Intervention Specialist licenses.

Additional areas may be added to a current license by successfully completing an appropriate preparation program and passing the applicable portions of the PRAXIS II exams.

Certification for Teachers Certified in Other States

Ohio contracts with the following states to grant teaching licenses to individuals who hold standard teaching licenses in any of these states who are party to the contract: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine. Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana. Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Individuals may qualify for a license under the interstate agreement if they hold a standard certificate issued by a member state and have 27 or more months of teaching experience in the seven years preceding application for an Ohio license.

Out-of-state applications with fewer than three years of teaching experience can qualify for a Provisional Educator License and are required to complete an Entry Year Program provided by the school district that includes the assignment of a mentor, and a performance-based assessment (PRAXIS III). Individuals with more than three years of experience can qualify for a Professional Educator License.

All individuals must pass the appropriate PRAXIS II tests to receive their license. If they have had to pass the same tests for their out-of-state license, these scores may be submitted in lieu of taking the test.

All individuals must successfully complete a state and FBI background check.

Ohio License Renewal

First Renewal

The Professional Educator License may be renewed the first time by completing one of the following professional development activities:

• Completing six semester hours of appropriate course-work related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure. Coursework must be at an accredited baccalaureate degree granting college.
• Completing 18 continuing education units (CUEs), the equivalent of 180 contact hours.
• Completing equivalent activities as approved by the local Professional Development Committee of the employing school or school district.

One semester hour is equivalent to 1.5 quarter hours or 3 CEUs. Completing the required professional development activities will renew all certificates that an individual may have.

Second Renewal

The Professional Educator License may be renewed the second time by completing one of the following professional development activities:

• Completing a Master's Degree.
• Completing 30 semester hours of appropriate course-work related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure. Coursework must be at an accredited baccalaureate degree granting college.

A minimum of six semester hours, 18 CEUs or equivalent activities must be completed during the second renewal period.

All Subsequent Renewals

The requirements for renewal in all subsequent years are the same as the first renewal.