Ohio Teacher Licensure Requirements

The State of Ohio revised teacher education standards effective January 1, 1998. Under the old state standards, teacher preparation programs led to the following certificates:

• Elementary (grades 1-8)
• Secondary (grades 7-12)
• All grades (K-12)

Under the new state standards, effective September 1, 2002, teacher preparation programs lead to the following licenses:

• Early Childhood (pre-kindergarten through grade 3)
• Middle Childhood (grades 4 through 9)
• Adolescence to Young Adult (grades 7 through 12)
• Multi-age (pre-kindergarten through grade 12)
• Intervention Specialist (pre-kindergarten through grade 12)
• Vocational (grades 4 through 12)

To earn a two-year provisional teaching license, students must successfully complete the following:

• Content courses that meet State-mandated competencies in the teaching area of interest
• An approved teacher education program (per Ohio Teacher Education and Certification/Licensure Standards)
• PRAXIS II National Teacher's Exams (Subject Area and Principles of Learning and Teaching).
• Fingerprinting and a personal background check

To receive a five-year Professional License, new teachers must successfully complete the following:

• An Entry-Year Program with a mentor teacher
• Praxis III Classroom Performance Assessment