Licensure
Frequently Asked Questions about Licensure
What are the prerequisites for being admitted to the principal licensure program?
The basic prerequisite for admission to the principal licensure program is the same as the prerequisite for admission to our degree program: a minimum 3.00 combined cumulative undergraduate GPA. To become licensed as a principal in the state of Ohio, you must hold a valid pupil services license and have two years of teaching experience under that license.
Information about applying to the licensure program is available at http://ehe.osu.edu/epl/licensure/applying-licensure.php.
What are the prerequisites to being admitted to the superintendent's licensure program?
The basic prerequisite for admission to the superintendent licensure program is the same as the prerequisite for admission to our degree program: a minimum 3.00 combined undergraduate GPA. To become licensed as a superintendent in the state of Ohio, you are required to hold a valid administrator's license and have a minimum of three years experience as a school administrator.
What pupil services licenses CAN be used to meet the experience requirements for principal licensure?
ODE policy allows individuals, who hold a standard pupil services license issued through completion of a four year bachelor’s degree program or higher to qualify for principal licensure. Some of these eligible licenses, in addition to a standard teaching license, include: School Audiologist, School Counselor, School Social Worker, School Speech-Language Pathologist, School Nurse, and School Psychologist.
What pupil services licenses CANNOT be used to meet the experience requirements for principal licensure?
A person must hold a standard pupil services license to be eligible for principal licensure. A standard pupil services license is earned under a four year (bachelor's) degree program at minimum. Therefore, all associate license holders are ineligible for the principal licensure program.
Can I be licensed as a principal through The School of Educational Policy and Leadership if I am not a teacher or do not hold one of the other accepted pupil services licenses?
No, but the state does offer alternative licensing programs. Information is available at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/.
Can I be licensed as a superintendent through The School of Educational Policy and Leadership if I've never been an administrator or do not hold a standard administrative license?
No, but the state does offer alternative licensing programs. Information is available at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/.
Are there alternative ways to being licensed if I'm not a licensed teacher?
Yes, but The School of Educational Policy and Leadership does not offer a licensure program that follows the alternative route. Please check the Ohio Department of Education web site for information about alternative routes to educator licensure.
Once I've completed my coursework, how do I become licensed?
Administrative licensure applicants must apply for their license through The School of Educational Policy and Leadership. A list of the supporting documents required to complete your licensure application can be found online. If you have any questions please contact EPL’s Licensure Coordinator at (614)-688-4007.
Do I have to take a Praxis exam?
If you are applying for an administrative license for the first time you will have to take the Praxis exam #0411 Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision. Information about registering for the Praxis exam is available on their web site at http://www.ets.org/praxis. The Ohio State University's institutional code is RA1592. Please note: In September 2010, ODE, in conjunction with ETS, changed the way the Administration and Supervision test is scored. The new test will be out of 200 points (149 passing) instead of 800. Students who have taken the old exam (#0410) will be allowed to use those scores to apply for an administrative license for at least the next year. Currently, we are waiting on a decision from the College as to whether or not old exam scores can be used after that.
If you are applying for a superintendent's license, have already passed the #10410 Educational Leadership Praxis exam, and have those scores on file with ODE you do not need to retake it.
Do I have to apply to a licensure program or can I just take classes and still be licensed?
You must apply for admission to our licensure program. An application is available at http://ehe.osu.edu/epl/licensure/applying-licensure.php.
Do I need a Master's degree to be a principal?
Yes. Before you can be licensed as a principal in the state of Ohio, you must have a Master's degree. You can earn a Master's degree by completing the licensure program.
Can I be a principal at all grade levels?
The state of Ohio requires principals to have a minimum of two years of teaching experience, within the age range for which they wish to become a principal. So, you can apply for licensure for all grade levels provided you have teaching experience in each of the required age ranges. With experience in grades PK-3 you can receive a P-6 license. With experience in fourth grade you can receive a P-6 and 4-9 license. With experience in seventh grade you can receive the 4-9 and 5-12 license. With experience in fifth or sixth grades you can receive a license for all levels.
Can I receive credit for courses taken elsewhere?
It is possible in some cases with the approval of our Licensure Committee.
You must submit a syllabus from each course you want to use as a substitute for an approved course. The syllabus should be submitted to your licensure advisor so it can be reviewed by our Educational Administration faculty. Only coursework that is deemed to be equivalent to ours may be transferred in as credit. This must be done prior to your licensure program plan being approved. All substitutions must appear on your program sheet. Final approval of all substitutions rests with the faculty who teach our approved courses and the licensure committee.
However, if you are participating in the Accelerated Licensure for Principal or Superintendents programs then you may not transfer in credit from another institution.
Can I receive credit for experience?
No, you are required to take the coursework in our approved program.
Can I go through the program while getting my teaching experience?
Yes, our program is specifically designed for teachers. Classes are held in the evening beginning after 4:00 p.m.
What does it cost?
The amount of your tuition is dependent on the number of credit hours you enroll in each quarter.
The tuition and fee table for the graduate students in Education and Human Ecology is located on the Registrar's Web site. Be sure to choose the appropriate academic year, student status and college.
Residents of the state of Ohio should look under "Resident Total" for the tuition and fees associated with the total number of credit hours for which you are registered. You'll get a bargain on your tuition in any quarter that you register for more than 10 hours.
My undergraduate GPA was earned years ago, why is that relevant?
The Ohio State University has set the minimum undergraduate GPA requirement at 3.0. This is the fairest standard for all incoming students because all applicants to our programs have an undergraduate GPA; not all students have a graduate GPA.
Do I have to take the GRE?
You are required to take the GRE if your combined undergraduate GPA is less than a 3.0. Applicants with a combined undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher will have the GRE requirement waived.
If you are applying to the University for the first time, the Graduate Admissions Office will note on your application status page if you are required to submit scores because of a low GPA. They will also send you an email. Your application is not complete and will not be reviewed if your GRE scores are not received.
What is the deadline for applying to the program?
You should apply for the licensure program upon admission to the MA program in Educational Administration. See our Application for Admission to Administrative Licensure page for more information about the application process.
If you are applying to licensure separately from the regular admissions process, please apply during the first quarter you are taking licensure courses. If you are interested in pursuing administrative licensure only because you already have a master's degree, please contact the Student Services Office for more information on this option.
I already have a Master's degree; do I have to take all the courses?
Yes. The courses that make up our licensure program have been approved by the Ohio Department of Education. You can complete our program as a "licensure only" student. Please contact our Licensure Coordinator.
We will not verify to the state that you've completed the program until you have completed the coursework and met all the other requirements including passing the Praxis exam, receipt of a Master's degree and the appropriate level of teaching experience. Applicants for an administrative license must also complete a background check.
How long does the program take?
You have 17 courses (55 credit hours) to complete. The length of time it will take you to complete the program depends on the number of classes you take each quarter. If you are seeking both a Master's degree and licensure, all coursework that is applied toward the Master's degree must be completed within a 6 year timeframe.
What's the difference between getting the Master's degree and not getting the Master's degree?
If you already have a Master's degree, you do not (and in some cases, cannot) get a second Master's degree. However, you must have one before we will verify to the state of Ohio the completion of requirements for an administrative license.
If you are working toward a Master's degree and licensure, the only difference between your program and a "licensure only" program is the comprehensive Master's examination (or thesis) that you must complete.