Teaching Visual Impairment
The Teaching Visual Impairments licensure-only program trains teachers to support the unique learning needs of children from preschool through school-aged students who are visually impaired or blind. At the successful completion of the program, you will be a qualified vision intervention specialist, able to teach a student to read and write Braille, make classroom adaptations in a general education setting, introduce magnification aids to low-vision students, and help a child with vision impairments and other disabilities learn daily living skills.
AER Accreditation Council announces a 30-day public comment period for comments regarding the accreditation review of The Ohio State University, Programs in Teaching Visually Impairments and Orientation and Mobility. Comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Jan. 13, 2025. Send questions or comments to: accreditationinfo@aerbvi.org. All comments will be kept in strictest confidence.
Why become a Visual Intervention Specialist
Make a tremendous impact in each child’s life. Greatly individualized, TVI often provide one-on-one services to best meet the unique needs of each student.
You will be highly sought after. There is a critical TVI shortage in Ohio and nationally. The need is expected to grow.
It’s a challenging career that utilizes your varied talents. As a TVI, you communicate with optometrists, consult with teachers and families, teach vision-related skills and implement environmental modifications that will enable students to access meaningful educational experiences.
Work in a state school for the blind, a public school as an itinerant teacher or as a consultant to classroom teachers.
Licensure Requirements
Prerequisite: Ohio teaching license or certificate, Bachelor's degree
Field Experience: 150 clock hours
Minimum Credit Hours: 19
Deadline to apply:
March 15
Program start
Autumn
Non-Coursework Requirements
- Opioid Module
- Students applying for endorsement after July 1, 2019 are required to complete the module “Educators and the Opioid Crisis.”
- Complete this module
- Computer Science Computational Thinking Module
- Students applying for an endorsement are required to complete the module “Computer Science Computational Thinking.”
- Complete this module
- Ohio Standards for Pupil Services and Endorsements
- Students applying for an endorsement or pupil-service type licenses are required to complete this training.
- Complete this module
Students are required to send their certificates of completion for each module to tles@osu.edu prior to applying for endorsement.
Each module carries a $5 fee, which supports the technical infrastructure needed to deliver and maintain the modules—ensuring secure access, regular platform updates, and reliable digital resource management.
Licensure Disclosure
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification at go.osu.edu/onground.
Fill out TK20 form below to begin application process
Application Checklist