Endorsement Checklist: How to obtain your endorsement

Teaching and Learning endorsement offerings include:

Prior to application, please determine your eligibility by clicking on the links above and reviewing the any specific listed requirements. You must possess a valid Ohio Resident Educator License to pursue an endorsement. Individuals who possess substitute or alternative licenses are not able to obtain endorsements per the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). If applicable, further eligibility requirements may be listed on the curriculum sheets for each endorsement.

Exceptions: Current OSU students officially admitted to the Bachelor or Master of Education in Middle Childhood program may pursue the Middle Childhood Generalist Endorsement concurrently.  However, recommendation to the state of Ohio for endorsement will not occur until the ODE has awarded the initial license. It is recommended that you consult your advisor to plan accordingly.

Step 1: Indicate your intent to pursue a Teaching and Learning Endorsement

  • Complete the Online TK20 Form during the first 15 days of each month.
    • Go to the form and login
      • To create an account:
        • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Admissions”
  • Once logged in click on the “Create New Application” green button
  • From the drop-down menu, select the “OSU Endorsement “of your choice and click on the “Next” button. Note: Disregard the terms listed, as it does not correlate with when you will begin the coursework.
  • Complete the form with your information. Students pursuing the Reading and Middle Childhood Generalist endorsement programs should upload ALL non-OSU transcripts from any previous institutions for evaluation.
  • Click the “Submit Application Now” green button
  • Once you have submitted your form, the Teaching and Learning Office of Academic Services will contact you with your program sheet. Students intending to complete the Reading or Middle Childhood Generalist endorsements will be provided a program sheet that documents any previous coursework that fulfills preservice (Reading) or content (Middle Childhood) requirements. Please allow to the end of the month to receive your program sheet.

Step 2: Activate as an Ohio State University Student (can be completed concurrently with step 1). You can enroll as a(n):

  1. Current student: Speak with your Advisor concerning registration for endorsement coursework.
  2. Undergraduate Non-Degree student: some endorsement courses (including, Middle Childhood Generalist, and the preservice coursework for the Reading Endorsement), can be completed at the undergraduate-level. Undergraduate courses are subject to undergraduate tuition and fees. To determine whether you can or should be enrolling as undergraduate student, please refer to your curriculum sheet and/or speak with your Human Resources representative at your school.
  3. Graduate Non-Degree student: most endorsement students will register for courses as Graduate Non-Degree students due to the requirements of the endorsement or to accumulate graduate-level credit hours for promotion. TESOL, P-6 Math, and the category 2-5 Reading Endorsement courses, must be completed at the graduate-level.

Step 3: Register for coursework

  • All students should refer to their program sheet for required courses. If you have any questions concerning required coursework, please contact us at tlacademicservices@osu.edu.
  • Refer to the schedule of classes for course offerings, which is posted one term in advance.
  • Please keep in mind all important registration deadlines per the Office of the Registrar.
    • Registration:
      • Current Undergraduate students: register via Buckeyelink. Please contact your Academic Advisor for assistance.
      • Undergraduate Non-Degree students: refer to this list for registration instructions. Please contact your Extended Education Advisor if you need any assistance.
      •  Graduate Non-Degree students: refer to this list for registration instructions. Please contact Teaching and Learning Academic Services for assistance.

Step 4: Successfully complete your non-coursework endorsement requirements

Per the Ohio Department of Education, teachers pursuing endorsement must complete the following requirements outside of the OSU classroom. Please note that ODE can periodically adjust requirements to ensure educators are equipped with current skills and resources. Since many endorsement students work towards their requirements over time, we recommend that you check back to this site to view current licensure requirements as you progress with your coursework.

1. Modules & Trainings

  • 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 tl-academicservices@osu.edu prior to applying for endorsement (step 5 below).

2. Contact Hours

Students beginning an endorsement program AU17 or after are required to acquire a minimum of fifty (50) clock hours of field experience for each additional licensure area beyond the candidate's initial license. Students pursuing the Middle Childhood Generalist, TESOL, or the Bilingual endorsement(s) are required to document their experiences using this form.

Prior to applying for your endorsement (step 5), please send the completed form to tl-academicservices@osu.edu

Please note: Students pursuing the Reading Endorsement will obtain their 50 contact hours during course requirements. These students are not required to document this experience via the provided form.

3. Ohio Assessment for Educators

Students who have pursued the Middle Childhood Generalist, TESOL, or Reading endorsements are required to complete an Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE). There is currently no OAE requirement for the Bilingual endorsement.

Please refer to the Ohio Assessments for Educators webpage to determine which assessments are required for each endorsement. Note, the assessments are listed under the Endorsement category.

Step 5: Apply for your endorsement to be added to your teaching license

After students have completed their coursework and non-coursework requirements, they can apply to have the endorsement added to their teaching license.  

Refer to the Office of APL’s Licensure Application Guide for detailed instructions with how to apply to have the endorsement added to the initial teaching license.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email the Office of Accreditation, Placement, and Licensure (APL) at edprep@osu.edu.

The process for recommendation can take 2-4 weeks, depending on the time of the year.

Questions? Contact Teaching and Learning’s Academic Services at:
P: 614-292-2332
E: tl-academicservices@osu.edu

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/disclosures.