Effective March 29, 2007, FBI and BCI fingerprint check will be required for all initial and renewal of any license or permit.  Also included will be those individuals transitioning from certification to licensure.  Individuals residing in Ohio are required to complete the Web check electronic fingerprint submission process — paper copies of BCI records may not be utilized.  Applications requiring a FBI/BCI check will be placed ON HOLD if there is no current background information on file.  Criminal background check information must be received within 90 days or the application may be declined.

Provisional (2 yr) License Renewal

• The provisional license, valid for two years, may be renewed upon completion of three semester hours of coursework relevant to classroom teaching and/or area of specialization since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

• A provisional license that has lapsed for up to five years may be reinstated upon completion of six semester hours of relevant to classroom teaching and/or area of specialization since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

• A provisional license that has lapsed for more than five years may be reinstated upon completion of a minimum of nine semester hours of relevant to classroom teaching and/or area of specialization since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

• The increased amount of coursework associated with lapsed licenses will not apply provided that the license holder completes the required three semester hours by September 1 of the year that the provisional license expires.

Professional (5 yr) or Associate License Renewal

• The professional or associate license is valid for five years and may be renewed by individuals currently employed in a school or school district upon verification that the requirements listed below have been completed since the issuance of the license to be renewed:  

-Six semester hours of course work related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure as approved by the local professional development committee (LPDC) of the employing school or school district;

OR

-Eighteen continuing education units (one hundred and eighty contact hours) or other equivalent activities related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure as approved by the local professional development committee (LPDC) of the employing school district.

• The second renewal of the professional license requires the master’s degree or 30 semester hours or graduate credit. If the master’s degree is already obtained, six semester hours or 18 CEUs or approved activities (LPDC) are still required. Those who held certificates under previous standards are exempted from the master’s degree or 30 semester hour requirement for the second renewal.
  

• Renewal of the professional or associate license that has lapsed for up to five years may be reinstated upon completion of nine semester hours of coursework relevant to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure since the issuance of the license to be renewed. 

• Renewal of the professional or associate license that has lapsed for more than five years may be reinstated upon completion of twelve semester hours of coursework relevant to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

Pupil Services Renewals

• The school audiologist, school social worker, school speech-language pathologist, school nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapy assistant, and physical therapy assistant licenses may be renewed upon evidence of a currently valid license issued by the respective Ohio licensure board.

Transition from Four-Year/Eight-Year Certificate to Five-Year License

• Transition from a four-year provisional or eight-year professional certificate to a five-year professional license shall require six semester hours of course work related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure.

Renewal of Four-Year Provisional/Eight-Year Professional Certificate

• A four-year provisional certificate or an eight-year professional certificate that has lapsed for up to five years may be reinstated upon completion of nine semester hours of relevant to classroom teaching and/or area of specialization since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

• A certificate that has lapsed for more than five years may be reinstated upon completion of a minimum of twelve semester hours of relevant to classroom teaching and/or area of specialization since the issuance of the license to be renewed.

Application Forms

• Licensure application forms are available on-line at ODE website.

• Individuals not employed in a school or an agency or institution with a local professional development committee (LPDC) shall forward the completed application to the Ohio Department of Education, 25 South Front Street, Mail Stop 105, Columbus Ohio 43215-4183 with the original transcript required for renewal and the appropriate fee.

Out of State Applicants

• If you completed an educator preparation program outside the state of Ohio and are applying for your first Ohio certificate or license, please contact the Office of Educator Licensure for an application packet, Office of Educator Licensure
, 25 South Front Street, Mail Stop 105,
 Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183, phone (614) 466-3593, or visit the ODE website.

Substitute Teaching License - New and Renewal

• A substitute teaching license may be issued to qualified individuals upon request of a school district. Such licenses shall be designated as short-term substitute license or long-term substitute licenses. One-year and five-year licenses are available. A substitute teaching license may be renewed on the recommendation of the superintendent of the employing district.

Short-Term Substitute License

• A short-term substitute teaching license may be issued to the holder of a baccalaureate degree. This is a general license that carries no teaching fields. An individual holding a short-term substitute license may teach in a given classroom for no more than five days; for periods longer than five days, an individual with a long-term substitute license must be employed.

Long-Term Substitute License

• A long-term substitute license, valid for the area listed on the license, may be issued as follows:

-Early Childhood – 12 semester hours in professional early childhood education
-Middle Childhood – 20 semester hours in EACH subject requested
-Adolescence (7-12) – 20 semester hours in EACH subject requested
-Multi-Age K-12 – 20 semester hours in EACH subject requested
-Intervention Specialist K-12 – 12 semester hours in special education (This license may be issued as a one-year license, new and renewal)

Educational Aide Permit

• The one year or four year educational aide permit, valid for working with learners under the supervision of a fully licensed educator, shall be issued by the employing school district.

• The term “ESEA qualified” shall be added to the educational aide permit for individuals who have successfully completed either the examination or paraprofessionals prescribed by the State Board of Education; or an associate degree (or higher) from an accredited institution of higher education; or at least two years of study at an accredited institution of higher education (defined as forty-eight semester hours or seventy-two quarter hours).

One-Year Educational Aide Permit for Teacher Assistant

An educational aide permit may be issued upon the request and recommendation of an employing superintendent of a city, county, or exempted village, or the administrative head of a non-tax supported school, provided the superintendent submits evidence that the applicant meets the following minimum requirements:

1. The applicant is a graduate of an approved high school or has a statement of high school equivalence in accordance with regulations prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction; and
2. The applicant has shown sufficient promise of being able to profit from in-service training, and shall be willing to participate in such training.

Full-time employment requires meeting the requirements for ESEA paraprofessionals if the applicant meets one of the following:

1. At least two years of study at an accredited college or university defined as 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours;
2. Holds an associate degree, or higher from an accredited college or university;
3. Has passing score on the ParaPro assessment test*