Ohio Teacher Requirements

Teacher Requirements

Ohio Teacher Requirements

Requirements for Becoming an Ohio Teacher

Below are all the steps you will need to become an Ohio teacher:

Bachelor’s degree; a degree in education or human ecology is ideal, but that can also be a minor
Ohio teacher education course completion; this may last for one or two semesters
Completion of the OAE and Praxis II tests and a foreign language test if you are planning on teaching such a language
Fingerprint file and other documentation

Rules For Upgrading Your License

Additional years of teaching experience
The completion of a graduate degree

Renewal Rules

Six semester hours of college coursework before your license expires
Eighteen continuing education units, or 180 contact hours of work

Educational Requirements For Becoming an Ohio Teacher

The Ohio Department of Education administers credentials to people aiming to become teachers in the state. The ODE will help people prepare for their licenses, apply for them, and renew those licenses when the time comes.

The ODE requires teachers to have a bachelor’s degree or greater. You must also complete a state-approved teacher education program.

Your bachelor’s degree may entail a major in education or human ecology. You may also have a major in your content area of teaching and a minor in education or human ecology.

Your teacher education studies will last for one or two semesters on average. Your education program will help you learn how a teaching environment works and how you can manage the work at hand. You will learn from other teachers by observing them and leading a classroom under their tutelage. The field experiences you will enjoy while learning to teach will vary, but they will be necessary when you’re trying to handle your studies.

The teaching work you complete can include an internship at a school in the state. The internship will allow you to work alongside a mentor teacher throughout the program. You can observe the teacher’s work, and you can then carry out your plans for teaching in the classroom. The teacher can confirm your ability to handle students and lesson plans during each session.

Other Points For Your License

You must also complete the necessary state exams and pass a criminal background check. You will complete a fingerprint file with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI.

You can send your college transcripts and exam scores to the ODE’s Office of Educator Licensure office in Columbus. It will take a few weeks for you to receive a response, as the timing will vary based on how many people are applying for work.

Types of Licenses You Can Obtain as an Ohio Teacher

You can utilize one of many licenses in Ohio, with each entailing different subjects and student grade levels. The teaching licenses available include:

· Early childhood education (preschool to grade 5)

· Middle school education (4-9)

· Adolescent and young adult education (7-12)

· Special education, including for students with moderate or intensive needs

· K-12 licenses for art, health, music, or physical education

· K-12 licenses for multiple foreign languages

· Technical education (agriculture, consumer sciences, and business-related concepts)

Your study area in college can dictate the license you should utilize when teaching in Ohio. You must dictate which segment you plan on teaching when you apply for your license to be certified to teach in the state.

Tests To Complete

The state requires its teachers to complete the following exams before one can receive a license to teach in Ohio:

The Ohio Assessment for Educators test entails pedagogy and knowledge skills based on your field of study. It entails reading and math skills.

ACTFL exam (for foreign languages)

Foreign language students will need to complete the ACTFL exam. The concept entails reviewing your knowledge of a foreign language you wish to teach.

Praxis II test

The Praxis II exam is a course area test. You will complete a test surrounding the subject area you plan on teaching. (You can also provide Praxis I and II scores if you completed your training outside of Ohio. The scores may be suitable substitutes to other tests in the state.)

Upgrading Your License

Your initial license for teaching in Ohio will be a four-year Resident Educator License. You will earn this license if you have a degree and you complete your teacher education program.

You will move on to a Professional Teaching License that lasts five years. You will require a few years of teaching experience to utilize this license.

There’s also the Senior Professional License for those who have completed their graduate studies. The five-year license is for people who have a graduate degree and at least nine years of teaching experience. You must meet the accomplished level or greater on your Ohio Standards for the Teaching Professional evaluation.

edTPA Assessment

You may undergo edTPA assessment when teaching. The edTPA teacher performance assessment program includes a monitoring session that reviews how well you can teach your students. The report will highlight details on how the study works and what you can expect out of your training.

Requirements For Renewing a License

You will require two separate licensing requirements when renewing your license:

You will require six semester hours of study from a college or university. The coursework will focus on your content area or general pedagogical standards.
You also need eighteen continuing education units, which equal 180 contact hours. The continuing education courses will focus on general education efforts, including managing new trends and industry changes.

You can complete these standards during the four or five years of your license. The two options can be combined as necessary.

The Ohio Department of Education will help you in renewing your license. The organization provides reports on how you can renew your work and includes referrals on where you can go when completing your standards.

Resources

https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/how-become-teacher-ohio-guide/ – Details on becoming a teacher in Ohio

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Teaching/Licensure – Ohio Department of Education licensing website

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Teaching/Licensure/Apply-for-Certificate-License/Educator-License-Types-and-Descriptions – Types of licenses available in Ohio

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Teaching/Educator-Standards-Board – Ohio state educator standards

https://renewateachinglicense.com/state-requirements/state-requirements-to-renew-a-teaching-license-in-oh/ – Website for license renewal in Ohio

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Teaching/Licensure/Prepare-for-Certificate-License/Educator-Licensure-Examinations – Exams for prospective teachers in Ohio to complete