Adult Education Permit

The Ohio State Board of Education issues one-year and four-year adult education permits under Ohio law1 to applicants who meet qualifications and have been hired to serve in Ohio schools and school districts. The employing school or district must initiate and sign all applications for adult education permits. Please note that under Ohio law2 educators may work in any Ohio school district under their valid adult education permit (they are no longer limited to working only in the district that approves their application for the permit).

Aspire Programs (Formerly ABLE Programs)

Candidates who do not have valid Ohio teaching certificates or licenses and are hired by a school or district to teach adults in the Aspire program (formerly known as the Adult Basic Literacy Education or ABLE program) must have active adult education permits. Aspire teachers who already possess valid Ohio teaching certificates or licenses do not need to obtain one-year adult education teaching permits. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.  

An educator without a bachelor’s degree may continue to obtain an adult education teaching permit for Aspire only if he or she held a permit during fiscal year 2003 and continued to apply for permit renewal uninterrupted in subsequent years.

Teaching Field Codes - for Aspire

Candidates applying for an adult education permit to teach in the Aspire program will choose from the teaching fields below in the online application:

  • General Science (130100)
  • Mathematics (110000)
  • Social Studies (150002)
  • Speech/Communication (050504)

Adult Workforce Education Programs

Candidates who do not have valid Ohio teaching certificates or licenses and are hired by a school or district to teach adults in adult workforce education programs must have active adult education permits. 

Teaching Field Codes - for Adult Workforce Education programs

Candidates applying for an adult education teaching permit for an adult workforce education program will choose from the teaching field code(s) below in the online application:

  • Agriculture (010000)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (070907)
  • Family & Consumer Science (090000)
  • Firefighter Training (172801)
  • Health Occupations (070000)
  • Industrial & Engineering Technologies (170000)
  • Marketing Education (040000)
  • Office Operation (140000)
  • Personal Living (091064)

additional requirements for emts & firefighters

EMT/Firefighter certification – Candidates must provide verification of their active Ohio EMS certification(s) and instructor card(s) with the online application for the adult education permit.

EMT requires:

  • An active Ohio EMS certification for EMT, AEMT or Paramedic, AND
  • An active Ohio EMS Instructor card (Assistant EMS Instructor and CE Instructor are not eligible).

Firefighter Training requires:

  • An active Ohio EMS certification for Firefighter I or II, AND
  • An active Ohio EMS Fire Instructor card (Assistant Firefighter Instructor and Fire Safety Instructor are not eligible). The Live Fire Instructor card is eligible only if the candidate also holds an active Ohio EMS Fire Instructor card.

Substitute Teaching

Under Ohio law2 educators who hold an active adult education permit may also substitute teach in grades 9-12 in the same subject area as the adult education permit they hold. Adult education permit holders may also substitute teach for up to one semester in another CTWD field, at the request of their employing school or district.

Preliminary Steps - First-time and Renewal of Permits

  • STEP 1: Contact a school or district. Candidates should not apply for this permit (new or renewal) until they have completed the following; otherwise, the application may be declined. Candidates must:
    • Complete the employment process at the Ohio school or district where they are interested in serving as an adult education instructor; AND
    • Notify the employing organization and request the employer's IRN to use in the online application; the organization's e-signer must approve the license application.​
  • STEP 2: Complete background checks. All applicants must have current background checks on file with the Ohio State Board of Education. 
  • STEP 3: Prepare university transcripts. Candidates who are applying for a NEW adult education permit to teach in the Aspire program must submit their official university transcripts reflecting their conferred degree (minimum of a bachelor's degree required). Please review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before uploading transcripts.
    • Applicants who prefer to mail their original, official transcripts must use the following address: 

      Ohio State Board of Education
      Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness
      25 S. Front Street
      Mail Stop 504
      Columbus, OH 43215

    • ​Coursework completed outside the United States. Applicants who completed college coursework outside the United States must submit a course-by-course analysis from an approved international credential evaluation service. 
  • STEP 4: ​Complete and submit the online application. 

​Application Instructions

Related Links

1OAC 3301-24-05
2ORC 3319.2211
 

Last Modified: 11/24/2023 2:47:46 PM