Pupil Services Licensure and Registration
The Ohio Department of Education issues licenses and registrations under Ohio law1 to professionals providing pupil services in a school environment. Pupil services providers who hold the respective professional Ohio board license for the requested area may opt for the Department registration rather than the pupil services license to work in Ohio schools (registrations are not available for School Counselors, School Psychologists and Orientation & Mobility Specialists).
Districts employing pupil services personnel may review the following documents for additional guidance:
The registration is a NEW option for pupil services providers. It is not required for providers to hold both the registration and the pupil services license.
Candidates who wish to obtain a pupil services registration must hold a valid, professional Ohio board license for the requested area and submit background checks to the Ohio Department of Education. Registrations are available for the following areas:
- Occupational therapist / occupational therapy assistant
- Physical therapist / physical therapy assistant
- Audiologist
- Registered Nurse (minimum of a bachelor’s degree required)
- Social worker
- Speech-language pathologist
The application for the pupil services registration is under the Pupil Services category in the online CORE licensure system.
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
Pupil services registration holders must hold a valid license issued by the respective Ohio professional board for the requested area and submit background checks to the Ohio Department of Education to renew their registration.
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Pupil Services License - 5 Year
Candidates who wish to obtain a professional pupil services license in one of the following areas must complete either an Ohio Department of Higher Education approved school licensure program or a traditional school licensure program through an accredited college or university out-of-state for the requested licensure area. Additionally, candidates must hold a valid, respective Ohio professional board license and pass required licensure exams in the specified areas as outlined below:
ohio professional board license and exam required for the following:
- School audiologist
- School speech-language pathologist
OHIO PROFESSIONAL BOARD LICENSE REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- School nurse
- School social worker
LICENSURE EXAM REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- School counselor
- School psychologist
Orientation and mobility specialists are not required to hold a professional board license or meet exam requirements.
Candidates who completed a school licensure program through a college or university outside of Ohio should see the Department’s Out-of-State Licensure webpage to review the documents to submit with the online application for the pupil services license. Candidates who have not completed a school licensure program for the pupil services licensure area may use the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Program Finder to find a list of Ohio colleges or universities that offer approved licensure programs to pursue a pupil services license, or see the Pupil Services Registration section above as a possible alternative.
Please note that all candidates must submit their background checks to the Ohio Department of Education for licensure.
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Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants - 5 Year
Candidates who wish to obtain a professional pupil services or associate license in one of the following areas must hold a valid license issued by the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board in the respective area.
- Occupational or physical therapists – please apply for a five-year pupil services license.
- Occupational or physical therapy assistants – please apply for a five-year associate license. The application for the associate license is under the Teachers category in the online CORE licensure system.
Please note that all candidates must submit their background checks to the Ohio Department of Education and their official transcripts from an accredited college or university with their initial license applications.
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Renewal Requirements for a Pupil Services License - 5 Year
Professional pupil services license holders must hold a valid license issued by the respective Ohio professional board to renew their license in the following areas:
- Occupational therapist / occupational therapy assistant
- Physical therapist / physical therapy assistant
- School audiologist
- School nurse
- School social worker
- School speech-language pathologist
Candidates who hold an orientation and mobility specialist license will renew with renewal coursework or professional development (as approved by their local professional development committees).
Candidates who hold a school psychologist or school counselor license will renew with renewal coursework or professional development (as approved by their local professional development committees) OR a valid license issued by the respective professional Ohio board.
Please note that all license holders must submit their background checks to the Ohio Department of Education to renew their professional pupil services license.
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Temporary Pupil Services License - 1 Year
Candidates who have not completed an approved school licensure program and exam for the following fields may work under a temporary license while completing program requirements. The temporary pupil service license will only be issued at the request of an employing Ohio school or district. Requirements specific to each license are listed below.
Please note that all candidates must submit their official transcripts from an accredited college or university verifying a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with their initial license applications. Additionally, all candidates must submit their background checks to the Ohio Department of Education for licensure.
TEMPORARY SCHOOL AUDIOLOGIST LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- A valid Ohio board license to practice audiology
TEMPORARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: A valid Ohio board license to practice as a counselor AND enrollment in an approved school counselor licensure program (a letter from the college or university is required to verify program enrollment).
- LICENSED TEACHERS: A valid, standard Ohio teaching certificate or professional teaching license, enrollment in an approved school counselor licensure program, AND completion of the approved school counselor licensure program to the point the university can provide the following:
- A letter is needed from the college or university verifying enrollment and stating that the candidate demonstrates an understanding of each of the following: professional identity, social and cultural diversity, human growth & development, career development, helping relationships, group work, assessment, research & program evaluation.
TEMPORARY SCHOOL NURSE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- A valid Ohio board license to practice as a registered nurse
TEMPORARY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Enrollment in an in an approved school psychologist licensure program
- A letter from the college or university is required to verify enrollment in the program and program internship
- Nonrenewable license – this license is to be used for completion of internship (required for school psychologist licensure program) only
TEMPORARY SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- A valid Ohio board license to practice social work
TEMPORARY SCHOOL SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- A valid Ohio board license to practice as a speech-language pathologist
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Renewal Requirements for a Temporary Pupil Services License
License holders may renew their temporary license at the request of an employing Ohio school or district with the following:
- A valid license issued by the respective Ohio board (for pupil service areas that require one) AND
- Six (6) additional semester hours of coursework in an approved school licensure program for the requested licensure area. License holders must submit official university transcripts reflecting the completed coursework with their renewal application.
Please see the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Program Finder for a list of Ohio colleges and universities that offer approved pupil services licensure programs.
PLEASE NOTE that candidates renewing a temporary school counselor license who do not hold a valid Ohio board license to practice counseling must hold a valid, standard Ohio teaching certificate or professional teaching license (in addition to completing renewal coursework requirements).
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Interpreter for the Hearing Impaired License (Initial, Renewal and Temporary)
Candidates for the five-year associate license must complete an Ohio Department of Higher Education approved school licensure program or a traditional school licensure program for interpreters for the hearing impaired through an accredited college or university out-of-state.
Candidates should see the Department’s Out-of-State Licensure webpage to review the documents to submit with the online licensure application. Candidates who have not completed a school licensure program for interpreters for the hearing impaired may use the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Program Finder to find a list of Ohio colleges or universities that offer approved licensure programs.
The application for the associate license is under the Teachers category in the online CORE licensure system.
Please note that all candidates must submit their background checks to the Ohio Department of Education for licensure.
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS (Associate license)
Candidates who hold an associate interpreter for the hearing impaired license will renew with
renewal coursework or professional development (as approved by their local professional development committees).
TEMPORARY INTERPRETER FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
Candidates who have not completed an approved school licensure program for this field may work under a temporary license at the request of an employing Ohio school or district while completing program requirements. Requirements for this temporary license include:
- Official transcripts from all accredited colleges or universities attended AND
- Enrollment in an approved interpreter for the hearing-impaired school licensure program
- A letter from the college or university is required to verify enrollment
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS (TEMPORARY INTERPRETER FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED)
License holders may renew their temporary interpreter for the hearing impaired license at the request of an employing Ohio school or district with the following:
- Six (6) additional semester hours of coursework in an approved school licensure program for the requested licensure area. License holders must submit official university transcripts reflecting the completed coursework with their renewal application.
Please see the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Program Finder for a list of Ohio colleges and universities that offer approved licensure programs for interpreters for the hearing impaired.
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Application Instructions
- Access your OH|ID account.
- Click Educator Licensure and Records (CORE).
- Complete the online application from your CORE Dashboard.
- See the CORE User Manual for complete instructions.
Related Links
1OAC 3301-24-05; ORC 3319.221
Last Modified: 8/9/2023 7:38:42 AM