Lead Professional Educator Licenses

In 2009, Ohio restructured its teacher licensure system and established a career ladder for educators. The four-tiered system provides opportunities for teachers to advance in their professional careers and serve as school improvement leaders, without leaving the teaching profession. The Lead Professional Educator License is the next advanced step on the career ladder after a Senior Professional educator license.

Requirements for an Initial Lead Professional Educator License

Educators interested in advancing to the Lead Professional educator license must meet the following requirements under Ohio law¹.

• Degree. A master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or an equivalent accreditation if the degree was completed outside the United States. 
• Teaching experience. Nine years of experience under a standard teaching license or certificate, of which at least five years are under a professional or permanent license or certificate. 
• Distinguished certification. Demonstration of effective practice at the distinguished level of performance defined in the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession by meeting one of the following:
  • National Board certification (must have active status), OR 
  • Successful completion of the Master Teacher portfolio with the designation as a Master Teacher AND hold the Teacher Leader Endorsement (completion of an approved educator preparation program for this endorsement through an accredited university is required).

Educators must submit the following with the online application for the initial license:

• Copy of National Board certification OR completed Master Teacher verification form AND
• Official transcripts. Educators must submit their official transcripts from an accredited college or university. Applicants should review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts before uploading their transcripts. Applicants may also view a short video tutorial on how to scan and upload transcripts.
  • Applicants who prefer to mail their original, official transcripts must use the following address: 

    Ohio Department of Education
    Office of Educator Licensure
    25 S. Front Street
    Mail Stop 504
    Columbus, OH 43215

  • Coursework completed outside the United States. Educators who completed college coursework outside the United States must provide a course-by-course analysis from a Department approved international credential evaluation service. 

Requirements for Renewal of the Lead Professional Educator License

Educators currently employed in an Ohio public school or district must complete the following renewal requirements under Ohio law²:

• Six semester hours of coursework related to classroom teaching or area of licensure from an accredited two-year or four-year institution of higher education completed after the last issue date of the expiring license and approved by the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) of the employing school or school district; OR
• Eighteen continuing education units (180 contact hours) or other equivalent activities related to classroom teaching or area of licensure, completed after the last issue date of the expiring license and approved by the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) of the employing school or school district; AND
• Demonstration of meeting the criteria for the distinguished level of performance described in the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession through either of the following two methods:
  • National Board certification (must have active status), OR 
  • Master Teacher designation. Educators who hold an active Teacher Leader endorsement must maintain current designation as a Master Teacher in accordance with the definition and criteria for a Master Teacher and complete the Master Teacher designation renewal process. 

Not Currently Employed in an Ohio School

Educators not employed in an Ohio public school or district must complete the following requirements under Ohio law² to renew their currently expiring Lead Professional Educator license:

• Six semester hours of coursework related to classroom teaching or area of licensure from an accredited two-year or four-year institution of higher education completed after the most recent issue date of the expiring license. Educators must complete all renewal coursework and submit their renewal application prior to October 1 of the expiration year of the license to be renewed, or the renewal requirement increases to nine semester hours. AND 
• Demonstration of meeting the criteria for the distinguished level of performance described in the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession through either of the following two methods:
  • National Board certification (must have active status), OR 
  • Master Teacher designation. Educators who hold an active Teacher Leader endorsement must maintain current designation as a Master Teacher in accordance with the definition and criteria for a Master Teacher and complete the Master Teacher designation renewal process.

Educators NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN AN OHIO SCHOOL, DISTRICT OR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER must submit the following with the online renewal application:

• Copy of National Board certificate (must have active status), OR completed Master Teacher verification form
• Official transcripts. Educators must submit their official transcripts from an accredited college or university reflecting their completed renewal coursework. Applicants should review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before uploading their transcripts. 
• Professional development. Educators who earned CEUs or contact hours approved by their former Ohio school, district or  ESC after the last issue date of the expiring license must submit the Department’s Educator Leaving an LPDC Verification form, completed by the LPDC. Other CEU certificates or forms will not be accepted to verify professional development. 

Consistently High Performing Teacher License Renewal

Educators with lead professional teaching licenses who have met requirements for Consistently High Performing Teacher status may not need to complete additional coursework or equivalent continuing education credits to renew their educator licenses for the next renewal cycle. 

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

• Background Check FAQs
• FAQs about the Online License System
• ​Fees for Licensure Applications

Last Modified: 12/5/2022 11:58:32 AM