Out-of-State Licensure
Candidates who completed an out-of-state licensure program may review important information below regarding Ohio's licensure requirements and the online application process. Candidates must submit the online application and all required documentation in order to begin the evaluation process and determine eligibility for an Ohio license. Please review all the steps of the Department’s licensure process and other useful information regarding the online application system in the Understanding the Educator Licensure Process.
Teachers
types of licenses
Four-Year Resident Educator – Candidates who completed an approved, traditional teacher preparation program through an accredited college or university and have less than three years of teaching experience under a standard or professional out-of-state teaching license may apply for a resident educator license. Candidates may review the list of available teaching licenses before completing the online application.
Please note that the Resident Educator Program will transition from a 4-Year to a 2-Year program April 12, 2023. See the Resident Educator Licensure FAQ for information regarding upcoming changes.
Five-Year Professional – Candidates who have taught under a standard or professional out-of-state teaching license for three years or more may apply for a professional license. Candidates may review the list of available teaching licenses before completing the online application.
One-Year Out-of-State – Candidates employed in an Ohio school may apply for a one-year out-of-state teaching license to allow time to complete the required Ohio licensure exam(s). Candidates must hold a valid, standard out-of-state teaching license and have met all requirements for a standard Ohio teaching license except for the Ohio licensure exams. Candidates may only apply for the one-year out-of-state license at the request of their employing Ohio school or district after their eligibility has been determined for either the resident educator or professional teaching license (candidates should first apply for the standard license to determine eligibility).
licensure exams
Ohio requires passing scores for both content area exam(s) and a professional knowledge (pedagogy) exam for educator licensure (see the Department's Educator License Exams webpage for more information). Candidates who passed content or professional knowledge exams for the out-of-state license(s) they hold should submit their official score report(s) with their online application for consideration.
Effective July 1, 2017, candidates seeking an Early Childhood (grades PreK-3), Primary Childhood (grades PreK-5), Middle Childhood (grades 4-9), or any Intervention Specialist license (including multi-age, PreK-3 and PreK-5), must also pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) 190 Foundations of Reading exam. Please see the Pearson Education website for exam registration.
Please note that educators adding an area to an existing Ohio teaching license or seeking a new license, who completed a teacher preparation program after July 1, 1991, must meet current exam requirements for the Ohio license even if exams were not required for their out-of-state license.
reading coursework requirements
Candidates seeking an Early Childhood (grades PreK-3), Primary Childhood (grades PreK-5), Middle Childhood (grades 4-9), or any Intervention Specialist license (including multi-age, PreK-3 and PreK-5) in Ohio, must successfully complete teaching of reading coursework through an accredited college or university (coursework must be reflected on an official transcript from that institution). This coursework includes:
- Nine semester hours in the teaching of reading, and
- A three-semester hour course in the teaching of phonics (in the context of reading, writing and spelling).
Candidates must have completed at least six of the required 12 semester hours of reading and phonics coursework to be issued a standard teaching license in Ohio. The remaining coursework requirements will be listed as a limitation on their license. License holders must complete the remaining coursework requirements before they may advance or renew their license.
Jump to Documents to Submit with the Licensure Application.
Jump to Background Checks.
Jump to Application Instructions.
Administrators
Licensure candidates must have a master’s degree and have completed an approved school administrator licensure program through an accredited college or university. Qualified candidates who have not completed a traditional licensure program for school administrators may consider the Ohio alternative licensure pathway for administrators or contact an accredited college or university with an Ohio Department of Higher Education approved administrator preparation program.
types of licenses
Principal – Candidates who have a master’s degree and have completed an approved principal preparation program through an accredited college or university may apply for the professional principal license.
- Work experience requirements: Candidates must have at least two years of successful teaching experience under a standard or professional teaching license (or work experience under a professional pupil services license) in the grade level(s) they request for the principal license. Candidates may choose from the following grade levels for a principal license based upon work experience:
- Grades PreK-6
- Grades 4-9
- Grades 5-12
Jump to licensure exam requirement information.
Administrative Specialist – Candidates who have a master’s degree and have completed an approved administrative specialist licensure program may apply for the professional administrative specialist license.
- Work experience requirements: Candidates must have at least two years of successful teaching experience under a professional teaching license (except for the Pupil Services Administration license, which requires two years of experience under a professional pupil services license).
Jump to
licensure exam requirement information.
Superintendent – Candidates who have a master’s degree, hold a principal or administrative specialist license and have completed an approved preparation program for superintendents through an accredited college or university, may apply for the professional superintendent license.
- Work experience requirements: Candidates must have at least three years of successful work experience under a professional principal or administrative specialist license.
licensure exams
Ohio requires the successful completion of an educational leadership exam for all administrator licenses. Candidates who have not completed an educational leadership exam may review the Department's Educator License Exams webpage for more information.
Jump to Documents to Submit with the Licensure Application.
Jump to Background Checks.
Jump to Application Instructions.
Pupil Services
Ohio offers pupil services licensure and registration options for candidates who meet requirements. The applications for both the pupil services registration and license are under the Pupil Services category in the online CORE licensure system. Pupil services personnel should review requirements on the Department's Pupil Services Licenses webpage before applying for a license or registration.
Documents to Submit with the Licensure Application
Candidates must submit the online application and their documentation in order to begin the evaluation process and determine eligibility for an Ohio license. Documents to submit with the online application include:
- Out-of-state license – Educators must submit the out-of-state license(s) they held during their teacher, administrator or pupil services assignment(s). The years on the license(s) must coincide with their work experience; OR
- Letter of eligibility – Applicants who do not hold a school license in the state in which they completed a licensure program must submit a letter, on university letterhead, signed by the dean or head of teacher education, stating the school license type they are eligible for in that state (including subject areas and grade levels for teachers). For Intervention Specialist (special education) licenses, the letter must also state the disability areas included in the scope of the license.
- Verification of completed out of state licensure exams – Educators must submit their official score reports verifying the licensure exams they passed for their out-of-state school license. Score reports must verify pass or fail status. Educators who are unable to provide the official exam score report must provide a letter verifying the exams they passed from either the Department of Education in the state in which they held a license or from the college or university at which they completed their licensure program. The letter must be on the institution’s letterhead; include the exam titles, dates and pass or fail status; and be signed and dated by an official representing the institution.
- Verification of experience – Work experience verification is required for out-of-state applicants requesting an Ohio professional educator or administrator license. The out-of-state school or district human resources director or superintendent must complete and submit the Out of State Work Experience Verification form directly to the Department. School personnel may either email the completed form to educator.licensure@education.ohio.gov or mail it (originals only) to:
Ohio Department of Education
Office of Educator Licensure
25 S. Front Street
Mail Stop 504
Columbus, OH 43215
- 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.
Background Checks
Candidates must submit BCI and FBI background checks for initial licensure. Please see the Department's Background Check FAQs for information.
Candidates who live outside of Ohio may email the Office of Educator Licensure at the Ohio Department of Education to request fingerprint cards.
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
Last Modified: 3/24/2023 12:12:48 PM