How to Transition a Certificate to a License

Ohio’s five-year professional license replaced the four-year provisional and eight-year professional certificates in 2002. Educators whose provisional or professional certificates have lapsed will complete the online application to Transition to the professional license (the option to renew the provisional or professional certificate will not be available).

Educators must meet one of the following requirements to transition their expired certificates to professional licenses:

Requirements For Transitioning to a Professional License

option 1: renewal coursework

  • Educators must complete nine semester hours of coursework related to classroom teaching or area of licensure from an accredited two-year or four-year institution of higher education. Applicants do not need to seek pre-approval of coursework from the Ohio State Board of Education. The State Board DOES NOT pre-approve coursework. Renewal requirements are in place to keep educators abreast of best practices in the field and the latest research findings. Classroom dynamics change constantly, and continuing education helps teachers find new ways to reach students and help them succeed. All coursework must lead to new knowledge in the P-12 classroom and be related to student success, wellness or achievement. Renewal coursework must be relevant to classroom teaching or area of licensure. Coursework completed for an additional P-12 licensure area will also be considered for renewal of an expiring license. Courses which provide credit for completing routine teaching duties and responsibilities and courses in which the curriculum is selected by the educator rather than the university will not be accepted, even if reflected on an official transcript from an accredited university.
  • Dates of coursework: Educators must complete their renewal coursework after the issue date of the license they wish to renew.
Note: If, during the lapsed period of the certificate, the educator is continuously employed under another valid, standard Ohio certificate or license, or as an educator in another state under a currently valid certificate or license,  then the renewal requirements for Currently Expiring Licenses apply.

option 2: out-of-state professional development

Out-of-state educators who hold an Ohio professional license and are currently employed under their standard, out-of-state teaching license(s) may transition with the professional development they completed to renew their out-of-state license(s). Educators must meet Ohio's renewal coursework requirements if the state in which are licensed does not require completion of coursework or professional development for renewal. The following documents are required with the online renewal application:

  • Verification of out-of-state teaching experience. The out-of-state school or district human resources director or superintendent must complete and submit the Work Experience Verification form directly to the State Board of Education. School personnel may either email the completed form to Educator.Licensure@SBOE.ohio.gov or mail it (originals only) to: 

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

  • Out-of-state teaching license. Educators must submit their valid, standard teaching license(s) issued by the state in which they have been teaching; and
  • Coursework or (CEUs). Educators must submit official college or university transcripts reflecting the completion of renewal coursework since the issue date of the expiring Ohio license, or a summary of the CEUs related to classroom teaching or the area of licensure completed since the issue date of the out-of-state license (completion of state-mandated renewal coursework or other professional development is required). The summary must be in letter format, on district letterhead, and signed and dated by employing school district or human resources office. The summary letter must also indicate the renewal requirements (coursework or professional development) for that state.

Reinstatement Licenses

Note that educators with associate or professional Ohio licenses or certificates that have expired may be eligible for a reinstatement license. Educators may work under a reinstatement license in an Ohio school or district while completing renewal requirements. Educators will be properly certified in the reinstatement licensure area while completing requirements to renew their expired associate or professional license (or to transition an expired four-year provisional or eight-year professional certificate to a professional license). Please note that an applicant may only request a reinstatement license for the same subject(s) and grade level(s) as their expired associate or professional license. Reinstatement licenses are nonrenewable.  

Instructions for Submitting Official Transcripts

Educators must submit their official transcripts from an accredited college or university reflecting the completed renewal coursework requirements. Applicants should review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before uploading transcripts. 
  • Educators 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. Educators who completed college coursework outside the United States must provide a course-by-course analysis from an approved international credential evaluation service. 

Pupil Services Certificate Transitions

Educators who hold a currently valid license issued by the respective Ohio licensure board may transition the following certificates to a five-year professional license:

  • Occupational therapist
  • Physical therapist
  • School audiologist
  • School nurse
  • School social worker
  • School speech-language pathologist

Background Checks

All applicants must have current background checks on file with the Ohio State Board of Education. 

Application Instructions

Related Links

Last Modified: 11/28/2023 12:58:10 PM