Alternative Administrative Specialist License

This four-year nontraditional licensure pathway allows candidates to work in an Ohio school district or community school as an administrative specialist while completing requirements under Ohio law1 for a professional administrative specialist license.

Evaluations

Candidates now have the option to request an evaluation before beginning the Alternative Administrative Specialist licensure pathway to ensure they meet initial requirements. The Ohio State Board of Education will issue a statement of eligibility for an alternative license to those who meet education and work experience requirements. Candidates may then use the statement of eligibility to verify to prospective employing schools and districts their eligibility for the Alternative Administrative Specialist license.

Interested candidates may submit their completed Evaluation Request Application to the Ohio State Board of Education with the $50 fee and the following:

  • Official transcripts. Candidates must submit all official transcripts from an accredited college or university verifying their college coursework, degrees and cumulative undergraduate or graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates should review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before uploading transcripts.  
    • Candidates 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. Candidates who completed college coursework outside the United States must submit a course-by-course analysis from an approved international credential evaluation service. 
  • Work experience verification. Candidates must have five or more years of successful work experience in teaching, administration, education or management. Candidates must submit one of the following for work experience verification:
    • A letter on letterhead, signed and dated by the employer, verifying the candidate’s work experience within that district, company or organization; OR
    • The Work Experience Verification form completed by the employing human resources director or  district superintendent and submitted directly to the Ohio State Board of Education. Employers 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
Military Fee Waiver for Alternative Evaluations
Beginning November 11, 2022, the Ohio State Board of Education eliminated fees for alternative evaluations to recognize the contributions of military families. The fees for any evaluation for an Ohio alternative license will be waived for candidates who are veterans with honorable discharges or current service members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces; the National Guard or Reserve; and the Ohio Military Reserve or Ohio Naval Militia (under the Ohio Adjutant General). Spouses of active duty service members also may receive an evaluation for an alternative license free of charge. Candidates must complete and submit the Military Fee Waiver Application form and the required military document or identification with their alternative evaluation request application or correction evaluation form.

Initial Application Requirements

Applicants must have a position as an administrative specialist working in a central office or supervisory capacity in an Ohio school or district and submit the following with their initial application for a two-year Alternative Administrative Specialist license:

  • Position verification. Candidates must submit a current board resolution from their employing school or district verifying the administrative specialist position in which they will serve. ​

Candidates who did not request an evaluation must submit the following additional documents with the initial online application:

  • Official transcripts. Candidates must submit all official transcripts from an accredited college or university verifying their college coursework, degrees and cumulative undergraduate or graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates should review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before uploading transcripts.  
    • Candidates 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. Candidates who completed college coursework outside the United States must submit a course-by-course analysis from an approved international credential evaluation service. 
  • Work experience verification. Candidates must have five or more years of successful work experience in teaching, administration, education or management. Candidates must submit one of the following for work experience verification:
    • A letter on letterhead, signed and dated by the employer, verifying the candidate’s work experience within that district, company or organization; OR
    • The Work Experience Verification form completed by the employing human resources director or district superintendent and submitted directly to the Ohio State Board of Education. Employers 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
  • Background checks. All applicants must have current background checks on file with the Ohio State Board of Education to be issued a license.

Renewal Application Requirements

Candidates must renew their two-year Alternative Administrative Specialist license once to complete requirements for the professional administrative specialist license. Candidates shall provide verification of completed renewal requirements to the employing school or district and submit the completed Renewal Verification Form with their online renewal application.

requirements in years one and two of the alternative administrative specialist license pathway

The employing Ohio school district shall provide the Alternative Administrative Specialist license holder a mentoring program that includes the following:

  • Assignment of a mentor who holds a standard administrator license and has served in the capacity of an administrator under the license.
  • Completion of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Self-Assessment.
  • Development of a personal learning plan based on the ISLLC self-assessment and approved by the mentor.
  • Participation in a structured mentoring program aligned to the personal learning plan and consisting of 70 clock hours.

Bachelor's Degree Holders shall also meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of a three-semester hour course in school law and a three-semester hour course in school finance through an accredited university.
  • Completion of a minimum of nine additional semester hours from an accredited university leading toward a master's degree in education administration.

Master's Degree Holders shall also meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of a three-semester hour course in school law and a three-semester hour course in school finance through an accredited university.
  • Completion of minimum of three additional semester hours from an accredited university or 45 clock hours of professional development based on the personal learning plan.

Individuals who do not have two years of teaching experience under a standard or alternative teaching license, permanent non-tax certificate or two years of experience under a professional pupil services license must also develop a plan that outlines observation of classroom instruction across grade levels and subject areas within the school district.

requirements in years three and four of the alternative administrative specialist license pathway

Bachelor's Degree Holders must meet the following requirements:
  • Completion of a master’s degree in education administration through an accredited college or university.
  • Participation in a structured mentoring program aligned to the personal learning plan consisting of 50 clock hours (provided by the employing district).
  • Pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
​ Master's Degree Holders must meet the following requirements:
  • Completion of an additional six semester hours from an accredited university or 90 clock hours of professional development based on the personal learning plan.
  • Participation in a structured mentoring program aligned to the personal learning plan (provided by the employing district).
  • Pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).

Correction Evaluations

Alternative Administrative Specialist license holders who complete coursework or exam requirements to advance to the professional license may request a Correction Evaluation. The $20 evaluation fee includes a corrected evaluation outlining the remaining coursework or exam requirements to advance to the professional license. Official university transcripts reflecting the completed coursework or official score report verifying a passing score for the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) test #015 Educational Leadership exam required with the application for the Correction Evaluation.

Advance Application Requirements

At the end of the four-year alternative administrative specialist licensure pathway, candidates must submit the following with their application to advance to the professional administrative specialist license:

  • Official transcripts. See Initial Application Requirements for transcript submission instructions.
  • Verification form to advance. Submit the completed Verification Form to Advance with the online application.  

REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST LICENSE

Candidates must meet all requirements to advance to the professional administrative specialist license.

Bachelor's Degree Holders Must Successfully Complete:

  • Four years of work experience under the Alternative Administrative Specialist license.
  • A three-semester hour course in school law and a three-semester hour course in school finance through an accredited college or university.
  • A master's degree in education administration from an accredited college or university.
  • A structured mentoring program (provided by the employing school or district and aligned to the personal learning plan).
  • The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
  • Observation of classroom instruction across grade levels and subject areas within the school district (for individuals who do not have two years of teaching experience under a standard or alternative teaching license, permanent non-tax certificate or two years of experience under a professional pupil services license only).

Master's Degree Holders Must Successfully Complete:

  • Four years of work experience under the Alternative Administrative Specialist license.
  • A three-semester hour course in school law and a three-semester hour course in school finance through an accredited college or university.
  • All additional coursework or clock hours of professional development based on the personal learning plan.
  • A structured mentoring program (provided by the employing school or district and aligned to the personal learning plan).
  • The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
  • Observation of classroom instruction across grade levels and subject areas within the school district (for individuals who do not have two years of teaching experience under a standard or alternative teaching license, permanent non-tax certificate or two years of experience under a professional pupil services license only).

Application Instructions

Related Links

1OAC 3301-24-12

Last Modified: 12/1/2023 10:32:46 AM