Alternative Principal License

This three-year nontraditional licensure pathway allows candidates to work in an Ohio school as a principal or assistant principal while completing requirements under Ohio law1 for a professional principal license. 

Evaluations

Candidates now have the option to request an evaluation before beginning the Alternative Principal licensure pathway to ensure they meet initial requirements. The Department will issue a statement of eligibility for the 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 Principal license.

Interested candidates may submit their completed Evaluation Request Application to the Ohio Department 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 Department of Education
      Office of Educator Licensure
      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 a Department approved international credential evaluation service.
  • Work experience verification. Candidates must meet one of the following work experience requirements:
    • Two years of successful teaching experience under a standard or alternative teaching license or permanent non-tax certificate
    • Two years of experience under a professional pupil services license
    • Five years of successful experience in 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 Department. Employers 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
Military Fee Waiver for Alternative Evaluations
Beginning November 11, 2022, the Ohio Department of Education has 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 principal or assistant principal position in an Ohio school or district and submit the following with their initial, online application for a one-year Alternative Principal license:

  • Position verification. Candidates must submit a current board resolution from their employing school or district verifying the principal or assistant principal position in which they will serve, including grade levels. 

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 Department of Education
      Office of Educator Licensure
      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 a Department approved international credential evaluation service. ​
  • Work experience verification. Candidates must meet one of the following work experience requirements:
    • Two years of successful teaching experience under a standard or alternative teaching license or permanent non-tax certificate
    • Two years of experience under a professional pupil services license
    • Five years of successful experience in 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 Department. Employers 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
Background checks. All applicants must have current background checks on file with the Department to be issued a license.

Renewal Application Requirements

Candidates must renew their one-year Alternative Principal license two times to complete requirements for the professional principal license. Candidates must submit the completed Renewal Verification Form with their online renewal application through their OH|ID account.

Requirements in Year One of the Alternative Principal License Pathway

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

Bachelor's Degree Holders shall provide documentation of enrollment in and satisfactory progress in a master's degree program in education administration at an accredited institution of higher education to their employing school or district.

Master's Degree Holders shall provide documentation of satisfactory progress in meeting the requirement of a three-semester hour school law course and a three-semester hour course in school supervision and teacher evaluation through an accredited college or university to their employing school or district.

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 complete classroom teaching experience in accordance with a planned program developed and implemented by the employing school or district. Such a program must require the alternatively-licensed principal or assistant principal to work with an experienced teacher to obtain teaching experience. A total of 180 clock hours is required, with a minimum of 90 hours completed in year one and 90 hours in year two.

Requirements in Year Two of the Alternative Principal License Pathway

Bachelor's Degree Holders shall provide documentation of satisfactory progress in a master's degree program in education administration at an accredited institution of higher education to their employing school or district.

Master's Degree Holders shall provide documentation to their employing school or district of continuing progress in meeting program requirements, including completion of a three-semester hour school law course and a three-semester hour course in school supervision and teacher evaluation (if not already completed), plus an additional six semester hours or 90 clock hours of professional development, based on pre-assessment data and personal learning goals.

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 complete 90 clock hours of classroom teaching experience.

Advance Application Requirements

At the end of the three-year Alternative Principal pathway, candidates must submit the following with their application to advance to the professional principal license through their OH|ID account.

  • Official university 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 Professional Principal License

Candidates must meet all requirements to advance to the professional principal license.

Bachelor's Degree Holders Must Successfully Complete:

  • Three years of work experience under the Alternative Principal license.
  • A master's degree in education administration from an accredited college or university.
  • A structured mentoring program (provided by employing school or district).
  • The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
  • Required classroom teaching experience (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:

  • Three years of work experience under the Alternative Principal license.
  • A three-semester hour school law course and a three-semester hour course in school supervision and teacher evaluation, plus an additional six semester hours or 90 clock hours of professional development, based on pre-assessment data and personal learning goals (coursework must be reflected on an official transcript from an accredited college or university).
  • A structured mentoring program (provided by employing school or district).
  • The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
  • Required classroom teaching experience (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).

Requesting a Correction Evaluation and Correcting the Limitations on an Alternative License

Alternative Principal 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.

Correcting the Employing District

Alternative Principal license holders who transfer employment to a different Ohio school or district must submit the following with the online application to correct the Alternative Principal license:

  • Position verification. Candidates must submit a current board resolution from the new employing school or district verifying the assistant principal or principal position in which they will serve, including grade levels. 
  • Work experience verification. The previous school or district human resources director or superintendent must complete and submit the Work Experience Verification form directly to the Department to verify the dates of employment and positions assigned under the Alternative Principal license. 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

Please note that the new hiring district must electronically sign the online application. 

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 3301-24-11

Last Modified: 4/3/2023 12:17:57 PM