Alternative Resident Educator Licenses
The Alternative Resident Educator license is an accelerated pathway to classroom teaching. This pathway allows students, schools and communities to benefit from the candidates' content-related knowledge, life experience and successful career experience. Ohio students can benefit from the rich knowledge base and successful career and life experiences of content experts in a variety of teaching fields. As Ohio focuses on assuring a high-quality teacher in every classroom, it is important that a wide range of professionals are invited to bring their talents and expertise into our schools.
Available Alternative Licenses
The following alternative license types are available:
- Designated subjects grades K-12
- World languages grades P-12
- Intervention specialist grades K-12
Steps for the Alternative Resident Educator Licensure Pathway
Step 1 - Request an alternative resident educator license evaluation
ONLINE EVALUATION APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
Candidates must first request an evaluation through their CORE Dashboard to begin the Alternative Resident Educator licensure pathway. The evaluation will outline the eligibility requirements (including exams) for the initial four-year Alternative Resident Educator license. The evaluation is valid for two years from its original completion date. The $50 fee for the evaluation includes an evaluation in two teaching fields. An additional fee is required for evaluation requests in more than two teaching areas. Please visit the Alternative Resident Educator Licenses - Online Application webpage for more information regarding the new online evaluation process.
- Official transcripts. Candidates must submit all original, official transcripts with the evaluation request application, unless their transcripts are already available through their CORE Dashboard. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher or a master's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Transfer credits must be verified on transcripts from the originating institution. College coursework completed outside the United States requires a course-by-course analysis from an approved international credential evaluation service.
Military Fee Waiver for Alternative Evaluations
Beginning November 11, 2022, the Ohio State Board 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.
step 2 - complete content area exam requirements
The content area exam requirements will be listed on the evaluation from the State Board of Education. Candidates must complete the following exam requirements per their evaluations prior to registering for an approved Alternative Licensure Institute.
Step 3 - request the confirmation registration letter
Candidates must contact the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness to request their confirmation registration letter after they receive their official score reports reflecting their qualifying scores for their content area exam requirements (per their evaluation from the State Board of Education). The confirmation registration letter issued by the Ohio State Board of Education is required for enrollment in an approved Alternative Licensure Institute.
step 4 - enroll in an approved alternative licensure institute
Candidates must complete an Alternative Licensure Institute approved by the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, including the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) or an Alternative Resident Educator Institute (AREI), after meeting the exam requirements listed on the evaluation from the State Board of Education. Candidates may enroll in an approved Alternative Licensure Institute once they receive their confirmation registration letter issued by the Ohio State Board of Education.
step 5 - request the statement of eligibility
Candidates must upload their certificate of completion from an approved Alternative Licensure Institute to their OH|ID account and contact the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness to request their statement of eligibility for the Alternative Resident Educator license. Candidates will use their statement of eligibility issued by the Ohio State Board of Education to provide verification to an Ohio school or district of eligibility for the Alternative Resident Educator license.
step 6 - apply online for the alternative resident educator license
Employment. Upon employment in an Ohio school or district, candidates apply for the Alternative Resident Educator license (as listed on their statements of eligibility) through their OH|ID accounts. Please note that candidates must have their statement of eligibility issued by the Ohio State Board of Education reflecting the subject area and code for which they are eligible to teach and secure employment in an Ohio school or district to teach under an Alternative Resident Educator license before applying for the license.
Background checks. All applicants must have current background checks on file with the Ohio State Board of Education to be issued a license.
step 7 - advance to the professional license
Candidates will receive an evaluation detailing their requirements to advance from the Alternative Resident Educator license with their statement of eligibility. Candidates must complete all of the following requirements to advance to a five-year professional license:
- COURSEWORK
- Reading/Phonics. Candidates are to successfully complete a three-semester hour course in the Teaching of Reading in the Content Area for all subject areas except Integrated Language Arts and Intervention Specialist licensure areas, which require successful completion of at least six semester hours in the teaching of reading (including at least one separate three-semester hour course in the teaching of phonics in the context of reading, writing and spelling). Please note that the reading coursework requirement is separate from the professional education requirement listed below and must be reflected on an official transcript from an accredited college or university.
- Professional Education. Candidates are to successfully complete a Professional Development Institute approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, OR 12 semester hours of professional education coursework as offered through an approved teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university. Appropriate courses will be those designed for students in a traditional, college or university teacher preparation program. They will cover topics such as principles and practices of teaching, student development and learning, student assessment, curriculum development, classroom management and teaching methods.
Please note that continuing education (sometimes referred to as professional development) courses WILL NOT meet the professional education coursework requirement for the Alternative Resident Educator licensure pathway. Continuing education courses are those designed for educators who already hold a standard teaching license and need to meet renewal requirements. Candidates completing professional education coursework in lieu of an approved
Professional Development Institute should contact an
accredited college or university that offers approved teacher preparation programs for guidance in selecting appropriate professional education courses.
- LICENSURE EXAM. Successful completion of the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) test #004 - Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Multi-Age (PK-12). Please note: An educator with an Alternative Resident Educator license must take this exam during the second year of teaching under the alternative license.
- OHIO RESIDENT EDUCATOR PROGRAM. Candidates must complete all components of the Ohio Resident Educator Program.
- TEACHING EXPERIENCE. Candidates must have four full school years of successful teaching experience under the Alternative Resident Educator license. Please note that candidates who hold an alternative license with multiple areas must teach four full school years in each area. Educators must submit one of the following with the application to advance the alternative license:
- A letter on district letterhead signed and dated by the employing superintendent or human resources director verifying the grade levels and subjects taught during each year of employment under the Alternative Resident Educator license; OR
- The Work Experience Verification form completed by the employing school or district human resources director or superintendent and submitted directly to the Ohio 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
Candidates who need to
extend or renew an Alternative Resident Educator license to complete the teaching experience or the Ohio Resident Educator Program requirements must first complete all licensure exams and applicable coursework before applying for the renewal or extension. All of the above requirements must be completed before advancing to the professional license.
Requesting a Correction Evaluation and Correcting the Limitations on an Alternative Resident Educator License
Alternative Resident Educator license holders who complete coursework or exam requirements to advance to the professional license may request a Correction Evaluation. The $20 correction fee includes a corrected evaluation outlining the remaining coursework or exam requirements to advance to the professional license. The fee also includes correcting the coursework or exam limitations listed on the issued Alternative Resident Educator license. Alternative Resident Educator license holders must submit the completed Correction Evaluation form, fee and at least one of the following to the State Board of Education for review:
- Coursework verification: Educators are to submit their official university transcripts reflecting the completed professional educator or reading coursework per system instructions. Review the Instructions for Submitting Transcripts and short video tutorial before scanning and uploading transcripts.
- Professional Development Institute verification. Educators who completed an approved Professional Development Institute must upload the certificate of completion under My Documents from their CORE Dashboards.
- Exam verification. Official score reports verifying passing scores for the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) test #004 - Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Multi-Age (PK-12) must be sent directly from Pearson Education to the Ohio State Board of Education.
Correcting the Employing School or District
The Alternative Resident Educator license is valid only in the Ohio school or district for which it has been issued. Alternative Resident Educator license holders who transfer to a different Ohio school or district must complete the online application to CORRECT the alternative license to the new employer.
- The new hiring district will electronically e-sign the online application, so the educator must include the new employing school or district information.
- The previous school or district human resources director or superintendent must complete and submit the Work Experience Verification form directly to the State Board of Education to verify the dates of employment and teaching assignments under the Alternative Resident Educator license. 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
Educator Responsibility for Maintaining and Advancing a Valid License
Alternative Resident Educator license holders are responsible for maintaining the validity of their licenses. License holders must keep current on requirement to advance to a five-year professional educator license as set forth in Ohio law.
Application Instructions
Candidates may apply for the Alternative Resident Educator license once they have their statement of eligibility and a teaching position requiring the license in an Ohio school or district.
Related Links
Last Modified: 11/27/2023 11:21:20 AM