Alternative Superintendent License

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

Evaluations

Candidates now have the option to request an evaluation before beginning the Alternative Superintendent licensure pathway to ensure they meet initial requirements. The Department 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 Superintendent 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 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 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 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 position as a superintendent in an Ohio school or district and submit the following with their initial application for a two-year Alternative Superintendent license:

  • Position verification. Candidates must submit a current board resolution from their employing school or district verifying the superintendent or assistant superintendent 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 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 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 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 the two-year Alternative Superintendent license once to complete requirements for the professional superintendent 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 superintendent license pathway

The employing Ohio school district shall provide the Alternative Superintendent 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. 

Alternative license holders must also complete a three-semester hour course in school law, a three-semester hour course in school finance and three additional semester hours from an accredited university or forty-five clock hours of professional development based on their 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 and complete a plan that outlines observation of classroom instruction across grade levels and subject areas within the school district.

Requirements in Years Three and Year Four of the alternative superintendent license pathway

  • Participation in a structured mentoring program (provided by the employing district).
  • Pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Exam (#015).
  • Completion of an additional six semester hours from an accredited university or 90 clock hours of professional development based on the personal learning plan.

Correction Evaluations

Alternative Superintendent 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 Superintendent licensure pathway, candidates must submit the following with their application to advance to the professional superintendent 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 superintendent license

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

  • Four years of successful experience under the Alternative Superintendent license.
  • Completion of a three-semester hour course in school law and a three-semester hour course in school finance through an accredited college or university.
  • Completion of all additional coursework or clock hours of professional development based on the personal learning plan.
  • Participation in a structured mentoring program (provided by the employing school or district and aligned to the personal learning plan).
  • Pass 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

  • 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 3301-24-12

Last Modified: 4/3/2023 12:23:18 PM