First-Time Applicants

Requirements for Licensure

People applying for their very first license with the State Board of Education (first-time applicants) must meet certain requirements to obtain their licenses. In addition to requirements for the license, first-time applicants must pass a background check and be enrolled in the RAPBACK system. 

The following is a list of specific criminal offenses for which a conviction, judicial finding of guilt, or plea of guilty may disqualify an individual from obtaining an initial license. In accordance with the guidelines set forth, convictions to these offenses may be considered by the State Board of Education when determining whether to grant or deny licensure to first-time applicants. 

Disqualification may be overcome by holding a certificate of qualification for employment (CQE) issued under ORC § 2953.25 of the Revised Code or a certificate of achievement and employability (CAE) issued under ORC § 2961.22 of the Revised Code. Learn more about the CQE process here.

Upon official submission of an application for licensure, an investigation on behalf of the State Board of Education may be opened regarding allegations of conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession, including any convictions to disqualifying offenses. At the conclusion of the investigation, the results will be reviewed to determine whether legal grounds exist to initiate disciplinary action against your application for licensure, at which time the State Board of Education may act to deny licensure. Applicants must disclose all criminal convictions, diversions, and interventions in lieu of conviction, including expunged or sealed convictions, when applying for licensure. 

The resources on this page are meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney. 

Qualification Request

An individual who has been convicted of any criminal offense may request, at any time, that the State Board of Education determine whether the individual's criminal conviction disqualifies the individual from obtaining a license. If you are interested in the qualification request process, please complete and submit this form to educator.conduct@sboe.ohio.gov.  A qualification review may take up to 30 days. Current educators and active applicants should not submit this form and should instead wait to be reviewed under the application process. 

Disqualifying Offenses

(Downloadable PDF)

ORC Section 

Offense Name 

Category 
102.02 Financial disclosure statement filed with ethics commission  
102.021 Former state officials to report certain financial information  
102.03 Representation by present or former public official or employee prohibited  
102.031 Conflicts of interest of member of general assembly  
102.04 No compensation to elected or appointed state official other than from agency served  
959.131 Prohibitions concerning companion animals  
959.15 Animal fights  
959.16 Dogfighting offenses  
959.21 Sexual conduct with an animal  
1315.55 Additional prohibited activities (Money laundering)  

 2151.421 

 Reporting child abuse or neglect 

 

 2903.01 

 Aggravated murder  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.02 

 Murder  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.03 

 Voluntary manslaughter  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.04 

 Involuntary manslaughter  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.041 

 Reckless homicide  

  

 2903.05 

 Negligent homicide 

  

 2903.06 

 Aggravated vehicular homicide - vehicular   homicide - vehicular manslaughter 

  

 2903.08 

 Aggravated vehicular assault; vehicular   assault 

  

 2903.11 

 Felonious assault  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.12 

 Aggravated assault  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.13 

 Assault  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.14 

 Negligent assault 

  

 2903.15 

 Permitting child abuse  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.16 

 Failing to provide for a functionally   impaired person 

 
2903.18 Strangulation Offense of Violence

 2903.21 

 Aggravated menacing  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.211 

 Menacing by stalking  

Offense of Violence 

 2903.22 

 Menacing  

Offense of Violence 
 2903.31 

 Hazing 

  

 2903.32 

 Female genital mutilation 

  

 2903.34 

 Patient abuse or neglect  

Subsection (A)(1) is Offense
of Violence

 2903.341 

 Patient endangerment 

 

 2903.35 

 Filing false patient abuse or neglect   complaints 

  

 2905.01 

 Kidnapping   

Offense of Violence 

 2905.02 

 Abduction  

Offense of Violence 

 2905.03 

 Unlawful restraint   

Subsection (B) is Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2905.04 

 (Former section) Interference   with custody (offense prior to July 1, 1996)  

  

 2905.05 

 Criminal child enticement   

Subsection (B) is Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2905.11 

 Extortion  

Offense of Violence 

 2905.12 

 Coercion 

  

 2905.32 

 Trafficking in persons   

Offense of Violence; Sexually
Oriented Offense 

 2905.33 

 Unlawful conduct with respect to   documents 

  

 2907.02 

 Rape  

Offense of Violence; Sexually 
Oriented Offense 

 2907.03 

 Sexual battery   

Offense of Violence; Sexually 
Oriented Offense 

 2907.04 

 Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor 

Sexually Oriented Offense 
"when the offender is less
than four years older than the other person with whom the offender engaged in sexual conduct, the other person did not consent to the sexual conduct, and the offender previously has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or a violation of
former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code" or "when the offender is at least four years older than the other person with whom the offender engaged in sexual conduct or when the offender is less than four years older than the other person with whom the offender engaged in sexual
conduct and the offender
previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code." 

 2907.05 

 Gross sexual imposition   

Offense of Violence; 
Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.06 

 Sexual imposition   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.07 

 Importuning   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.08 

 Voyeurism  

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.09 

 Public indecency 

Sexually Oriented Offense 
when "violation of division
(B)(4) of section 2907.09 of the Revised Code if the sentencing court classifies the offender as a tier I sex offender/child-victim offender relative to that
offense pursuant to division
(D) of that section" 

 2907.12 

 (former section)   Felonious sexual penetration  

Offense of Violence; 
Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.19 

 Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor 

  

 2907.21 

 Compelling prostitution  

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.22 

 Promoting prostitution   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.23 

 Enticement or solicitation to patronize   a prostitute; procurement of a prostitute   for another  

  

 2907.231 

 Engaging in prostitution 

 

 2907.24 

 Soliciting – after positive   HIV test - driver’s license suspension  

  

 2907.241 

 Loitering to engage in solicitation -    solicitation after positive HIV test  

  

 2907.25 

 Prostitution – after positive HIV test  

  

 2907.31 

 Disseminating matter harmful to juveniles  

  

 2907.311 

 Displaying matter harmful to juveniles  

  

 2907.32 

 Pandering obscenity   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.321 

 Pandering obscenity involving a minor  

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.322 

 Pandering sexually oriented matter involving   a minor   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.323 

 Illegal use of minor in nudity-   oriented material or performance   

Sexually Oriented Offense 

 2907.33 

 Deception to obtain matter harmful   to juveniles  

  

 2907.34 

 Compelling acceptance   of objectionable materials  

  

 2907.38 

 Permitting unlawful operation of viewing   booths depicting sexual conduct 

  

 2907.39 

 Permitting juvenile on premises of adult   entertainment establishment - use of false   information to gain entry 

  

 2907.40 

 Illegally operating sexually oriented business 

  

 2909.02 

 Aggravated arson  

Offense of Violence 

 2909.03 

 Arson  

Offense of Violence 

 2909.04 

 Disrupting public services 

  

 2909.05 

 Vandalism 

  

 2909.22 

 Soliciting or providing support for act of   terrorism 

  

 2909.23 

 Making terroristic threat  

  

 2909.24 

 Terrorism  

Offense of Violence 

 2909.26 

 Criminal possession of chemical, biological,   radiological, or nuclear weapon or explosive   device 

  

 2909.27 

 Criminal use of chemical, biological,   radiological, or nuclear weapon or explosive   device 

  

 2909.28 

 Illegal assembly or possession of chemicals   or substances for manufacture of prohibited   weapons 

  

 2909.29 

 Money laundering in support of terrorism 

  

 2911.01 

 Aggravated robbery  

Offense of Violence 

 2911.02 

 Robbery  

Offense of Violence 

 2911.11 

 Aggravated burglary  

Offense of Violence 

 2911.12 

 Burglary  

Subsection (A)(1), (2), or (3) is Offense of Violence 

 2911.13 

 Breaking and entering  

  

 2911.31 

 Safecracking  

  

 2911.32 

 Tampering with coin machines  

  

 2913.02 

 Theft  

  

 2913.03 

 Unauthorized use of a vehicle  

  

 2913.04 

 Unauthorized use of property – computer, cable,   or telecommunication property  

  

 2913.041 

 Possession or sale   of unauthorized cable television device  

  

 2913.05 

 Telecommunications fraud  

  

 2913.06 

 Unlawful use of telecommunications device  

  

 2913.11 

 Passing bad checks  

  

 2913.21 

 Misuse of credit cards  

  

 2913.30 

 Counterfeiting 

  

 2913.31 

 Forgery – Forging identification cards   or selling   or distributing forged identification cards  

  

 2913.32 

 Criminal simulation  

  

 2913.33 

 Making or using slugs  

  

 2913.34 

 Trademark counterfeiting  

  

 2913.40 

 Medicaid fraud  

  

 2913.401 

 Medicaid eligibility fraud 

  

 2913.42 

 Tampering with records  

  

 2913.421 

 Illegally transmitting multiple commercial   electronic mail messages (spamming) -   unauthorized access of computer 

  

 2913.43 

 Securing writings by deception  

  

 2913.44 

 Personating an officer  

  

 2913.45 

 Defrauding creditors  

  

 2913.46 

 Illegal use of food stamps or WIC program   benefits 

  

 2913.47 

 Insurance fraud  

  

 2913.48 

 Workers’ compensation fraud  

  

 2913.49 

 Identity fraud 

  

 2913.51 

 Receiving stolen property  

  
 2915.02 Gambling  

 2915.05 

 Cheating - corrupting sports  

  

 2915.07 

 Conducting illegal bingo 

  

 2917.01 

 Inciting to violence  

Offense of Violence 

 2917.02 

 Aggravated riot  

Offense of Violence 

 2917.03 

 Riot  

Offense of Violence 

 2917.11 

 Disorderly conduct 

  

 2917.21 

 Telecommunications harassment 

  

 2917.31 

 Inducing panic  

Offense of Violence 

 2917.32 

 Making false alarms 

  
 2917.321  Swatting Offense of Violence

 2917.33 

 Unlawful possession or use of   a hoax weapon of mass destruction  

  

 2917.47 

 Improperly handling infectious agents 

  

 2919.10 

 Abortion related to finding of down   syndrome 

  

 2919.12 

 Unlawful abortion  

  

 2919.121 

 Unlawful abortion upon minor  

  

 2919.123 

 Unlawful distribution of an abortion-   inducing  drug 

  

 2919.124 

 Unlawful performance of a drug-induced   abortion 

  

 2919.13 

 Abortion manslaughter  

  

 2919.14 

 Abortion trafficking 

  

 2919.15 

 Dismemberment abortion 

  

 2919.151 

 Partial birth feticide 

  

 2919.17 

 Terminating or attempting to terminate   human pregnancy after viability 

  

 2919.21 

 Nonsupport or contributing to nonsupport   of dependents 

  

 2919.22 

 Endangering children  

Subsection (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) is Offense of Violence; Subsection (B)(5) is Sexually Oriented Offense

 2919.224 

 Misrepresentation relating to provision of   child care 

 

 2919.23 

 Interference with custody (that would have   been a violation of 2905.04 prior to July 1,   1996) 

  

 2919.23 

 Interference with custody 

  

 2919.231 

 Interfering with action to issue or modify   support order 

  

 2919.24 

 Contributing to unruliness or delinquency of   a child  

  

 2919.25 

 Domestic violence  

Offense of Violence 

 2919.27 

 Violating protection order 

  

 2921.02 

 Bribery  

  

 2921.03 

 Intimidation  

Offense of Violence 

 2921.04 

 Intimidation of attorney, victim, or witness   in criminal case   or delinquent child action proceeding 

Offense of Violence 

 2921.05 

 Retaliation  

  

 2921.11 

 Perjury  

  

 2921.12 

 Tampering with evidence 

  

 2921.13 

 Falsification - in theft offense - to purchase   firearm 

  
 2921.22  Failure to report a crime or knowledge of a   death or burn injury  
 2921.31  Obstructing official business  

 2921.32 

 Obstructing justice 

  
 2921.321 Assaulting or harassing police dog or horse or service dog  
 2921.33 Resisting arrest  
 2921.331 Failure to comply with order or signal of police officer  

 2921.34 

 Escape 

Offense of Violence 

 2921.35 

 Aiding escape or resistance to lawful   authority 

  

 2921.36 

 Illegal conveyance of weapons, drugs or   other prohibited items onto grounds of   detention facility or institution 

  

 2921.38 

 Harassment by inmate 

  

 2921.41 

 Theft in office  

Breach of Fiduciary Duty 

 2921.42 

 Having an unlawful interest in a public   contract 

Breach of Fiduciary Duty 

 2921.43 

 Soliciting or accepting improper   compensation 

Breach of Fiduciary Duty 

 2921.44 

 Dereliction of duty 

 
 2921.45  Interfering with civil rights  
 2921.51  Impersonation of peace officer or private   police officer  

 2923.01 

 Conspiracy 

As related to any other offense here listed 

 2923.02 

 Attempt to commit an offense 

As related to any other offense here listed 

 2923.03 

 Complicity 

As related to any other offense here listed 

 2923.12 

 Carrying Concealed Weapons  

  

 2923.121 

 Possession of firearm in beer liquor permit   premises - prohibition, exceptions 

  

 2923.122 

 Illegal conveyance or possession   of deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance or   of object indistinguishable from firearm   in school safety zone  

  

 2923.123 

 Illegal conveyance of deadly weapon   or dangerous ordnance into courthouse – illegal possession or control in courthouse  

  

 2923.1211 

 Falsification of concealed handgun license -   possessing a revoked or suspended   concealed handgun license 

  

 2923.13 

 Having weapons while under disability 

  

 2923.131 

 Possession of deadly weapon while under   detention 

  

 2923.132 

 Use of firearm or dangerous ordnance by   violent career criminal 

  

 2923.15 

 Using weapons while intoxicated 

  

 2923.16 

 Improperly handling firearms in a motor   vehicle 

  

 2923.161 

 Improperly discharging firearm at or into   a habitation, in a school safety zone or   with intent to cause harm or panic   to persons in a school building or at   a school function  

Offense of Violence 

 2923.162 

 Discharge of firearm on or near prohibited   premises 

  

 2923.17 

 Unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance   – illegally manufacturing   or processing explosives  

  

 2923.19 

 Failure to secure dangerous ordnance 

  

 2923.20 

 Unlawful transaction in weapons 

  

 2923.201 

 Possessing a defaced firearm 

  

 2923.21 

 Improperly furnishing firearms to minor  

  

 2923.211 

 Underage purchase of firearm or handgun 

  

 2923.24 

 Possessing criminal tools 

  

 2923.241 

 Hidden compartments in vehicles 

  

 2923.32 

 Engaging in pattern of corrupt activity 

  

 2923.42 

 Participating in criminal gang 

  

 2925.02 

 Corrupting another with drugs  

  

 2925.03 

 Trafficking, aggravated trafficking in drugs  

  

 2925.04 

 Illegal manufacture of drugs – illegal cultivation of marihuana – methamphetamine offenses  

  

 2925.041 

 Illegal assembly or possession of chemicals   for manufacture of drugs  

  

 2925.05 

 Funding, aggravated funding of drug   or marihuana trafficking  

  

 2925.06 

 Illegal administration or distribution   of anabolic steroids  

  

 2925.09 

 Unapproved drugs - dangerous drug offenses involving livestock 

  

 2925.11 

 Possession of controlled substances  

  

 2925.12 

 Possessing drug abuse instruments  

  

 2925.13 

 Permitting drug abuse  

  

 2925.22 

 Deception to obtain a dangerous drug  

  

 2925.23 

 Illegal processing of drug documents  

  

 2925.24 

 Tampering with drugs  

  

 2925.31 

 Abusing harmful intoxicants  

  

 2925.32 

 Trafficking in harmful intoxicants – improperly dispensing   or distributing nitrous oxide  

  

 2925.36 

 Illegal dispensing of drug samples  

  

 2925.37 

 Counterfeit controlled substance offenses  

  

 2927.01 

 Abuse of a corpse 

  

 2927.02 

 Illegal distribution of or permitting children   to use cigarettes or other tobacco or   alternative nicotine products 

  

 2927.12 

 Ethnic intimidation 

  

 2927.13 

 Selling or donating contaminated blood 

  

 2927.24 

 Contaminating substance   for human consumption or use   or contamination   with hazardous chemical, biological,   or radioactive substance – spreading false report of contamination  

  
 2933.52 Interception of wire, oral or electronic communications  
 2950.035 Unlawful work with or supervision of minors  
 2951.08 Conditions for arrest of person on probation or under community control sanction  
 3599.01 Bribery  
 3599.02 Bribery - offenses concerning voters or voting  
 3599.11 False voter registration - registration forms  
 3599.111 Per signature or per volume voter registration compensation prohibited  
 3599.12 Illegal voting  
 3599.14 Prohibited acts concerning declarations or petitions  
 3599.15 Purchase, theft, sale, destruction, or mutilation of petitions  
3599.16 Misconduct of member, director, or employee of board of elections – dismissal  
3599.20 Prohibitions concerning ballots generally  
3599.21 Prohibitions concerning absent voter's ballot  
3599.24 Interference with conduct of election  
3599.25 Inducing illegal voting  
3599.26 Tampering with ballots  
3599.27 Possession of or tampering with voting machine, automatic tabulating equipment, or marking device prohibited  
3599.28  False signatures  
3599.29  Possession of false records  
3599.33  Fraudulent marking or altering ballots or   election records  
3599.34  Prohibitions concerning destruction of   election records  
3599.36  Election falsification  

 3716.11 

 Placing harmful or hazardous objects   in food or confection  

  

 3795.04 

 Assisted suicide 

 

 4511.19 

 Operating vehicle under the influence of   alcohol or drugs – OVI 

  

 4511.194 

 Having physical control of vehicle while   under the influence 

  
 4511.20  Operation in willful or wanton disregard of   the safety of persons or property  

 4549.02 

 Stopping after accident on public roads or   highways 

  

 4549.021 

 Stopping after accident on other than public   roads or highways 

  
 4729.51  Selling, purchasing, distributing, or   delivering dangerous or investigational drugs  

 5101.63 

 Reporting abuse, neglect or exploitation of   adult 

 

 

 A plea of guilty to, a finding of guilt by a jury or court of, or a conviction of an existing or former   offense of an ordinance of a municipal corporation or other jurisdiction that is substantially   equivalent to an offense listed herein. 

 

5/30/2023