- Teacher Certification Map
- Become a Teacher in Ohio
Certification Roadmap
Click buttons to jump to section Ohio Certification Requirements Ohio Prerequisite Coursework Ohio Teacher Preparation Ohio Required Tests Ohio Certification Reciprocity Ohio Teacher Salary Teacher Certification Information & Links
Ohio Highlights
This page is sponsored by Rossier Online, a master level teaching degree program delivered online that enables you to earn a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Learn more about how the University of Southern California can help you become a transformative teacher in Ohio.
To become a certified teacher in Ohio, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Certification Requirements
Important Note: Education licensure requirements and salary statistics (for teachers and administrators) are subject to change. CertificationMap.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 1/06/2015
Candidates seeking teaching certification in the state of Ohio must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution
- Completion of a state and regionally approved teacher education program
- Passing scores on all Ohio Educator Assessment (OAE) tests
- Background check and fingerprint clearance on both a state and federal level. Visit Ohio DOE’s Background Check FAQs to find out more about the background check process.
Master’s Requirements
Did you know that 33 states require teachers to have a master’s degree to stay certified in teaching?
Many schools of education now offer online MAT programs that provide increased flexibility by allowing aspiring or working teachers to attend class and complete coursework from any location that has an Internet connection. Online MAT programs are a practical option for students who have professional and personal commitments that make it difficult to obtain teaching certification through a full-time program.
The best online programs offer the same curriculum as the school’s on-campus program and apply the same admission requirements. Providing students with the ability to communicate with instructors and classmates in a face-to-face online environment is another hallmark of a good online program. In addition, candidates in online MAT programs should be provided with the opportunity to complete student teaching fieldwork in the local community.
Click to learn more about getting your MAT online with USC Rossier School of Education.
Ohio Teacher Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that licensed teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Coursework for teacher licensure in Ohio varies with different state-approved teacher preparation programs, but generally involves subject matter mastery and basic pedagogical theory and practice.
There are several different types of Ohio teacher licensure and the Ohio Department of Education offers a nice summary of their requirements in PDF format.
Ohio Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Click here for information on Ohio Alternative Certification
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship. The Ohio State Department publishes a list of state-approved teacher preparation programs.
While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the State of Ohio, visit our Ohio Teacher Scholarships page.
Ohio Required Tests
As of September 2013, all Praxis series requirements have been replaced by Ohio’s new test series, Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE). Under the OAE, all teaching applicants must complete and pass a Pedagogy Assessment and a Content Assessment.
Early Childhood (PK-3) Certification
OAE Content
Early Childhood Education (012)
OAE Pedagogy
Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Early Childhood
License Type
Early Childhood Education (PK-3)
Middle Childhood (Grades 4-9) Certification
All candidates seeking certification in Middle Childhood are required to take and pass the OAE Pedagogy Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Middle Childhood, along with the Content Assessment required for their subject area.
| OAE Content | License Type |
|---|---|
|
Middle Grades English Language Arts (028) |
Language Arts & Reading |
|
Middle Grades Mathematics (030) |
Mathematics |
|
Middle Grades Science (029) |
Science |
|
Middle Grades Social Studies (031) |
Social Studies |
Adolescence to Young Adult (7-12) Certification
All candidates seeking certification in Adolescence to Young Adult are required to take and pass the OAE Pedagogy Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Adolescence to Young Adult, along with the Content Assessment(s) required for their subject area.
| OAE Content | License Type |
|---|---|
|
English Language Arts (020) |
Integrated Language Arts |
|
Mathematics (027) |
Integrated Mathematics |
|
Integrated Science (024) |
Integrated Science |
|
Integrated Social Studies (025) |
Integrated Social Studies |
|
Chemistry (009) |
Physical Science (Chemistry & Physics) |
|
Chemistry (009) |
Physical Sciences: Chemistry |
|
Physics (035) |
Physical Sciences: Physics |
|
Biology (007) |
Life Sciences |
|
Biology (007) |
Life Sciences / Earth Sciences |
|
Biology (007) |
Life Sciences / Physics |
|
Biology (007) |
Life Sciences / Chemistry |
|
Earth & Space Sciences (014) |
Earth Sciences |
|
Earth & Space Sciences (014) |
Earth Sciences / Physics |
|
Earth & Space Sciences (014) |
Earth Sciences / Chemistry |
Multi-Age (K-12) Certification
All candidates seeking Multi-Age certification are required to take and pass the OAE Pedagogy Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Multi-Age, along with the Content Assessment(s) required for their subject area.
| OAE Content | License Type |
|---|---|
|
Computer Information Science (010) |
Computer Information Science |
|
Dance (011) |
Dance |
|
Theater (048) |
Drama/Theater |
|
*There is no OAE assessment for World Languages. Applicants are required to complete |
Foreign / World Languages* |
|
Health (023) |
Health |
|
School Library Media (041) |
Library/Media |
|
Music (032) |
Music |
|
Physical Education (034) |
Physical Education |
|
English to Speakers of Other Languages (021) |
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers |
|
Art (006) |
Visual Arts |
Intervention Specialist (Special Education) Certification
All candidates seeking Intervention Specialist certification are required to take and pass the OAE Pedagogy Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Early Childhood PK-3 or Multi-Age K-12 (depending on grade level), along with the Content Assessment(s) required for their subject area.
| OAE Content | License Type |
|---|---|
|
Early Childhood Special Education (013) |
Early Childhood Intervention Specialist (PK-3) |
|
Special Education Specialist: Deaf/Hard of Hearing (044) |
Hearing Impaired (PK-12) |
|
Special Education (043) |
Mild/Moderate Needs (K-12) |
|
Special Education (043) |
Moderate/Intensive Needs (K-12) |
|
Special Education Specialist: Visually Impaired |
Visually Impaired (PK-12) |
Ohio Certification Reciprocity
Ohio will accept some teaching credentials from all but the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, and Minnesota. Contact the Ohio Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
Ohio Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Ohio provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Ohio Four Year Resident Educator Program
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $54,180
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $55,870
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Ohio makes 151% of the salary of the average worker in Ohio
- Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Ohio Substitute Teacher Requirements
Please click here to learn more about how to become a substitute teacher in Ohio.
Contact Information
Ohio Department of Education
Office of Educator Licensure
25 South Front Street, Mail Stop 105
Columbus, Ohio 43215
516-466-3593 - Contact
Additional links
- Ohio Department of Education
- Ohio Teacher Tenure
- Ohio Four Year Resident Educator Program
- Troops to Teachers Ohio: In Ohio, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Ohio Troops to Teachers Office
- Teachers Test Prep: Free online Praxis Study Guides and Praxis Practice Tests, and a variety of preparation options to meet your individual needs, including prep classes, private tutoring, and online prep.
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