State hub

How to become a teacher in Ohio

Prep providers

Completers

4,230

Newly licensed

3,699

Colleges (IPEDS)

273

Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Steps drawn from the state's data

Earn a bachelor's degree. At least one initial credential requires one.
Complete a teacher preparation program. Ohio has 49 Title II providers.
Complete clinical experience such as student teaching.
Pass the tests the state requires (Title II reports that tests are required, not which ones).
Complete a background check or fingerprinting.
Apply to Ohio Department of Higher Education for an initial credential, such as 3-Year Visiting International Teaching License; Alternative Montessori Resident Educator License; Alternative Resident Educator License; Associate License.
Career changers can use one of 1 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.

Ohio teacher certification Alternative routes

Teacher preparation providers in Ohio

Provider	Program types	Enrollment	Completers
Ashland University	Traditional	307	96
Baldwin Wallace University	Traditional	203	63
Bluffton University	Traditional	81	24
Bowling Green State University	Traditional	1,859	335
Capital University	Traditional	153	71
Case Western Reserve University	Traditional	29	5
Cedarville University	Traditional	170	82
Central State University	Traditional	758	105
Cleveland State University	Traditional	535	105
Defiance College	Traditional	36	16
Franciscan University of Steubenville	Traditional	164	28
Franklin University	Traditional	147	19
God's Bible School and College	Traditional	21	5
Heidelberg University	Traditional	104	19
Hiram College	Traditional	45	10
John Carroll University	Traditional	144	37
Kent State University	Traditional	1,203	344
Lake Erie College	Traditional	213	26
Lourdes University	Traditional	140	29
Malone University	Traditional	101	21
Marietta College	Traditional	130	16
Miami University	Traditional	1,307	255
Mount Vernon Nazarene University	Traditional	218	75
Mt. St. Joseph University	Traditional	249	48
Muskingum University	Traditional	270	58
Ohio Christian University	Traditional	51	8
Ohio Dominican University	Traditional	56	12
Ohio Northern University	Traditional	69	22
Ohio University	Traditional	1,441	326
Ohio Wesleyan Unviersity	Traditional	80	19
Otterbein University	Traditional	262	40
Shawnee State University	Traditional	310	60
The College of Wooster	Traditional	80	21
The Ohio State University	Traditional	966	429
The University of Akron	Traditional	852	171
The University of Findlay	Traditional	149	53
The University of Toledo	Traditional	567	129
University of Cincinnati	Traditional	212	170
University of Dayton	Traditional	541	142
University of Mount Union	Traditional	109	32
University of Rio Grande	Traditional	238	30
Ursuline College	Traditional	21	9
Walsh University	Traditional	141	34
Western Governors University - Ohio	Traditional	273	261
Wilmington College	Traditional	74	23
Wittenberg University	Traditional	106	29
Wright State University	Traditional	434	143
Xavier University	Traditional	284	80
Youngstown State University	Traditional	652	95

About teacher preparation in Ohio

There are 13 public and 36 independent Ohio institutions of higher education approved to offer programs that lead to an Ohio License.

Under the authority of the State Board of Education of Ohio, a performance-based licensure system has been established. Teacher preparation programs in each licensure area must be developed, reviewed, approved, and implemented according to the standards of the national specialized professional associations or state standards and must incorporate Kindergarten through Grade 12 Ohio learning standards adopted by the State Board of Education of Ohio. In addition to other state requirements the Ohio Teacher Education and Licensure Standards are sections of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) and Ohio Revised Code (ORC) that establish requirements for educator licensing. These standards include requirements for obtaining and maintaining all available types of educator licenses, certificates and permits issued by the Ohio Department of Education, including teaching, administration and pupil services areas, alternative and supplemental licenses, and credentials for substitute teaching, paraprofessionals, and coaches.

Educator licensure examinations provided by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) are required for issuance of the initial 2-year resident educator license. Teachers holding the initial resident educator license must complete a 2-year program that meets their professional development requirements.

All teachers who hold a professional license are expected to continually update and improve their skills. Each teacher must develop a professional development plan that meets the requirements of the license. This plan is approved by the school’s or district’s local professional development committee.

Ohio also has standards for the teaching profession and for professional development. The Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession are designed to guide teachers as they reflect upon and improve their effectiveness throughout their careers. The Ohio Standards of Professional Development present a view of effective professional development as an ongoing, systematic process, based on data, and linked to the daily practices of educators.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education is the coordinating agency for higher education in Ohio. The agency’s main responsibilities include authorizing and approving new degree programs, managing state-funded financial aid programs and developing and advocating policies to maximize higher education’s contributions to the state and its citizens. It also provides higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develops a strategy involving Ohio's public and independent colleges and universities; advocates for and manages state funds for public colleges; and coordinates and implements state higher education policies. The department advocates for and recommends how to best direct the state's investment in higher education; work with the State Board of Education of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to develop a seamless primary, secondary and higher education system to prepare citizens for the challenges of the 21st century; authorize and approve new degree programs; manage state-funded financial aid programs for students; and develop and advocate policies to maximize higher education's contributions to the state and its citizens. In addition to approving the teacher preparation programs, the Ohio Department of Higher Education, has responsibilities for developing an annual report on the Condition of Higher Education in Ohio.