Ohio Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
Alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs, are designed for those who have a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree. Individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education can pursue alternative teacher certification to become a teacher in the state of Ohio. The Ohio State Board of Education (OSBE) oversees this process in the state. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, visit our guide to traditional teacher certification in Ohio. Continue reading to learn more about these alternative options for becoming a teacher in Ohio.
Table of Contents
- Ohio Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
The minimum education requirement for alternative teacher certification is a bachelor’s degree. As with traditional-route educators, candidates for an Ohio alternative teaching license must complete teacher preparation and the state’s certification examinations. There are teacher preparation programs that can be completed as post-baccalaureate certificates as well as programs to earn master’s degree in education.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Ohio
The state of Ohio is committed to increasing the pool of highly-qualified teacher candidates to teach in Ohio schools. There are four pathways for alternative licensure in the state, which are detailed below.
Alternative Resident Educator License
The Alternative Resident Educator license is for prospective teachers who have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher or a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Qualified candidates first apply to the OSBE for a license evaluation. Approved candidates will be notified of any content area exam requirements; most candidates will need to take one or more of the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) for their designated teaching subject. After passing the required exam(s), candidates may enroll in an approved alternative licensure program, during which they will complete the remaining requirements for a Professional License. Candidates who are employed in a Montessori school may be eligible for the accelerated Alternative Resident Educator–Montessori pathway.
Initial Provisional Career Technical Workforce Development License
Those who wish to teach career and technical education subjects may be eligible for the Alternative Career-Technical Workforce Development (CTWD) Resident Educator program. The minimum requirements for this type of alternative vocational license are a high school diploma and full-time work experience in the career field to be taught. The education and experience requirements may vary by subject, and if the subject is one that requires state licensure or certification, the candidate must hold the appropriate license or certificate. Those who qualify must apply to school districts and have the school district request a CTWD certificate on their behalf. Candidates must be accepted by a teacher preparation program to proceed with the CTWD application. After completion of the teacher preparation program, the Initial Provisional license may be converted to a full CTWD License.
Testing Requirements for Ohio Alternative Certification
Typically, candidates for professional educator teacher licensing in Ohio must pass the same exams as traditional-route teachers, the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE). However, career and technical education vocational licensure candidates are not required to take these exams if licensure qualifications are met through experience and/or previous education in the subject area(s) to be taught. Candidates must also pass the appropriate content-area exams for their subject endorsement(s). For more information, consult the OSBE website.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
For experienced teachers with out-of-state certification, Ohio reciprocity is possible provided applicants fulfill the standard certification requirements. These include verification of teaching experience and completion of comparable out-of-state licensure exams, as well as official transcripts from all institutions attended. For more information on reciprocity, see our interstate reciprocity guide or contact the OSBE.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in Ohio
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Wallace University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $25,274 |
| Bluffton University* | CAEP | Alternative | — | — | — | $22,125 |
| Bowling Green State University* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate | — | — | — | $17,580 |
| Capital University | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $19,897 |
| Cleveland State University* | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $16,007 |
| Franklin University | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $7,658 |
| John Carroll University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $28,805 |
| Kent State University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $19,034 |
| Lourdes University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $20,361 |
| Mount St. Joseph University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $18,646 |
| Muskingum University | AAQEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $18,561 |
| Notre Dame College | — | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $18,818 |
| Ohio Dominican University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $19,365 |
| Ohio State University* | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $18,884 |
| Ohio University* | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $23,307 |
| Otterbein University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $23,229 |
| University of Akron | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $17,328 |
| University of Cincinnati | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $22,767 |
| University of Dayton | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $32,768 |
| University of Findlay | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $26,206 |
| University of Toledo | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $17,793 |
| Ursuline College | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $17,220 |
| Walsh University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $19,792 |
| Wittenberg University | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $21,901 |
| Wright State University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $14,880 |
| Xavier University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $34,945 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in Ohio based on the shortest possible time to completion. The shortest alternative certification programs are often the most affordable because they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- John Carroll University (11 months)
- Bluffton University (12 months)
- Bowling Green State University (12 months)
- Ohio University (12 months)
- University of Toledo (12 months)
- Ursuline College (12 months)
Additional Resources
- Ohio Department of Education Alternative Resident Educator License Information: Overview of and requirements for alternative certification in Ohio.
- Ohio Resident Educator Program: Overview of the Ohio mentoring program for all new teachers.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- How to Become a Teacher in Columbus
- Ohio Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. Ohio State Board of Education: https://education.ohio.gov/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/