How to Become a Teacher in Ohio

Ohio certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as State Board of Education of Ohio publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Complete an ODHE-approved educator preparation program

   Earn a bachelor's degree and complete an Ohio Department of Higher Education-approved educator preparation program (EPP) including clinical experience. Program approval to recommend candidates is separate from institutional accreditation. Traditional candidates enter Ohio’s pipeline through this route before the Resident Educator license, not through a generic out-of-state brochure.

   Source: sboe.ohio.gov

2. 2

   Pass required OAE examinations

   Take and pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE), including assessment code 220 (Professional Knowledge) and content-area tests as applicable. Some areas may also accept Praxis II. Ohio’s licensure testing page documents which OAE content tests align with each license area; score reporting feeds CORE. Relocating educators should verify whether existing Praxis II scores satisfy Ohio rules before retesting.

   Source: sboe.ohio.gov

3. 3

   Apply for a Resident Educator license

   Submit your application through OHID/CORE for a four-year Resident Educator license. The Resident Educator license fee is $80. This is the entry credential for new teachers under State Board of Education oversight, not a substandard permit. Delays in testing or recommendation can compress the four-year window.

   Source: sboe.ohio.gov

4. 4

   Complete the two-year Resident Educator Program

   Participate in the Resident Educator Program with mentoring and formative assessments during your first two years of teaching. Ohio treats this induction as part of the credential lifecycle, not optional district programming. Successful completion is required before a Professional license.

   Source: sboe.ohio.gov

5. 5

   Advance to a five-year Professional license

   Upon successful completion of the Resident Educator Program, advance to a five-year Professional educator license. That transition unlocks Ohio’s long-term five-year renewal cycle. Out-of-state educators undergo credential review rather than automatic reciprocity.

   Source: sboe.ohio.gov

Ohio's educator licensure system is built around the Resident Educator license as the entry credential for new teachers, administered through the OHID/CORE portal under State Board of Education oversight. Traditional candidates complete ODHE-approved preparation programs and pass Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE), including the Professional Knowledge assessment (code 220), before receiving a four-year Resident Educator license priced at $80. Ohio also accepts some Praxis II scores for certain licensure areas, creating a mixed testing environment candidates must navigate carefully.

The two-year Resident Educator Program is Ohio's structured induction framework, pairing new teachers with mentors and formative assessments during their initial years of practice. Successful completion is required to advance from the Resident Educator license to a five-year Professional license. This progression embeds supported onboarding into the credential lifecycle rather than treating induction as optional district programming.

Ohio's licensure testing page documents which OAE content tests align with each license area, and candidates should register early because score reporting feeds directly into CORE application workflows. The four-year Resident Educator window provides time to complete induction while teaching, but delays in testing or program completion can compress the timeline. Out-of-state educators undergo credential review rather than automatic reciprocity, with determinations based on preparation equivalency and exam requirements.

Because Ohio maintains both OAE and limited Praxis II acceptance, educators relocating from Praxis-primary states should verify whether their existing scores satisfy Ohio rules before retesting. The Resident Educator to Professional transition represents the critical career milestone that unlocks long-term five-year renewal cycles for experienced Ohio educators.

Required exams and fees

Ohio uses OAE. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Ohio exam requirements →

Moving a license to Ohio

Out-of-state educators may apply for Ohio licensure through credential review; specific requirements depend on preparation and experience.

Official Ohio reciprocity guidance