Online Teaching Programs in Ohio

The state of Ohio offers exciting opportunities for prospective teachers. According to the National Education Association, Ohio operated 1,026 public school districts and enrolled 1,800,329 students in 2017, making it the third and sixth in national rankings for these respective categories. This means that Ohio teachers enjoy strong administrative and institutional support, as well as small class sizes with approximately 16 students per class. Additionally, state educators make well above the national average; Payscale ranks Ohio as the 10th best state for K-12 teacher salaries.

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Ohio operated 1,041 public school districts and enrolled 1,792,382 students in 2016, making it the second and 47th in national rankings

High demand is another reason why now is a great time to pursue a teaching degree in Ohio. Like other states, Ohio is experiencing teacher shortages in particular subjects and specialized areas, as well as in rural communities. To tackle the shortage, state and local government agencies pursue short-term solutions, like increasing the pool of available substitute teachers by making professional standards easier to fulfill. In the long run, teachers in Ohio can expect pay increases, better professional development assistance, and ample job opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports significant growth for all K-12 teaching positions in the state, including 25% and 27.8% increases for career/technical and special education teachers, respectively.

This guide provides relevant information on teaching requirements in Ohio. Overall, the certification process is fairly standard and includes degree work, professional training, exams, and application for licensure. Requirements for teacher licensure vary by state. Some of the best education colleges in Ohio provide degree and training programs for traditional students and distance learners. If you decide to earn a degree from an out-of-state school, alternative certification routes are also available.

How Do I Become a Teacher in Ohio?

The license you earn represents professional privileges specific to the state that granted it, and may not automatically transfer across borders. Fortunately, reciprocity agreements exist between most states that enable experienced teachers to earn a new license more easily than if they were to start anew. In Ohio, previously certified teachers can apply for a review of their academic and professional credentials and earn a temporary license, which lasts for one year. During this one-year window, they must complete the steps to become a fully certified educator.

If you’re a student who wants to pursue a teaching career in Ohio, requirements include earning a regionally accredited college degree, completing an approved traditional or alternative teacher training program, passing necessary exams, and formal application for licensure, which includes a criminal background check. Once you’ve earned the initial license, the next step is to gain the advanced credentials.

Educational Requirements

While the initial teaching license in Ohio requires you to earn at least a bachelor’s degree, you don’t need to enroll in a baccalaureate program right away. Many students, particularly distance and other non-traditional learners, prefer an associate program as their first step to higher education and career development. Online associate programs provide low tuition rates, while also offering flexible courses through a largely asynchronous format, allowing you to work full-time and take care of other personal obligations while earning your degree. Many associate programs also facilitate direct transfer opportunities to partnering universities, making it convenient to pursue advanced academics.

Online associate programs provide low tuition rates, while also offering flexible courses through a largely asynchronous format.

Generally, obtaining a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree constitutes the first step to fulfilling the standard teaching requirements in Ohio. Aspiring teachers can complete professional training in one of two ways. The first is through a traditional educator licensure preparation program, a process integrated into the degree plan of education majors who attend Ohio colleges and universities. Alternatively, individuals who earned their credentials from a school outside the state, or those who majored in an area unrelated to education, can enroll in the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) to complete their training, a process that takes six months. Student teaching represents an integral part of training and you should expect to complete at least 12 weeks in traditional programs and 25 weeks if enrolled in the IPTI. Though a master’s degree is not required to earn the initial license, Ohio teachers need one if they intend to earn the highest level of certification.

Certified educators from outside Ohio may apply for a one-year temporary license, during which time they pursue the necessary steps to become fully licensed. Ohio teachers who want to teach elsewhere must fulfill the requirements dictated by the state to which they’re moving. Ohio participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Interstate Agreement (NASDTEC), so teachers enjoy partial reciprocity when working with another NASDTEC member state.

How to Get a Teaching Certificate in Ohio

Ohio offers three levels of teaching licenses, each facilitated by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The initial credential requires a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree and the completion of a joint training program with participating colleges and universities in the state or through the alternative route provided by the Ohio alternative resident educator license.

Next, all aspiring pre-K-12 teachers must take the Ohio Assessments for Educators test series, provided by Pearson’s Evaluation Systems. Bilingual, ESL, and foreign language educators must also take the ACTFL/LTI World Languages Examinations. Teachers who want to specialize in school psychology, speech pathology, or school audiology also take the relevant Praxis II exams. The final step includes applying for the Resident Educator License, a process that includes a criminal background check and a $160 application fee.

After four years of successful classroom experience as a resident educator, Ohio teachers receive the professional educator license. To obtain the the highest certification that the ODE offers, the senior professional educator license, teachers must successfully work for another four years (a total of nine years), complete a master-teacher portfolio, and obtain a regionally accredited graduate degree. Another version of this credential, the lead professional educator license, is available for teachers who fulfill the aforementioned requirements and complete at least 180 hours of approved continuing education and leadership/professional training. Applying for any of these professional licenses costs $200. Additionally, all professional licenses must be renewed every five years using the Connected Ohio Records for Educators (CORE) system.

Ohio teachers who want to work in another state must consult that state’s transfer requirements. Out-of-state educators with a valid certificate who want to work in Ohio apply for review of their credentials and can earn a temporary one-year license. During this window, they must pass the necessary exams and fulfill other requirements as mandated by the ODE to earn their resident or professional educator license.

Choosing a Degree Program in Ohio

As you conduct research on prospective teaching degrees in Ohio and at institutions outside the state, prioritize affordability. Seek out community colleges and public universities, since they provide low tuition for state residents. Location represents another important factor to consider when searching for the right school. The strengths of campus-based degree programs lie in the experiential learning and networking opportunities they provide. Traditional students also enjoy convenient access to services and resources, including libraries, tutors, and career centers.

Colleges and universities supported by the ODE provide the fastest route to teaching certification, since coursework and professional training are combined into a four-year baccalaureate plan.

Colleges and universities supported by the ODE provide the fastest route to teaching certification, since coursework and professional training are combined into a four-year baccalaureate plan. Education majors enjoy numerous concentration options, such as mathematics, social studies, and English. Teachers can also specialize in certain levels and specialties of teaching, such as kindergarten and secondary education, ESL, career/technical, and special education.

Prospective teachers who earn a college degree from a school outside of Ohio or in a non-education major can enroll in the IPTI. As the state’s official alternative educator preparation program, the IPTI spans six weeks and costs $200. Finally, if you discover that traditional education doesn’t suit your needs, distance education options exist that also lead to a teaching license in Ohio.

Can You Earn a Teaching Degree Online in Ohio?

When searching for distance education opportunities, accreditation should factor highly in your decision-making process. Teaching requirements in Ohio dictate that you must earn a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree. Many teacher organizations won’t allow you to apply for their professional certificates unless you hold such a degree. Colleges and universities receive regional accreditation from one of six organizations, depending on where they’re located, for maintaining local and state academic standards. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) oversees regional accreditation in Ohio.

All the educator licensure preparation programs found on the ODE’s approved list hold regional accreditation, and many of them provide remote learning opportunities. Most online degrees offer distinct financial incentives, since they either charge all students the same in-state rate or provide further discounted tuition to attract nontraditional learners. Asynchronous course structure stands as another perk of distance education, enabling you to access course materials and engage with peers and instructors at your convenience. However, to earn a teaching degree in Ohio, you must complete at least 12 weeks of full-time student teaching, or 25 weeks if you pursue alternative training through the IPTI. This means that no college degree in education can ever be fully online, but online learning does offer many other benefits.

Directory of Teaching Schools in Ohio

Paying for Your Teaching Degree in Ohio

Obtaining a degree and teaching license in Ohio doesn’t need to result in insurmountable debt. Seek out the low tuition rates offered by community colleges and public universities, particularly through online programs in education. Generally, distance education programs ignore residency status when factoring tuition costs, and also offer discounted rates to remote learners. Moreover, because skilled educators are urgently needed across the U.S., prospective and active Ohio teachers enjoy ample funding opportunities.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines your eligibility for multiple federal and state awards at the same time, including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study positions. FAFSA calculates your award package based on projected need or cost of attendance minus expected family contributions. The FAFSA office provides information on non-governmental financial resources, as well as guides to loan repayment and opportunities for loan forgiveness. Additionally, you should also research private scholarships to pay for your teaching degree in Ohio. Professional organizations, such as teacher associations and academic honors councils, represent great sources for awards based on criteria like gender, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, first-generation student status, academic major, and intended career.

Loan Forgiveness for Ohio Teachers

Though loans are relatively easy means of paying for your college education and state of Ohio teaching license, they should be used as a last resort when all other funding opportunities have been exhausted. Accruing large amounts of student loan debt may negatively affect you professionally and personally. If you do choose to borrow money, prioritize government loans over those from private lenders. State and federal loans usually have the benefits of lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans, which include opportunities for partial or complete forgiveness through federal initiatives.

Ohio doesn’t provide any state-specific loan forgiveness programs. Fortunately, the federal government facilitates three, including one specific opportunity for educators. Through the federal teacher loan forgiveness program, you can reduce up to $17,500 of your direct and federal Stafford loans if you agree to at least five years of employment with an educational service agency or low-income/high-need public school. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program allows you to erase the remainder of your direct loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments if you work for a participating government agency or nonprofit organization. You can also take advantage of the Perkins Loan Cancellation Program, which forgives a percentage, up to the full amount, of your eligible loans for every year you work in an approved teaching environment.

Scholarships for Ohio Teaching Students

Obtaining a teaching certificate in Ohio is a process that can be time consuming and costly. An affordable tuition rate should be a crucial factor in your academic decisions, but it’s equally important to look for scholarships and grants, since you don’t need to pay back their awards. Teachers enjoy distinct scholarship opportunities; below, we detail six.

Job Outlook and Salary for Teachers in Ohio

These two tables use information from the BLS to detail the salaries of Ohio teachers with respect to the overall average and earnings specific to grade level. In general, Ohio teachers earn more the national average, and the state is 10th highest in the nation for K-12 educator salaries, according to PayScale. Statistics also show that elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers enjoy higher pay than their colleagues teaching at the kindergarten and preschool levels. Further analysis of BLS data shows that among all preschool to high school teachers, those working in career/technical and special education earn the most, with salaries ranging from $63,180 to $65,580 and $56,300 to $60,010, respectively.

Location and school type also dictate an Ohio teacher’s salary. Private institutions usually offer higher pay than public schools because they possess more financial resources from tuition and donor contributions. The same salary discrepancy exists for schools in large cities and other urban locations versus those located in rural areas. Fortunately, the ODE and certain private organizations, such as the Ohio Small and Rural Collaborative and the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, provide additional financial and professional support for teachers who want to work in these high-need communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching in Ohio

Resources for Teachers in Ohio

• Ohio Department of Education (ODE) The ODE manages the state’s public education system, providing accreditation for teaching programs and certification for teachers and other education professionals. The department also offers information on testing standards, classroom technology, leadership initiatives like the Every Student Succeeds Act, and career support, such as internship and job postings.
• Ohio Education Association (OEA) Established in 1847, the OEA supports all teachers in the state through research-supported policy advancement at the local, state, and national levels. Members enjoy coordinated professional development programs, legal services, retirement planning and support, and access to the OEA online library. The association also offers leadership and community engagement opportunities, as well as scholarships and awards.
• Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (Ohio AEYC) Ohio AEYC supports professionals who educate and care for young children, including teachers and school administrators. The association bestows specialized accreditation to academic programs and advocates for the rights of educators and students. By becoming a member, you gain access to online professional training courses and networking events, including the annual national conference, which boasts more than 150 expert-led workshops.
• Association of American Educators (AAE) Founded in 1994, the AAE is a non-union, bipartisan professional organization for U.S. teachers. The association supports public education through data-driven research, outreach programs, and engagement with federal and state policies. Membership benefits include a vast online library, web-based and in-person professional development programs, and discounts on insurance plans and tuition to partnering universities. The association also provides scholarships for active and aspiring teachers.
• National Education Association (NEA) With over three million members, the NEA is the largest professional employee organization in the U.S. Members have access to funding opportunities such as academic scholarships and research grants, along with conferences and other network events. Teachers can also access classroom resources like student management strategies and free, federally approved lesson plans. On top of these services, the NEA also advocates for all public school teachers through research, educational programming, and policy advancement and lobbying.