Teacher Licensure & Endorsement Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure/endorsement are required to pass specific assessments before application for licensure/endorsement. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer to the Ohio State Board of Education website on Licensure Testing Requirements for Educators for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.

Please visit the webpage for information on completing the Pre-Application for Licensure process.

Students in the teacher education programs must apply for State of Ohio Licensure within 12 months of program completion (defined by completion of all licensure program requirements). After 12 months, applicants must meet State approved program/licensure requirements that are in effect at the time of application. This means that students who apply after the 12-month deadline may have to take additional coursework if the content, methods courses, program requirements, or licensure requirements have changed from the catalog in force. 

If a student does not apply for their license within 6 years, they are subject to any additional state licensure requirements and are also subject to additional coursework based on changes in areas such as content, age of coursework and changes in program requirements. A minimum of 9 credit hours will be required to apply for licensure after 6 years of program completion.

The Teacher Education Handbook guides you through each phase of your journey to becoming a transformative educator. View or download your copy of the Teacher Education Handbook to reference for important information.

Access Teacher Education Handbook

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY CATALOG COLLEGE ACADEMIC POLICY

For field experience, student teaching and any culminating internship in teacher education that requires candidates to be placed within a school or agency ("school/agency") setting, in compliance with the Ohio Board of Education policy, the college requires candidates to obtain a Pre-Service Teacher Permit through the "Educator Licensure and Records (CORE)" database housed within the OHID state system. The Pre-Service Teacher Permit is valid for either one or three years. The first step is to complete a Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks/fingerprinting evaluation. BCII and FBI background checks require current, state-issued identification (driver's license or or a state identification card issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Electronic fingerprinting is available for BCII and FBI in 221 White Hall. Regional campus students should contact their Regional Campus coordinator to identify fingerprinting availability at each campus. Candidates are responsible for fees incurred for this requirement. For more information on this policy, contact the Director of Clinical Field Experience in 304 White Hall. Visit the State of Ohio Board of Education (SBOE) website at https://sboe.ohio.gov for more information about background check requirements for educators in Ohio. Contact the Office of Professional Conduct at the ODE for specific information about the results of the background check.

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY CATALOG COLLEGE ACADEMIC POLICY

The application for student teaching is completed online through the College of Education and Human Services' student portal. Students will be required to complete the application during specified windows posted on the Vacca Office of Student Services' (VOSS) website. Application windows will typically be accessible during the months of October and November in the fall semester and March and April in the spring semester. Failure to complete the application and submit the prerequisite training documents within the designated time frame may delay the student teaching placement. Depending on the program area, students will apply either 2 or 3 semesters prior to their anticipated student teaching semester. Students should meet with their academic advisor for details on which semester to apply.

Once the application is submitted, VOSS staff (or appropriate regional campus staff) will determine eligibility by reviewing coursework, GPA, disposition assessments, and other program area requirements. Specifically, staff will review the following:

• Coursework – aside from student teaching and inquiry seminar, all coursework in the program of study must be completed with the minimum grade required in each course (i.e., a ‘C’ or higher in a course where the program requirements prescribe a minimum grade of C).
• GPA – confirmation that the applicant has a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher and meets the minimum major GPA required for their program as listed in the university catalog.
• Disposition Assessments – no outstanding Professional Disposition Plans (PDPs) are permitted. An applicant with an outstanding PDP must have it cleared before beginning student teaching.
• Program Area Requirements – applicant must have completed all program requirements for their major that are outlined and specified in the university catalog.

Students should meet with their faculty and/or academic advisor in VOSS for any clarifications. Written notification of eligibility will be emailed to each applicant.

Those eligible for student teaching are required to attend a mandatory meeting where additional information about student teaching is provided. Failure to attend this meeting may result in a delay of student teaching. Placement forms, distributed at this meeting, need to be completed by the deadline.  

The Clinical Experience Office will make the final decision about the placement site for the Kent Campus. Placement decisions at the Regional Campuses are made by the designated placement officer at each campus. Candidates are not to contact schools or potential mentors directly to make their own arrangements. Placements are generally made within a 50-mile radius of Kent State University. Student teaching is a full-time commitment and candidates are expected to follow the schedule of the cooperating teacher.