• Ohio has several requirements for teacher certification.teachers marking image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
  
  Ohio offers two main teacher certifications: the Provisional Teacher License, non-renewable and valid for two years, and the Professional Teacher License, renewable and valid for five years. Both licenses require Ohio educators to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and successfully complete the Praxis teacher assessment examination.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree and Teacher Training Program

• Individuals who wish to teach under the two-year non-renewable Provisional License or the five year renewable Professional License in the state of Ohio are required to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and successfully complete an approved teacher training program.
  
  Individuals who have a bachelor's degree but do not complete a traditional teacher training program may apply for a two year non-renewable Alternative Educator License or the one year non-renewable Conditional Teaching Permit.
  
  

Praxis Teacher Assessment

• Ohio educators are required to pass the Praxis Teacher Assessment in applicable areas of desired licensing. Licensing areas include early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, multi-age, intervention specialist, vocational and early childhood intervention specialist. Candidates applying for the Provisional License are required to pass the Praxis II exam; those applying for the Professional License must take the Praxis III exam. Individuals who do not take the Praxis exam will only be eligible for the one year non-renewable Conditional Teaching Permit.
  
  

Background Check

• All individuals applying to become Ohio state educators are required to pass a state and FBI fingerprint and background check. Applicants must be of upstanding moral character.
  
  

Reading Credit Requirements

• Individuals seeking a provisional or professional license in early childhood, middle childhood or either of the intervention specialist areas are required to complete an additional 12 credit hours of specified reading courses. Those seeking a provisional or professional license in the multi-age, adolescence or vocational areas are required to complete three additional credit hours of reading courses.
  
  

Entry-Year Program

• Provisional License holders who wish to transfer to a Professional License are required to attend a year-long entry-year program. During this time, teachers are required to work with a mentor and take the Praxis III assessment exam.
  
  

Reciprocity

• Individuals with standard out of state teaching certificates and 27 months or more teaching experience in the seven years prior to applying for an Ohio license will be granted a provisional teaching certificate providing their current certificate is from one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.