Become a Teacher in Ohio

For those who have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree that is not in education, the Alternative Resident Educator License is available for those who satisfy the state’s requirements. The Ohio Department of Education offers alternative pathways to become a teacher as well as a principal or superintendent.

For the Alternative Resident Educator License, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree meeting the following requirements: a minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in the subject area to be taught with a 2.5 GPA or higher (integrated science, integrated language arts, and integrated social studies require 48 semester or 72 quarter hours)

Coursework must be well distributed across the subject area, showing increasing depth and complexity and with sufficient advanced coursework to constitute a major field of study.

Candidates must also take the OAE Content Assessment for the area they plan to teach, plus the OPI and WPT for those planning to teach a foreign language, along with a state-approved Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) .

To advance to a Professional Educator License from an Alternative License, teachers must complete 12 semester hours of professional education coursework at an accredited college or university and also pass the OAE Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Multi-Age exam in their second year of teaching.

The Ohio Troops to Teachers program is another alternative pathway to licensure.

Ohio participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification’s (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. The State of Ohio will accept some teaching credentials from other states according to their out-of-state licensure guidelines. Certification reciprocity is somewhat complicated, so it’s best to contact the Ohio Department of Education to inquire about specific details.

The Ohio Department of Education provides a searchable database of teaching jobs in Ohio. To access this feature, you must first register for a free account. Once you do so you can browse jobs by location and specialty and submit applications to school recruiters. The Ohio Department of Education also has its own list of available jobs. The Greater Cincinnati School Application System runs a similar online search tool for jobs in participating school districts.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

In 2017, Ohio ranked 15th in the nation for teacher salaries, with an average teacher salary of $58,202, according to the National Education Association’s Rankings of the States. The average salary for school teachers in Ohio is $57,000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . The Ohio Department of Education also rewards teachers with different monetary awards and recognitions, including the Ohio Teacher of the Year Award.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS is responsible for all benefits and retirement plans for Ohio teachers. For teachers who are not yet retired, STRS provides counseling and planning services, as well as survivor protection for teachers after 1.5 years of service, and disability protection after 5 years. Ohio state teachers also receive 15 weeks of vacation and tenure after 3 years, for those on the tenure track.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Teacher Shortage information was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listings for 2017-2018, and was determined by examining the most recent data about unfilled teaching positions; positions filled by teachers certified by irregular, provisional, temporary, or emergency certification; and teachers teaching in subject areas other than their area of preparation.

The State of Ohio does not provide any financial aid to prospective teachers through its Department of Education; however, many prospective teachers are eligible for several forms of federal aid. The TEACH Grant, for example, gives financial aid in return for teaching in a high-need field in a low-income area. The Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarships is another option. The school where you plan to attain your degree may also offer its own aid.

Learn more about how to finance your master’s degree on Teach.com.

The Ohio Department of Education offers a variety of professional development programs for teachers to continue developing their skills and advancing their knowledge. Department offerings include the System to Achieve Results for Students (STARS) Program, the Professional Development for Early Childhood Teachers Program, professional development programs in math, science, literacy, and social studies, and different mentoring programs for new teachers, as well as the standard National Board Certification.

Public school teachers are not always required to have a master’s degree in the field of education in the United States, but educators across the country are realizing more and more the value of an advanced degree. It’s never a bad idea to go to graduate school, whether you’re pursuing a master’s degree. Since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, greater emphasis is placed on teacher performance, teacher qualification, and the results of teachers in the classroom.

A master’s degree can carry a lot of weight in the teaching job market, and those who have a master’s degree are regarded as experts in their field. Teachers with a master’s degree are more likely to be hired, promoted, and compensated for their work. In the Cincinnati City School District, teachers with a master’s degree earn an average of $5,766 more per year than teachers without a master’s degree, according to 2017-2018 data from National Council on Teacher Quality.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.