Teacher/Professional Licensure Information

You will need to wait until all requirements have been met before submitting your Ohio license application. Apply online for the initial four-year resident educator license.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their background checks are current when applying for a license.

For online license application assistance, you may contact the Office of Educator Licensure – Ohio Department of Education.

The license application approval process requires many steps such as completion of graduation, notification of license application on file, candidate’s record review by Miami and ODE. Miami will recommend the candidate for licensure to ODE. During high volume times (end of a semester) the approval period may take longer.

*Teacher/Professional licensing requirements are subject to change. Please check appropriate state's board of education website for the most up-to-date licensure requirements.

Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE)

Visit Ohio Assessments for Educators to find the required Ohio educator licensure assessments.

When taking your exams, request to have your scores sent electronically to ODE and Miami University.

It is very important for you to maintain a copy of your scores.

Transcripts

For information about obtaining transcripts, you may visit Miami's One Stop. Choose “Transcripts”.

If your degree cannot be awarded, but you still want to “walk” at the graduation ceremony, you will need to notify the Office of Commencement, then, you will need to change the graduation date on your application.

To apply for graduation

All mailed transcript orders are fulfilled by the National Student Clearinghouse. You may contact their help desk for tracking information.

Official Transcripts are now available as PDF copies or printed copies. If you have any problems/questions, email the registrar.

To update your academic records with Miami University.

To find your assigned advisor.

• Notify the Commencement Office
• Change the graduation application date.

Record Retention

It is a good idea to create an electronic email file and a paper file to store all of your teaching documentation in a safe place for future reference, including original emailed test results with their attached test reports.

Other record retention suggestions:

• Run a copy of your Degree Audit Report (DAR) because it contains detailed information that does not appear on your Official Transcript. This information may be helpful if you continue your education and as you progress in your career.
• Keep an extra Official Transcript on hand so that you will have it ready for a prospective employer.

When to Apply for Licensure (All States)

To avoid unnecessary delays in processing, licensure applications should not be submitted until after your degree has been awarded, the required tests have been reported with a passing grade(s), and you have met all of the States’ Department of Education Licensure Requirements (current FBI Background Check). Assuming all requirements have been completed, applications are typically completed within 1-3 days.
If you decide to postpone applying for licensure, just be sure that you are in compliance with the ODE’s current requirements before applying. Depending when you plan to start teaching, you have two options for the Effective Date: July 01, 2022 or 2023, depending on when you need the credentials to be effective for employment.

Degree(s) Awarded

Typically, the Office of the Registrar begins awarding degrees on the first Friday after Commencement. You will know when the degree is awarded in two ways: Your Unofficial Transcript will note that an Official Transcript is available. Another way that you can tell is that you will no longer be able to view a copy of your DAR(s) after the degree(s) has been awarded. Remember: keep a copy of your DAR as it contains details that do not appear on the Official Transcript.

Endorsements

You won’t see this on a DAR—just be sure that you have completed the required courses and have a passing test score on required ODE tests.
Test Requirements
When taking licensure/endorsement tests, it is important that you indicate that the test results are to be reported directly to Miami University. Students should not email their test results to Miami University, unless requested.

Out of State Licensure Applications

You will want to email the out of state application when you submit your ODE application if possible.
Typically, most states have an application for you to download as a pdf from their website. Be sure to follow their instructions. If it asks for your Social Security Number, you should be able to list only the last 5 digits. The Out of State Licensure Applications (pdf) can then be emailed to: Elizabeth.Hurrell@MiamiOH.edu for processing, as the state instructs. A corresponding copy will be sent to the applicant, if that state instructs us to send it directly to them. Otherwise, it will be returned to the applicant to be submitted. Licenses are typically processed within 1-5 business days. Be sure that you apply for the 2-Year Resident Educator License before applying for the advanced 5 Year Professional License. Typically, the name of the licensure area is compatible with the name of your degree program.

Long Term Reminders
• For future certification and licensure services, contact Elizabeth Hurrell at the email address above.
• Legal name changes should be reported to the Registrar’s Office, the ODE, and with licensure test administrators.
• Once you have completed the 4-Year Resident Educator Program, you will need to apply directly to the ODE to have yourcredentials advanced to a 5-Year Professional Services License.

For over a decade, EHS has housed a Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) – Recognized by the Ohio Department of Education – to support Miami community members who need a local organization to recognize and legitimate their efforts toward professional development that leads to the continuation of licensure and certification.

The MULPDC is a flexible, professional organization oriented towards the needs of a talented, diverse pool of practitioners interested in maintaining their professional status in fields related to their current work and necessary for their continued personal and professional growth across careers and institutions. All full and part-time faculty and staff on all of Miami’s campuses my participate in the MULPDC.

The purpose of the MULPDC is to review professional development activities completed by full and part-time educators and staff within the University that are to be used for the renewal of certificates and licenses. The MULPDC does not issue certificates or licenses; that authority is solely reserved for the Ohio Department of Education.

See our statement of purpose and guidelines for requesting CEUs for the purpose of renewing Ohio credentials.

For more information contact Tom Poetter, MULPDC Chair at poettets@miamioh.edu.