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The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Patton Hall
100 East Union St.
Athens, OH 45701-2979

How to Apply for Licensure

To apply for an Ohio license:

  • Complete a License Education program approved by the Ohio Department of Education.
  • Submit both a BCI and an FBI background check to the Ohio Department of Education. Applicants are required to make a set of fingerprint impressions and have them sent to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI). The reports should be sent directly to the Ohio Department of Education electronically from the office where the checks were completed. It is not necessary to send copies of background checks to Ohio University with your licensure submission. 
  • Submit passing scores on all required tests to Ohio University, Ohio Assessment for Educators, and ACTFL. Praxis tests are no longer accepted for licensure as of July 1, 2019.
  • Complete an application for licensure through ODE’s SAFE account.
  • If OHIO recommends you for licensure, the Patton College will forward the application to the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure with the check or money order.

Important Notes: 

Licensure applications will not be approved until the candidate has officially graduated from Ohio University and a degree is officially conferred. Graduation is not official until all financial "holds" are removed from a student’s record. The Patton College of Education must also have proof of the passing of required Ohio Assessment for Educator exams before the application can be forwarded to the Ohio Department of Education. The Ohio Department of Education usually needs 7-10 business days for processing. Applicants may check the status of their application on the Ohio Department of Education website. For any questions regarding OH|ID or ODE’s SAFE account, please contact the Ohio Department of Education.

Candidates seeking licensure within eighteen (18) months of successfully completing an educator preparation program at Ohio University will be recommended for licensure if they apply within that timeframe to the Ohio Department of Education. If application for licensure is made after eighteen (18) months to the Ohio Department of Education, candidates will be required to meet with their program coordinator for consultation regarding any additional state and/or program requirements they need to complete. Following this consultation and the satisfaction of any additionally identified requirements, a recommendation by Ohio University will be granted on a case-by-case basis. This applies to all candidates, including past graduates who have not earned the license for which they were prepared.