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It’s that wonderful time of year! Spring showers will bring May flowers, and educators will soon submit their licensure applications! This update is full of helpful tips to make the licensure application process a little easier.
APPLICATION PROCESSING TIME
The current licensure application processing time is 5-7 business days. Note that failed background checks will add additional processing time. Therefore, please advise applicants to have their background checks completed before submitting their licensure application to help reduce processing delays.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ADMINISTRATORS
The Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness has a licensure specialist available to assist you with your responsibilities as an e-signer or administrator. This provides you with a direct means of discussing answers to your licensure questions. Your contact is:
Shannon Kvorjak
614-914-2361
Shannon.Kvorjak@SBOE.ohio.gov
Regions 10 and 13
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL
Please direct your employees who have questions about licensure to continue using the toll-free number and licensure email inbox. This will help our office maintain prompt application processing times.
(855) 983-4868
Educator.licensure@SBOE.ohio.gov
The State Board of Education team will continue to make every effort to respond to your inquiries, as well as those of educators in your district, as soon as possible.
E-SIGNER PRO TIPS
An important resource for e-signers is the E-Signer User Manual, which is housed on the Licensure E-Signers webpage. Some common questions addressed in this manual include:
- How do I remove a former e-signer from our district or ESC? (See page 5)
- How do I enroll as a new e-signer with my school or district? (See page 3)
- How can I receive confirmation that the credential I e-signed has been issued? (See page 8)
Need to make changes to your local professional development committee (LPDC) e-signers? Please note that the OEDS administrator cannot make these changes. An active LPDC coordinator or LPDC coordinator designee must make all appropriate changes prior to leaving the district. See the LPDC E-Signer Registration webpage for step-by-step instructions.
EDUCATOR ESSENTIALS NEWSLETTER
Did you miss the latest edition of the Educator Essentials newsletter? You may view archived editions and subscribe to receive the newsletter and other agency updates from the State Board of Education team on the website.
LICENSURE ALIGNMENT
Educators who hold multiple professional licenses with different effective dates may align their licenses when one of their credentials is eligible for renewal. Renewal requirements must be met in order for educators to align their licenses. Please note that LPDC e-signers should not approve applications to align AND renew credentials for the same educator. Applicants must either align or renew their licenses (not both). Once an educator has aligned their licenses, they only need to renew their licenses going forward.
LICENSURE CONVERSION
Educators will soon be able to convert their teaching licenses to the new PK-8 or 7-12 grade band at renewal. In accordance with recent legislation, Ohio educators whose 5-Year Professional teaching licenses (including Lead Professional and Senior Professional) are eligible for renewal may either renew their license and maintain their current grade bands, OR they may convert to the new Elementary and Middle School (PK-8) license or an Adolescence to Young Adult (7-12) license. Educators must meet their renewal requirements (in addition to requirements for the new licensure area) to convert their licenses. Note that conversion applications will go to LPDC e-signers for approval in order for e-signers to verify completion of the renewal requirements. Educators will not be submitting renewal applications for licenses they are converting.
LICENSURE RENEWALS
Educators whose licenses expire June 30, 2025, must complete all renewal coursework and submit their renewal application no later than Sept. 30, or the renewal coursework requirement increases to nine semester hours for advanced, associate and professional licenses.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTACT HOURS
The Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness at the State Board of Education uses the following formulas for converting contact hours to CEUs and semester hours:
- 10 contact hours = 1 CEU
- 30 contact hours = 1 semester hour
- 3 CEUs = 1 semester hour
Please note that the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness accepts coursework listed in semester hours on official college or university transcripts as follows: one semester hour = one semester hour. Additionally, three quarter hours of coursework on an official college or university transcript traditionally equates to two semester hours.
REINSTATEMENT LICENSES
Reinstatement licenses are available for educators whose associate or professional licenses have lapsed. Educators working under this non-renewable license should complete requirements to renew their expired associate or professional licenses through their LPDC. Please see the Reinstatement License webpage for information.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY LICENSES
Recent legislation moved the authority for the five-year school psychology license from the State Board of Education of Ohio to the Ohio Board of Psychology effective January 1, 2025. The resulting change eliminates any contact with the State Board of Education or Department of Education and Workforce online systems for verifying professional development activities for all school psychologists. The law specifies that licensees provide proof of completion of professional development hours to the Ohio School Psychologists Association (OSPA). NOTE that employing school or district LPDCs must provide a completed Ohio School Psychologist Association (OSPA) form for their School Psychologists to verify completed professional development hours. Licensees must upload the completed form to their OSPA account.
Since their license transitioned to the Ohio Board of Psychology on January 1, School Psychologists will need to follow the rules and renewal schedule of the Ohio Board of Psychology. Licensees whose State Board of Education of Ohio license expiration date was June 30, 2025, will not be required to renew until September 30, 2025. Failure to register and pay the quinquennial registration fee by September 30 of each year that ends with a zero or a five will result in expiration of the license. Continuing education (CE) requirements will be waived in 2025. School Psychologists will not need to provide proof of CEs until 2030. Licensed School Psychologists will need to complete 50 hours of professional development over their license period including four hours in ethics, professional conduct, or cultural competence. Please contact OSPA with any questions: rachel@ospaonline.org or mail@ospaonline.org.
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