Requirements for Licensure

Each State sets licensure requirements for individuals who wish to seek full time professional employment in its schools. YSU program completers (e.g., teacher candidates, school counselor candidates, and school administrator candidates) must apply for licensure through Youngstown State University to become fully licensed in Ohio and other States. Some States and some preparation programs also refer to licensure as certification.

I. Application Information

Application for licensure must be completed during the semester of student teaching. One of the seminars, which is an integral part of student teaching, is devoted to the licensure procedures.

Before licensure will be granted, you must:

• 1) demonstrate that you have not been convicted of any criminal offenses which bar employment in a school district and
• 2) satisfactorily complete Praxis II (the State required series of examinations appropriate to your areas of licensure)

II. Fingerprinting Information

Ohio Law (Ohio Revised Code 3319.39) identifies thirty-four (34) criminal offenses, felonies and misdemeanors, which serve as a bar to employment in a school district. Click on the link provided in the left column to view a list of these offenses.

To ascertain if individuals have commited any of these thirty-four offenses (and other violations), all applicants are fingerprinted. At YSU this is done at two points in your teacher education program (one point near the start and one point near the end) as follows:

• at the beginning of your first education course when you are registered for "Found 1501 - Introduction to Education"
• at the Student Teaching Orientation session for the semester you are registered to student teach

If you have not lived in Ohio for five years you must also have an FBI clearance. This process is done with the standard ink impressions. The card and service will be available to you at the Student Teaching Orientation session. It is your responsibility to complete the processing of the FBI card by sending it to BCI with the proper fee.

III. Ohio Praxis II Information

The State of Ohio requires that candidates for initial provisional licenses and certifications meet or exceed the cut off scores on professional examinations offered through Educational Testing Service (ETS). The tests used by Ohio are selected from the examinations called The Praxis Series. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) selects the tests required and sets the qualifying scores. Both the selected tests and the qualifying scores are subject to change by ODE.

For information regarding the tests currently required by Ohio visit the Praxis II web site by clicking below the link provided in the left column.

ETS information booklets containing sign up procedures and deadlines are available in the Beeghly College of Education, Office of Student Services, Beeghly Hall, Room 2101.

All scores must be officially reported to YSU by Education Testing Service (ETS) to verify that passing scores have been met prior to YSU forwarding its recommendation to the State of Ohio.

Important Note: Make sure you list YSU as a score recipient on the test form AND that the scores must also be sent to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) . Sometimes YSU students are sent to PA to take the exam. If a YSU student fails to indicate ODE on the form, ETS will send the scores to the PDE. This will result in a delay in processing the licensure application.

As you have additional questions, please contact the Licensure Coordinator in Room 2101 in the Beeghly College of Education, Beeghly Hall. Note the link provided in the left column.