Transferring your teaching license from Minnesota to Ohio
Ohio evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and additional Ohio-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 4,793 open teaching jobs in Ohio →Your current credential (Minnesota)
- Issuing authority
- Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- License type
- Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) (1 year (Tier 1) or renewable (Tier 2))
- Reciprocity policy
- Minnesota evaluates out-of-state licenses individually. Tier 2 may be issued to teachers with at least 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience.
Ohio certification
- Issuing authority
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
- License you'll earn
- Resident Educator License (4 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12 months for traditional program; 1–2 years for alternative routes
- Ohio reciprocity policy
- Ohio participates in the NASDTEC compact. Educators with 2+ years of out-of-state experience may receive an Ohio Professional License without all exams.
Exams typically required in Ohio
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Ohio's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Foundations of ReadingRequired for Early Childhood and PK–5 licenses
- OAE Content Knowledge AssessmentSubject-area knowledge test for your licensure area
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Minnesota credential is current. Ohio will request a verification of your active Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) from Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
- Apply through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Ohio-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Ohio may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Ohio districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 4,793 active openings — browse Ohio teaching jobs to start identifying districts.