Educator Licensure or Certification Agencies

Educator Licensure or Certification Programs

Kent State University offers numerous accredited programs that prepare students for licensure in teaching, administration, and pupil services. We offer licensure program at both the graduate and undergraduate levels as well as a variety of endorsements.

Kent State’s academic programs are designed to prepare students to apply for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. Completion of one of our programs may not meet education requirements for a license or certification in another state. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Please visit the Vacca Office of Student Services at Kent State University for more information on Educator Licensure Programs.

Below are the licensure, endorsement and administrator licenses offered at Kent State.

Graduate - Early Childhood Master of Arts in Teaching

Full-time, accelerated initial licensure program (18 months/5 semesters). Offered every other year (odd years) beginning in June.

The Early Childhood MAT program is for those individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in another subject area and who are interested in becoming certified to teach Preschool through Grade 5 in the state of Ohio.

Undergraduate - Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education (ECED) program and faculty have a national reputation for their contributions to the field of Early Education. The Ohio license is for teaching children in preschool through grade 5.

Graduate - Master of Education-Curriculum & Instruction (MCED)

Initial licensure program for Grades 4-9. Must first specialize in two subject areas at the undergraduate level prior to admission to graduate program.

The Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is a professional development degree that strives to enhance each student's career aspirations, which are frequently tied to a future employment objective. Professional teaching experience is not necessary to apply. 

Undergraduate - Middle Childhood Education program

Kent State University’s Middle Childhood Education program is the first in the state of Ohio to offer an undergraduate program authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization: the IB Middle Years Programme Certificate in Teaching and Learning. Under this recognition, Middle Childhood educators graduating from Kent State are qualified to serve not only in Ohio, but also in any of the IB World Schools that exist in more than 128 countries.

Graduate - Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) offers a full-time, accelerated initial licensure format (one year/3 semesters) and a part-time (two year/6 semester) format. Offered every year beginning in June. Must first specialize in one content/subject area at the undergraduate level prior to admission to graduate program.

Concentrations available in:

  • Art Education (Visual Arts) (pre-K-12)
  • Music Education (pre-K-12)
  • Chemistry/Physics (Physical Science) (7-12)
  • Earth Science (7-12)
  • English/Language Arts (Integrated Language Arts) (7-12)
  • Foreign Language (French, German, Latin, Spanish) (pre-K-12)
  • Integrated Mathematics (7-12)
  • Integrated Science (7-12)
  • Integrated Social Studies (7-12)
  • Life Science (7-12)
  • Life Science/Chemistry (7-12)
  • School Health Education (pre-K-12)
Undergraduate - Adolescent and Young Adult Education (ADED)

The Adolescent and Young Adult Education (ADED) program, formerly the Secondary Education Program, dates back to the early years of the university. Our faculty includes full-time college and adjunct faculty with recent 7-12 teaching experience. Our program prepares students for careers as educators for grades 7-12.

This program area includes courses of study that are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.

Concentrations available in:

  • Earth Science
  • Integrated Language Arts
  • Integrated Mathematics
  • Integrated Science
  • Integrated Social Studies
  • Life Science
  • Life Science/Chemistry
  • Physical Science (Chemistry/Physics)
Graduate - Intervention Specialist/Special Education (SPED)

Special Education Non-Degree Graduate Licensure Preparation - Initial licensure program for the Intervention Specialist license.

Concentrations available in:

  • Deaf Education (Pre-K - age 21)
  • Early Childhood Special Education (Pre-K- grade 3)
  • Mild to Moderate Educational Needs (K-12)
  • Moderate to Intensive Educational Needs (K-12)
Undergraduate - Special Education

The Special Education program is dedicated to preparing tomorrow’s teachers of exceptional learners and future leaders in the field.

Concentrations available in:

  • Deaf Education (pre-K-12)
  • Mild/Moderate (K-12)
  • Moderate/Intensive (K-12)

Students seeking licensure in Foreign Language, Teaching English as a Second Language or American Sign Language will complete the major through the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor in Education.

Art Education

Undergraduate - B.A. Art Education

Students seeking licensure in Art Education will complete the major through the College of the Arts.

The Bachelor of Arts in Art Education prepares students for preK-12 Visual Art Licensure.

Health and Physical Education (pre-K-12)

Undergraduate - Health and Physical Education (HPE)

Students can pursue multi-age licensure to teach both Health and Physical Education (HPE). These students must maintain a major and cumulative GPA of 2.75. This is a five-year undergraduate program requiring completion of 157 credit hours.

Library/Media (Pre-K-12)

Graduate - Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) with School Library Media K-12 (SLMK)

The K-12 School Library Media Licensure-only option is for individuals who already hold a teaching certificate and wish to pursue this path to becoming a school librarian.

Music Education (pre-K-12)

Undergraduate - B.M. Music Education

Students seeking licensure in Music Education will complete the major through the College of the Arts.

The Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education prepares students for Ohio licensure to teach music in grades K-12 in choral general and instrumental music. The program includes studies in jazz, folk, musical theatre, world music and music technology, while providing a strong grounding in Western art music history, theory and performance.

The Music Education major comprises the following concentrations:

  • Choral General
  • Instrumental

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PRE-K-12)

Graduate - Physical Education Teacher Education Concentration

This 43-hour program leads to a multi-age (pre-K through 12th grade) license to teach Physical Education in the State of Ohio. The program is designed to prepare teacher candidates with competencies that meet the Beginning Teacher Standards of the Society of Health and Physical Educators. The program includes field experience components at the elementary and secondary levels, and culminates with a full semester student teaching experience split between the two levels.

  • Curriculum & Instruction with concentration in Physical Education
Undergraduate - Physical Education Bachelor's Degree

The Physical Education Teacher Licensure certification concentration prepares students for careers as licensed physical education teachers for children and youth (kindergarten through grade 12). This professional program requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA. Teacher candidates learn to teach within a series of in-depth field experiences. The teacher education curriculum is accredited by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

School Health Education (pre-K-12)

Undergraduate - Health Education and Promotion

Health education is a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, physical and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death through education-driven voluntary behavior change activities.

American Sign Language with Education minor (pre-K-12)

Undergraduate - B.A. in American Sign Language

The American Sign Language (ASL) program presents ASL as a culture- and community-based language that interacts with other world languages.

Students seeking licensure in American Sign Language will complete the major through the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor in Education.

Undergraduate - Programs in Foreign Language Education

Students seeking licensure in Foreign Language will complete the major through the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor in Education.

Teaching English as a Second Language (Pre-K-12)

Graduate - M.A. TESL Teacher's Concentration

The M.A. TESL Teacher's Concentration is a 48-hour program of study (including student teaching) preparing teachers for state licensure in Ohio and teaching in early childhood, primary, and secondary education.

Undergraduate - Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language

The Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language provides students with a broad understanding of both theory and practice in language studies, pedagogy and culture.

Students seeking licensure in Teaching English as a Second Language will complete the major through the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor in Education.

Graduate - Career Technical Education

CTTE is one of a small number of teacher education programs in Ohio designed to prepare teachers as educators primarily in Ohio Schools in Career-Technical Programs. The program is comprehensive offering teacher licensure programs, graduate degrees, and a national occupational testing site.

Certification and Licensure Dictionary by the Ohio Department of Education

Ohio Department of Education - Certification and Licensure Dictionary 

The Certification and Licensure Dictionary by the Ohio Department of Education is designed to assist districts in implementing the requirements and in ensuring that PreK-12 educators are assigned to classes they are qualified to teach. It identifies both the certification areas and the licensure areas that are required for teaching specific courses.

Go to the Education & Training document to see the credentials teachers should hold for each course they teach.

Agencies

National

National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)

State

Alabama
Alabama State Department of Education

Alaska
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Arizona
Arizona Department of Education

Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Education

California
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Colorado
Colorado Department of Education

Connecticut
Connecticut State Department of Education

Delaware
Delaware Department of Education

District of Columbia
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Florida
Florida Department of Education

Georgia
Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Hawaii
Hawaii Teacher Standards Board

Idaho
Idaho State Department of Education 

Illinois
Illinois State Board of Education

Indiana
Indiana Department of Education

Iowa
Iowa Board of Educational Examiners

Kansas
Kansas State Department of Education

Kentucky
Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board

Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Education

Maine
Maine Department of Education

Maryland
Maryland State Department of Education

Massachusetts
Massachusetts Executive Office of Education

Michigan
Michigan Department of Education

Minnesota
Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board

Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Education

Missouri
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Montana
Montana Office of Public Instruction

Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Education 

Nevada
Nevada Department of Education

New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Education 

New Jersey
State of New Jersey Department of Education

New Mexico
New Mexico Public Education Department 

New York
New York State Education Department 

North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

North Dakota
North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board

Ohio
Ohio Department of Education

Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Department of Education

Oregon
Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Education

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Education

South Carolina
South Carolina State Department of Education

South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Education

Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Education

Texas
Texas Education Agency

Utah
Utah State Board of Education

U.S. Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Department of Education

Vermont
Vermont Agency of Education

Virginia
Virginia Department of Education

Washington
Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

West Virginia
West Virginia Department of Education

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Wyoming
Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board

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