Which Education Program is Right For Me?
INTRODUCTION
Whether you're an educator looking to expand your credentials and keep up with continuing education requirements or a professional in another field interested in becoming a teacher, various education programs can help you accomplish your goal.
At Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU), we offer online degree programs and individual courses to assist passionate current and future Ohio educators in building their skills. Learn about these programs and how you can identify the right one for you.
Chapter 1
What is a Teaching License?
Teacher requirements vary by state and position. However, as a general rule, teaching is a career that requires more than just a degree. You must also have a state-sponsored license intended for your specific teaching role.
Education degree programs are designed to help students and professionals meet the requirements to obtain these licenses. By enrolling in the right education program, you should also be able to work toward obtaining your teaching license shortly following graduation. This license will qualify you to work in the public school system in your state.
Chapter 2
How To Get an Ohio Teaching License For The First Time
If you’re ready to enroll in college for the first time or interested in switching careers to become a teacher, you need to know the requirements for entering this exciting and fulfilling profession. The steps involved in becoming a licensed teacher depend on your state’s requirements and the specific license you need.
In Ohio, the general requirements to become a teacher include:
1. Bachelor's degree:
Teachers must attend college and earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education or higher. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a different subject area and want to become a teacher, you can enroll in a master’s degree program. Some current teachers also choose to obtain their master’s degree to expand their skills and qualify for a higher pay grade.
2. Educator preparation program:
Not just any degree will do! Teachers must complete a degree program that
is accredited as an educator preparation program by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. These programs consist of two main components:
- Coursework: Teachers must take courses to prepare them for teaching. Typically, this involves courses in the subject areas they plan to teach and courses in teaching methods (known as pedagogy).
- Student Teaching: Educator preparation programs also include an experiential component. Learners get a chance to observe and participate in a real classroom to put their learning into practice.
3. Exams
To become licensed, learners must pass some standardized exams. Depending on the license you’re applying for, this may include Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) or ACTFL/LTI World Languages Examinations.
Prospective teachers must pass a background check from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure they are authorized to work with minors.
Chapter 3
How To Maintain Your Ohio Teaching License
The world of education is constantly evolving, and there are always new things to learn to become the best teacher you can be. The state of Ohio requires licensed teachers to renew their Ohio educator license every five years. This renewal process involves taking additional courses to learn new skills or sharpen existing ones.
Teachers can complete this coursework gradually or set aside time before the end of the five years to fulfill all the requirements for renewal. Some teachers pursue a master’s degree to further their education and meet the requirements for license renewal, though only six semester hours are required to renew an Ohio teacher license.
As teachers advance their skills and gain more experience, they can achieve higher tiers in the Ohio teacher licensure structure.
The state of Ohio requires licensed teachers to renew their Ohio educator license every 5 years.
How to Add Additional Ohio Teaching Licensures
Current teachers can earn additional licenses to broaden their expertise and qualify for new positions in the field.
A teacher may realize they are passionate about helping students with disabilities. These teachers can obtain an intervention specialist license that they can use to teach or assist students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). These teachers may continue to use their existing licensure or shift their focus solely to an intervention specialist role.
Chapter 4
Online Education Degree Programs from MVNU
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION — PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSE
Learners who pursue the Middle Childhood Education licensure must also choose two subject areas of concentration. The options are language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
This program is customized to the area and grade levels you want to teach. However, all learners benefit from courses that equip them to successfully lead a classroom, such as instructional design, technology for educators, multiculturalism in education, and more.
What is the job outlook for educators with a master's degree in Ohio?
As discussed, elementary educators (who earn a median salary of $61,350) are in demand, with the BLS predicting a 7 percent growth in job outlook from 2020-2030. Similarly, middle school teachers earn a median salary of $61,320 per year, and demand for middle school teachers is also expected to grow at a rate of 7 percent through 2030. High school teachers earn a median salary of $61,820, and the national job outlook for this career is projected to expand by 8 percent from 2020-2030.
Beginning a teaching career with a master’s degree is a major benefit to educators. For one, you can enter the profession with a more diversified or robust skill set to help you in the classroom. You will also automatically qualify for a higher pay grade. Ohio law dictates the minimum salaries for teachers according to experience and educational levels. First-year teachers with a master’s degree can earn more than teachers with a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience.
Earning a master’s degree can also make you more competitive professionally. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the number of education master’s degrees conferred went down by 37 percent from 2009-2018. A master’s degree is an impressive credential for any educator and will give you a solid foundation for your teaching career.
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION — INTERVENTION SPECIALIST
If you’re interested in working in special education, you should consider the Master of Arts in Education — Intervention Specialist program. This program prepares learners to earn their Ohio license as an Intervention Specialist for Mild/Moderate (ISM) Disabilities.
If you don’t currently have a teaching license and want to enter the field as an intervention specialist, you should pursue the Initial License program, which takes approximately 27 months to complete. If you already have a teaching credential and want to add the intervention specialist license, you should enroll in the Advanced License program, which can be completed in about 18 months.
Intervention specialists—also known as special education teachers—work with students who have IEPs to ensure they receive the support they need to get the most out of their educational experience.
What is the job outlook for special education teachers in Ohio?
Nationally, special education teachers earn a median salary of $61,820 per year, and the career is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020-2030. There is abundant need for these dedicated professionals in Ohio, with our education department routinely hearing of school districts struggling to fill open positions for intervention specialists.
Earning your first license as an intervention specialist will allow you to enter a challenging and rewarding career in which you can make a real difference in the lives of countless students. Additionally, getting licensed as an intervention specialist isn’t only for special education teachers. An IS license allows teachers to serve students of all ability levels in their classrooms.
Chapter 5
Teacher Professional Development Workshops from MVNU
Our educational options for teachers aren’t limited to degree programs. For teachers looking to keep their licenses up to date or expand their skills, MVNU offers a wealth of educational workshops.
You can take advantage of self-paced online workshops, which take place in the summer and during both semesters of the school year. Whether you want to learn more about designing better online assessments or building social skills for students with autism, our extensive list of professional development workshops can help you get there.
Each workshop counts as one credit hour, so teachers can take six of these workshops every five years to fulfill the requirements for license renewal.