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The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Patton Hall
100 East Union St.
Athens, OH 45701-2979

Teacher Candidacy

Generally, candidates apply for admission to Teacher Candidacy during the second semester of the first year. The requirements for Teacher Candidacy are specific to the undergraduate degree, and this information can be found in the Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog (opens in a new window) for each degree. 

Before beginning any clinical experience, Patton College teacher candidates must complete documentation to comply with the requirements of education sites and school districts. Teacher Candidates are responsible for keeping copies of all documentation. 

Please see below for information about specific requirements for students to complete upon receiving Teacher Candidacy, links to the comprehensive guidebook and recommended OAE schedules, and special clinical programming opportunities for OHIO students.

Three Requirements for All Teacher Candidates

  1. Pre-Service Teacher Permit

    By law, students enrolled in a course that is part of an educator preparation program leading to an Ohio teaching license and who will be in an Ohio P-12 classroom as part of that course are required to obtain a Pre-Service Teacher Permit. 

    Instructions- Applicants must complete both steps:

    Step 1- Secure both BCI and FBI Background Checks: 

    All applicants must have current BCI and FBI background checks on file with the State Board of Education and Ohio University. For those students on the Athens campus, these can be obtained at Bobcat Depot, located on the 1st floor of Baker Center. You will need a valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID) and cash or credit card payment. Teacher Candidates will be notified of receipt of the reports and sent a scanned copy via email, and then instructed to pick up their paper copies to keep for their records. 

  • Both BCI/FBI reports for Athens campus undergraduates must be mailed directly from the fingerprinting agency to:
    • Attn: Debra Fanning 
      The Patton College of Education Student Affairs 
      103 Patton Hall 103 
      Athens, OH 45701
  • BCI/FBI reports for Regional campus undergraduates - please consult your campus advisor for reporting information.
  • Graduate students with clinical experiences that require BCI/FBI background checks, please have your report mailed directly from the fingerprinting agency to:

    • Attn: Ramona Mott 
      The Patton College of Education Student Affairs 
      Patton Hall 103 
      Athens, OH 45701

      Please note the code(s) you will need to use when requesting a BCI/FBI background check which are specific by program:

  • Please contact your advisor (or your clinical or program coordinator) for the BCI Code and FBI Code before requesting a background check for the following programs. These codes are sent to ODJFS and copied to Patton Hall for:
    • Pre-Early Childhood and Elementary Education (ND8837)—Teacher Candidacy ONLY
    • Child Development (AA1106)

  • BCI & FBI Code 3319.291 are sent to ODE and copied to Patton Hall for:

    • Middle Childhood Education (BS6175, BS6176, BS6177, BS6178, BS6179, BS6180)—All background checks
    • Integrated Adolescent-to-Young Adult Education (BS6306, BS6307, BS6308, BS6309, BS6314, BS6315, BS6395, BS6396, BS6397)—All background checks
    • Special Education (BS6316, BS6317)—All background checks
    • Modern Languages (BS5024)—All background checks
    • Health & Physical Education (ND8838, BS8106)—All background checks
    • Family and Consumer Sciences- Teaching (BS6370)—All background checks

     

    Step 2- Apply for Pre-Service Teacher Permit

    • Set up your State of Ohio OHID Digital Identity Account (opens in a new window)
      • Click Educator Licensure and Records (CORE)
      • Navigate to My Credentials on  your CORE Dashboard
      • Click Apply for NEW Credential
      • Select Pre-Service Teacher Permit from the menu
      • Click Apply and complete the online application from your CORE
    • NOTE: The information retrieval number (IRN) of your college or university is required for the application.
      • 063024- Ohio University should be selected as the School or University in the "Educator Preparation" section for all students on all campuses.

    2. LiveText Account

    All Teacher Candidates MUST secure a LiveText account. LiveText is an online assessment program that houses surveys, clinical experience data, task templates, and other information needed for program accreditation. If you have questions, please contact Zac Schabel (opens in a new window).

    3. Photo ID Nametag

    All Teacher Candidates must obtain an official Ohio University Patton College photo ID nametag. Candidates are to wear the nametags every time they are at placement sites. Placement sites have the right to deny entry without proper identification. On the Athens campus, nametags with OU lanyards are available at the Bobcat Depot, 1st floor of Baker Center. 

Two Additional Requirements for Early Childhood & Elementary Education Teacher Candidates

  1. Medical Statement Form: The Medical Statement Form will be emailed to all Teacher Candidates upon admission to the ECEE program. The form is valid for one year.
  2. Diploma/Transcript: You will need a copy of your high school diploma or transcript with the date of graduation. 

Questions? Contact Kristin Mazzeo Barron (opens in a new window), Director of the Child Development Center. 

Guidebooks

Special Clinical Programming Opportunities

 

Creative

Creative, Active, and Reflective Educators

CARE is a partnership for Middle Childhood, Adolescent-to-Young Adult, and Multi-Age majors, and begins in the fall of sophomore year. Students travel together as a cohort through the CARE course of study, working immediately and continuously in Partnership Schools. For more information, contact Dr. Brett Noel. (opens in a new window)

 

Rural Urban Collaborative

  Rural/Urban Collaborative

 The RUC seeks to integrate teacher preparation with schools, communities, and their leaders. It offers an exciting opportunity for all sophomores and juniors in the Department of Teacher Education to complete a field experience in an urban school setting.  For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Harrison (opens in a new window).

 

Child Development Center

 The CDC is the early childhood laboratory of The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education. As one of the only centers in the area that serves children ages six weeks to five years, it serves as a model for best practices in Southeastern Ohio. For more information, contact Kristin Mazzeo Barron (opens in a new window). 

 

Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching(COST)

Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching

Students have the opportunity to experience different perspectives and ways of being in the world; students can experience cultural immersion without needing prior fluency in a foreign language.  For more information, contact Dr. Jane Skon (opens in a new window).