Ohio's Alternative Resident Educator License
OH Professional Development Institute
We Are Ohio Educators
Educator for All's Professional Development Institute (PDI) supports teachers pursuing an Ohio five-year professional teaching license through the Alternative Resident Educator pathway. You are eligible to register for PDI if you hold a current or expired Alternative Resident Educator License issued by the State Board of Education of Ohio.
Educator for All's Professional Development Institute (PDI) is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Delivered entirely online, the program ensures consistency in content, activities, and assessments. Using an asynchronous format, participants have 24/7 access to training materials, allowing them to learn at their own pace without needing to be online simultaneously with others. They can submit assignments at their convenience, communicate with the instructor, and access technical support through an online messaging system. The instructor provides feedback on assignments to support skill mastery, and participants may revise and resubmit their work within their registration period.
Participant Responsibilities
Participants enrolled in Educator for All's Professional Development Institute (PDI) are expected to actively engage with the online content, thoroughly review support materials, complete all activities and assignments, and submit electronic assessments. The PDI is offered in a self-paced online format, requiring approximately 150 seat hours to complete. Participants have a full year (365 days) to complete the 25 competency-based assessments at their own pace. Upon successful completion, they will receive a PDI Certificate of Completion for the State Board of Education of Ohio.
Competency-Driven Content
Our Professional Development Institute offers competency-based training designed to help participants develop and demonstrate the skills aligned with the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession. This asynchronous program features six online competencies, available 24/7, each focusing on essential teaching skills and performance-based assessments.
Competencies include:
- Teaching as a Profession
- Learner Development and Learning Differences
- Supporting Learning Environments
- Assessment for Learning
- Planning for Instruction
- Leading Instruction
On Completion, a PDI Participant Can:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of Ohio’s Standards for the Teaching Profession, upholding ethical conduct, legal compliance, and a commitment to ongoing professional growth.
- Recognize student developmental stages, learning differences, and unique characteristics to design inclusive and effective instruction.
- Implement effective classroom management strategies to foster a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment that promotes positive behavior.
- Utilize diverse assessment methods to accurately evaluate student learning, inform instructional decisions, and ensure alignment with Ohio’s educational standards, curriculum, and assessment guidelines.
- Align instruction with K-12 Ohio Learning Standards to create meaningful, relevant, and engaging learning experiences.
- Apply varied teaching strategies to address learning objectives, accommodate diverse learning styles, and enhance both instructional effectiveness and student success.
Required Coursework to Advance to the Professional License
The Ohio State Board of Education Policy
If any of these are limitations noted on an individual’s evaluation:
- Content Area Reading Course Required Before License Expires [880188] OR
- Reading/phonics coursework required before license expires [890001] OR
- 3 Sem. Hrs. Reading Required before License Expires [880183] OR
- 3 Sem. Hrs. Phonics Required before License Expires [880193]
Then, the coursework for requirements to advance must be on an official transcript from an accredited college/university. Suggested economical courses:
- Reading in the Other Content Area- available online at Ashland University for $630 – please review, Reading in Other Content (3CR) - Instructor: Jodi Rath | Ashland and/or email Jodi Rath, jrath@columbus.rr.com
- If your evaluation from the State Board of Education of Ohio requires Phonics coursework it is available online at Ashland University for $615 - please review, Phonics (3CR) - Instructor: Jodi Rath | Ashland and/or email Jodi Rath, jrath@columbus.rr.com
Payment Options
No Application Fee
Program Duration: 1 Year
Payment Options:
- Pay in Full: $2,400
Register with a buddy and save $300 — only $2,100 per person - Military & Veterans: $2,200
Includes a $200 discount with proof of service - Flexible Installments:
- 3 monthly payments of $850
- 10 monthly payments of $260
How to Register for PDI
NO APPLICATION FEE
Step 1: In the Contact Us below, submit this information:
- First and Last name
- Email address
- Ohio residential address
- Current or expired Ohio alternative resident educator license (AREL) OR, in the case of an individual who is seeking a teaching position, your letter of eligibility for an Ohio AREL.
Step 2: We review your request:
- When approved, you receive an email with a link to complete your registration.
- If not approved, you receive an email with an explanation and next steps.
Step 3: Once registration is complete and payment is processed, you will receive instructions to begin your PDI training.