To teach preschool in Ohio, teachers must earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. This degree, offered at many universities in Ohio, prepares teachers to work with children ages three through eight. Teachers learn how young children develop, what behaviors to expect, and how best to instruct this age group. Teachers also take courses in specific areas of interest such as mathematics so that they can instruct preschoolers in these areas.
All teachers must pass the Praxis II examination before they can be approved to teach by the Ohio Department of Education. This comprehensive examination covers laws related to education, mastery of specific subject areas, and knowledge of early childhood development. The exam is multiple choice and lasts about two hours. The test is paper-based; no computerized version is available as of June 2010. It is given four times a year, and applicants must pay an $80 registration fee to take the test, although fee waivers are available to qualifying students. Scoring is scaled; 166 is considered a passing score.
Ohio law requires that all teachers pass both a state background check and a FBI check before receiving their initial licenses. When renewing the license, early childhood educators must pass another FBI check if they have lived in Ohio for five years and another FBI and state check if they have lived in Ohio for less than five years. Both the state of Ohio and the FBI use fingerprinting to conduct background checks.
As of 2010, all new preschool teachers must complete a four-year residency program before receiving a permanent license. During these first four years of teaching, preschool teachers work with a mentor—an experienced teacher who guides the new teacher, helps her deal with problems such as classroom management, helps her plan lessons, and teaches her educational techniques.