Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Ohio K-12 Reading Endorsement, or State Endorsement option, requires 15 semester hours of reading instruction beyond the 12 prerequisite hours prescribed for licensure by the State of Ohio. However, the state option allows for 3 semester hours of undergraduate coursework to be counted toward the endorsement, so candidates seeking this option take 4 graduate courses. Typically early childhood and intervention specialists receive credit for the phonics course. If you wanted to pursue this option, you would use the Graduate Student Non-Degree option form and the Application for Educator Prep form. If you just want the endorsement, and are not considering additional graduate work, and plan to stay in Ohio, this would be the best option. People who already have a master’s degree in another area would be prime candidates for this option. No financial aid is available for this option.

The BGSU Reading Endorsement Certificate, or BGSU option, provides you with the Ohio K-12 reading endorsement; however, it does not allow undergraduate courses to be used in the Reading Endorsement Certificate Program. While we can transfer up to 3 semester hours of graduate courses that are similar in content to those offered at BGSU, we cannot accept undergraduate coursework toward a graduate certificate. This program would require all 5 GRADUATE courses listed above. You would need to apply for admission to this program by going to the Graduate College website as well as complete an application to exit the program. In addition to earning the Ohio K-12 Endorsement, your transcripts would also show that you completed the Reading Endorsement Certificate Program at BGSU. If you were to complete ALL the coursework in one summer, there is NO COST difference between the two options. Financial aid is available for this option.

Fees are set by the Board of Trustees at Bowling Green State University. The most recent fee information can be found at https://www.bgsu.edu/bursar/calculate-your-cost-of-attendance/graduate-calculator.html

Financial aid is available for the BGSU Reading Endorsement Certificate Program and the M.Ed. in Reading Program. Applicants should complete the FASFA form and the BGSU Financial Aid form.

For the Ohio Reading Endorsement, one undergraduate class may count. Generally for Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and Intervention Specialists, the undergraduate phonics class is substituted for the graduate phonics class. The remaining four classes must be taken at the graduate level. For the BGSU Reading Endorsement Certificate Program and the M.Ed. in Reading, BGSU is not authorized to accept undergraduate courses for graduate credit.

The Ohio Board of Higher Education requires early childhood, middle childhood, and intervention specialists candidates for the Ohio reading endorsement to have 12 semester hours of reading instruction prior to being accepted into a certificate program; all other licensure areas need 9 semester hours of reading coursework. Candidates without the required prerequisite hours (usually those graduating before 2004 and those from out of state), will need to take additional courses prior to admission into the endorsement classes. Three courses generally meet these guidelines: EDTL 5210 Phonics and Word Study; EDTL 5230 Foundations of Reading; and EDTL 6820 Topics in EDTL:  Reading Assessment.   Consult with the program coordinator for more specific information about which courses to take.

Early Childhood majors are licensed to teach reading in kindergarten through third grade. Middle Childhood language arts majors are licensed to teach reading in grades four through nine. The Ohio Reading Endorsement allows teachers to teach reading from kindergarten through grade 12.

To get the endorsement, complete the coursework, and pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators Reading Subtests I & II (038, 039) (http://www.oh.nesinc.com). Students should apply for the endorsement online through the ODE website.  In your S.A.F.E. account, click on "my credential," "select action," "add area," find the endorsement area from the list and click the box next to it, then “continue.”  Follow prompts to complete the application, making sure to apply your payment to the application.

Make sure BGSU has your passing Pearson OAE score/s.  To verify, please contact Janet Hammersmith at jhammer@bgsu.edu.

After verifying your requirements, BGSU will approve your application for the endorsement.  You will then receive an email confirmation from ODE that your license is ready for you to print.  ODE no longer sends out a paper license; you print the license yourself.

If you have questions in this process, contact Janet Hammersmith at 419-372-7289 or jhammer@bgsu.edu.

The registration process can begin once you submit all paperwork identified under the degree or non-degree options and have met the criteria for registration. For Summer registration, please visit www.bgsu.edu/sli. Candidates must self- register for courses unless unable due to a prerequisite.   For assistance, please contact Wendy Vaughn at 419-372-7320 or wwalsto@bgsu.edu.

The Ohio Board of Higher Education requires all candidates for the Ohio Reading Endorsement to complete a minimum of 100 field hours distributed across the grade span. At BGSU, we distribute these 100 hours across two courses.

The first course with a field component (needing an early childhood student (K-3), a middle childhood student (4-6), AND an AYA student (7-12) is EDTL 6220. This course requires the candidate to conduct assessments with three students. A total of 30 hours (10 per student) is required to complete this course. The time includes (a) preparing for the assessment, (b) giving the assessment, (c) scoring and interpreting the assessment, and (d) providing recommendations for future teaching based on scores. The course will be offered via BGSU Canvas and assignments will be submitted there. Candidates will be required to submit videotapes, audiotapes, or do real-time taping.

The second course is nearly all practicum…this course requires an early childhood student (K-3), a middle childhood student (4-6), AND an AYA student (7-12). Candidates will be required to document a total of 25 semester hours per student, with at least 15 hours of face-to-face tutoring per student, so that is 45 contact hours for the three students. Again, planning time, assessment time, and reflection time (10 hours per student are mandated). Ideally, the same students should be used for both classes (assess in 6220 and provide intervention in 6280). This is not always possible, especially during the summer. The course will be offered via BGSU Canvas and assignments will be submitted there. Candidates will be required to submit videotapes, audiotapes, or do real-time taping.

The registration process can begin once you submit all paperwork identified under the degree or non-degree options and have met the criteria for registration. Candidates must self- register for courses unless unable due to a prerequisite.   For assistance, please contact Wendy Vaughn at 419-372-7320 or wwalsto@bgsu.edu.

Yes. Three semester hours can be transferred in the Ohio Reading Endorsement coursework, or the BGSU Reading Endorsement Certificate Program. For the Master of Education in Reading degree, six semester hours may be transferred with program coordinator approval.