How Many CEUs Do Ohio Teachers Need to Renew Their License?

Ohio teachers need 18 continuing education units (CEUs) — equivalent to 180 contact hours — to renew a Professional, Advanced, or Associate license. Alternatively, teachers can complete six semester credit hours of graduate-level coursework, or combine CEUs and credit hours to meet the requirement. All activities must be approved by your Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) and aligned with your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

This article breaks down exactly what counts as a CEU in Ohio, how contact hours convert to CEUs, and how graduate credits compare to the CEU-based path — so you can choose the renewal option that makes the most sense for your career.

What Is a CEU in Ohio?

A continuing education unit (CEU) is a standardized measure of professional development used by Ohio's State Board of Education to quantify non-credit learning activities. One CEU represents 10 contact hours of participation in an organized educational experience under qualified instruction.

In Ohio, CEUs are used specifically for teacher license renewal when educators choose the non-credit path instead of earning semester credit hours. The Ohio State Board of Education defines the CEU requirement as 18 CEUs per five-year renewal cycle for Professional, Advanced, and Associate licenses.

Contact Hours vs. CEUs: The Conversion

Ohio uses a straightforward conversion rate:

• 1 CEU = 10 contact hours
• 18 CEUs = 180 contact hours

A contact hour is one hour (60 minutes) of actual instructional time in a professional development activity. For example, a two-day workshop that runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day (with a one-hour lunch break) would provide 10 contact hours total, which equals 1.0 CEU.

Ohio's Three Renewal Paths: CEUs, Credit Hours, or a Combination

Ohio offers three ways to satisfy the renewal requirement for Professional, Advanced, and Associate licenses. All three options must be approved by your LPDC and documented in your IPDP.

Renewal Path	Requirement	Best For
CEUs / Contact Hours	18 CEUs (180 contact hours)	Teachers seeking flexibility, lower cost, and faster completion
Semester Credit Hours	6 semester credit hours	Teachers pursuing salary advancement or a graduate degree
Combination	Mix of CEUs and credit hours	Teachers who want to satisfy renewal while making partial progress toward a lane change

Most Ohio teachers who are not actively pursuing salary advancement choose the CEU path because it is faster and less expensive than enrolling in graduate courses. However, teachers who want to move up their district's salary schedule typically choose the credit hour path, since the same six credits that renew the license also trigger a lane change on most Ohio salary schedules.

What Counts as a Qualifying CEU Activity in Ohio?

Not all professional development activities qualify for CEUs in Ohio. To count toward your renewal requirement, an activity must be:

• Related to classroom teaching or your area of licensure — general professional development unrelated to your teaching assignment may not qualify
• Approved by your LPDC — your Local Professional Development Committee must pre-approve the activity as part of your IPDP
• Documented with a certificate of completion — you must provide proof of attendance and the number of contact hours earned

Examples of Qualifying CEU Activities

Ohio LPDCs typically approve the following types of activities for CEU credit:

• District-sponsored professional development workshops
• State or regional education conferences (OEA, OAESA, subject-specific associations)
• Online professional development courses from approved providers
• Graduate-level courses that do not result in semester credit (audit or non-credit enrollment)
• Curriculum development projects approved by the LPDC
• Peer observation and coaching programs
• Action research projects aligned with your IPDP goals

Each LPDC has discretion to approve or deny specific activities, so it is critical to confirm approval before you begin any professional development work. Activities completed without LPDC approval will not count toward your renewal requirement.

How Do Graduate Credits Compare to CEUs in Ohio?

Ohio allows teachers to satisfy the renewal requirement with six semester credit hours instead of 18 CEUs. The two paths are considered equivalent by the State Board of Education, but they serve different purposes and have different costs and time commitments.

Factor	18 CEUs (180 Contact Hours)	6 Semester Credit Hours
Cost	$200–$600 (varies by provider)	$1,200–$2,400 (varies by university)
Time Commitment	180 hours over 5 years (flexible schedule)	6–12 months per course (structured deadlines)
Salary Impact	None (does not trigger lane change)	Moves you to the next salary lane (typically +$2,000–$5,000/year)
Degree Progress	None	Counts toward a Master's degree (if enrolled in a program)
LPDC Approval	Required	Required

For teachers who are not pursuing salary advancement, the CEU path is usually the more practical choice. It costs less, offers more flexibility, and can be completed through shorter workshops and online courses rather than semester-long graduate classes.

For teachers who are pursuing salary advancement, the credit hour path makes more sense. The same six credits that renew your license also move you to the next lane on your district's salary schedule, which typically results in a permanent annual salary increase of $2,000 to $5,000 or more — far exceeding the cost of the coursework.

Can You Combine CEUs and Credit Hours?

Yes. Ohio allows teachers to combine CEUs and semester credit hours to meet the renewal requirement. This is particularly useful if you have completed some graduate coursework but do not have the full six credits needed for renewal.

The State Board of Education does not publish an official conversion rate between CEUs and semester credit hours, so your LPDC will determine how to credit partial coursework. A common approach is to treat one semester credit hour as equivalent to 3 CEUs (30 contact hours), but this varies by district.

If you plan to combine CEUs and credit hours, confirm the conversion rate with your LPDC before you begin any activities. This ensures you do not over- or under-complete the requirement.

How to Track Your CEUs and Submit Documentation

Ohio teachers are responsible for tracking their own CEU accumulation and submitting documentation to their LPDC. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Create your IPDP — Work with your LPDC to design an Individual Professional Development Plan that outlines the activities you will complete over the five-year renewal cycle.
2. Get pre-approval for each activity — Before you register for a workshop, course, or conference, confirm with your LPDC that the activity qualifies for CEU credit.
3. Attend and complete the activity — Participate in the full program and obtain a certificate of completion that documents the number of contact hours earned.
4. Submit documentation to your LPDC — Provide your LPDC with certificates, transcripts, or other proof of completion. Your LPDC will record the CEUs in your IPDP.
5. Apply for renewal through CORE — Once you have completed the full requirement (18 CEUs or 6 credit hours), your LPDC will approve your IPDP, and you can submit your renewal application through Ohio's CORE system.

Keep copies of all certificates and documentation for your own records. If there is a discrepancy or audit, you will need to provide proof of completion.

The October 1 Deadline: Why It Matters

Ohio teachers must submit their renewal application by October 1 of the expiration year to avoid a lapse in licensure. If your license expires on June 30, 2026, your renewal application must be submitted by October 1, 2025 — nine months before expiration.

This early deadline exists because the LPDC approval process can take several weeks, and the State Board of Education needs time to process applications before the expiration date. Teachers who miss the October 1 deadline may experience a gap in licensure, which can affect employment eligibility.

To avoid missing the deadline, start accumulating CEUs or credit hours at the beginning of your renewal cycle — not in the final year. Spreading the requirement over five years makes it easier to manage and reduces the risk of a last-minute scramble.

The Bottom Line

Ohio teachers need 18 CEUs (180 contact hours) or six semester credit hours to renew a Professional, Advanced, or Associate license. The CEU path is faster and less expensive, making it the best choice for teachers who are not pursuing salary advancement. The credit hour path costs more and takes longer, but it also moves you to the next salary lane — which typically results in a permanent annual salary increase that far exceeds the cost of the coursework.

Whichever path you choose, make sure every activity is pre-approved by your LPDC and documented in your IPDP. Start early, track your progress, and submit your renewal application by the October 1 deadline to avoid any gaps in licensure.