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The Kent State University’s Alternative Licensure Professional Development Institute (ALPDI) program is intended for teachers holding an Alternative License. ALPDI provides ODHE-approved coursework leading to eligibility to advance to an Ohio 5-year Professional License.

This program is designed to be completed in 3 semesters or one calendar year. All courses are fully online.

See the Coursework section of each program page.

Apply to the Kent State University ALPDI Program

What is ALPDI?

The Alternative Licensure Professional Development Institute (ALPDI) at Kent State serves new teachers who completed the Ohio Department of Education requirements for an Alternative Resident Educator License. Depending on their licensure area, these teachers have four years to complete 15-18 credit hours from a state-approved professional development institute.

The Kent State ALPDI program provides 12 semester credit hours of professional education coursework in principles and practices of teaching, student development and learning, assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology. In addition, 3 semester credit hours are required in the teaching of reading for teachers in licensures other than language arts; English/Language Arts licensure teachers are also required to take a 3-semester credit hour course in phonics.

This program may be completed in one calendar year. All courses are fully online. Up to 12 credit hours from this program may be applied to a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Upon completion, a Certificate of Completion will be issued, which may be uploaded to ODE in application to advance the alternative license to a 5-year professional license.

How much does the ALPDI program cost?

A cohort rate will be offered through area Educational Resource Centers at $436/graduate credit hour for a total of $6540 for the 5 courses required for most areas of licensure. For AYA 7-12 ELA or K-12 intervention specialist licenses, an additional 3-credit hour course in phonics is required for an additional $1308.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TUITION OR FINANCIAL AID? Please visit Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center.

How do I apply?

To apply, you must have successfully completed the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) or an Alternative Resident Educator Institute (AREI) and have been issued an Alternative Resident Educators License. You then have four years to move to an Ohio 5-year Professional License.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher or a graduate degree of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution of higher education
  • Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) content assessment for the licensure area must be passed.
  • Background checks, both BCI and FBI
  • Evidence of completion of the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute (IPTI) or the Alternative Resident Educator Institute (AREI) approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education
  • A copy of Ohio Alternative Resident Educator License that includes the license number

Kent State University’s Online Alternative Licensure Professional Development Institute

The Alternative Licensure Professional Development Institute (ALPDI) at Kent State serves new teachers who completed the Ohio Department of Education requirements for an Alternative Resident Educator License. These teachers have four years to complete 15-18 credit hours, depending on their area of licensure, from a state-approved professional development institute.

The Kent State ALPDI program addresses the requirements for this advancement by providing 12 semester credit hours of professional education coursework to prepare teachers in the principles and practices of teaching, student development and learning, assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology. In addition, the Ohio Department of Education requires 3 semester credit hours for a course in teaching reading for teachers in licensures other than language arts; English/Language Arts licensure teachers are also required to take a 3-semester course in phonics.

For more information on Kent State’s Online Alternative Licensure Professional Development Institute, visit https://www.kent.edu/ehhs/alpdi.

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