The Surrogate Parent Training will be updated on June 22, 2026. Participants who have already started the training are encouraged to complete it by the end of day on Friday, June 19, 2026, to receive a certificate of completion. Any training not completed before the update will need to be restarted. User account activity will be reset with this update. If you have any questions regarding the Surrogate Parent Training or the upcoming updates, please contact exceptionalchildren@education.ohio.gov. For technical support with the changes, please email support@ocali.org.

Want to learn more before getting started? Check out the Surrogate Parent for a Child with Disability InspirEd webinar. This 30-minute virtual learning session explains the role of the surrogate parent, the requirements for serving as a surrogate parent, the Ohio statewide systems in place to build the capacity for the surrogate parent's role and a preview into this online training.

Training Overview

Serving as a Surrogate Parent for a Child with a Disability

If you are interested in becoming certified as a Surrogate Parent for a student in Ohio, you must create an account or login to begin the course. You will then complete each module in sequence.

Each module will include:

Video presentation explaining key concepts and resources
Method of applying the information learned
Content and resources from external sources
Reflection opportunities
Quiz to assess learning and knowledge of content

Have questions? Want to learn more about the training features? Visit the Help page.

Introduction
Estimated Time to Complete: 45 minutes Module 1: Surrogate Parent Responsibilities
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 hour Module 2: Defining Terms and Responsibilities
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours Module 3: Children and Parent Rights
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours Module 4: The Special Education Process – Part One
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours Module 5: The Special Education Process – Part Two
Estimated Time to Complete: 2 1/2 hours Module 6: Additional Specific Requirements – Part One
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 hour Module 7: Additional Specific Requirements – Part Two
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 hour Conclusion