Sign up for a SAFE account or check your account status

Reason for SAFE Signup

(multiple reasons can be selected)

I am applying for an initial (or renewing a previously issued) Ohio Department of Education license or permit I am a parent, signing up for College Credit Plus program I am an adult student applying for the Adult Diploma or Adult 22+ Programs I am a parent signing up to access a scholarship application. Other reasons such as Scholarship Provider I am a parent signing up to submit income documents for scholarship and/or ACE I am signing up to apply for a Tax Credit for the Work Based Learning Experience

Basic Information

Please enter the following information exactly as it appears on your identity verification document. for a list of acceptable verification documents.

First Name:

Middle Name:

Current Last Name:

Previous Last Name:

SSN4:
SSN:
I do not have SSN

Birth Date:

Why does ODE ask for this?

First, ODE uses the last four digits of your social security number as part of the automated identity verification process with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If the SSN4 provided does not match the information in the BMV database, then automated identity verification will fail and the slower manual process must be followed.

Second, ODE uses the SSN4 as part of identity verification if you later request to change your password.

What if I don’t have a SSN?

ODE recognizes that not all SAFE account applicants will have a social security number. In this case, the automated identity verification process with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles cannot be used, your only identify verification option is the slower manual process. However, for future password change requests, a number is still needed. Please enter any four digit number you will remember later. If you need to change your password, this number should be entered instead of an SSN4.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce requires that all SAFE accounts be validated against verifiable forms of identification. ID Verification ensures the department can be reasonably sure of the identity of customers who are using Ohio Department of Education and Workforce systems, which increases security for all educators, students, and families in Ohio. To provide faster verification, the customer can submit current and valid State of Ohio issued Identity card details online that will be verified automatically in SAFE. Acceptable forms of State of Ohio credentials are an Ohio Driver License or State Identification Card, for details see http://www.bmv.ohio.gov. If the customer does not have a current or valid State of Ohio Issued identity card their identity will need to be verified with an alternate acceptable form of identity that can be scanned or photographed and submitted online through SAFE. Approved forms of alternate IDs must contain a photo, name, DOB, gender, and ID number. All IDs must be current and valid at the time of submission.

Specific IDs that are accepted are:

Driver license or ID card issued by any U.S. State or U.S. Territory provided it contains a photograph, name, date of birth, gender, and address
U.S. Passport or U.S Passport Card
US Military ID including Military Dependent’s ID
Foreign passport that contains photo, name, DOB, gender, and ID number
Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on an immigrant visa
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)