Kansas Teacher Requirements

Requirements For An Initial Kansas Teacher License

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in whatever course you will have your endorsement
• At least eight credit hours of college work in teaching in the last six years
• Completion of a Kansas teacher preparation program endorsed by the state
• STEM license (optional but recommended for specific subjects)
• One year of teaching experience in the past six years; an internship is recommended
• Completion of the Praxis series of tests
• Background check, including a fingerprint file

Upgrading to a Professional Kansas Teacher License

• Three or more years of teaching experience
• Annual performance assessments
• 120 professional development points

Tests Necessary

• Praxis I basic skills test
• Praxis PLT pedagogy test; the one you take will vary by what grade level you will teach
• Praxis II content area test

Requirements For Renewing Your Kansas Teacher License

• Attain 120 professional development points

Obtaining Your Initial Teaching License

You will start your path towards becoming a Kansas teacher by earning your Initial Teacher License. Firstly, the Kansas State Department of Education requires you to complete a teacher preparation program. While most bachelor’s degree platforms in education will include a suitable preparation program, a separate one may be necessary depending on what the state determines in your application.

You must have eight credit hours of college work or more in teaching within the last six years. However, you can utilize these as part of your bachelor’s degree.

The best solution is to have a bachelor’s degree and contact the Department of Education for details on whether your degree meets the teacher preparation program requirement. Furthermore, you must complete a separate program if the state declares your degree does not meet that rule. You can find many online and in-person preparation programs within the state.

A STEM license is not necessary among applicants, but it is encouraged if your content area of interest is in that field.

You must hold at least one year of prior teaching experience within the last six years when applying. The experience may include training work or an internship, which can be attained through the teacher preparation program. However, you may need to separately apply for the teaching internship while in your prep program.

The Praxis I, PLT, and II exams are necessary in the application process.

The application process requires a criminal background check. Thus, you must complete a fingerprint file at your local sheriff’s office or a police station.

You can complete the application through whatever college or university you receive training in while in Kansas. A licensure officer can assist you with the process. However, the fee for the application will vary, so consult the officer to see what is necessary.

Endorsement Data

The endorsement in your college degree is critical to helping you find work in Kansas. As a result, your bachelor’s degree should have a major in whatever subject you wish to teach. A minor in education is also recommended, although completing the teacher preparation program should be enough to help you go forward.

The state supports multiple endorsement options. These include separate endorsements for different grade levels. You can find endorsements for specific forms of science or math, or ones for various foreign languages. The state will provide recommendations on whatever endorsements you should utilize surrounding whatever college courses you have completed and your experiences in handling the subject matter in question.

Testing Points

You will complete three tests when becoming a teacher in Kansas. These tests are from the Praxis group:

1. Praxis I

The Praxis I Core skills exam focuses on writing, math, and reading.

2. PLT

The Principles of Learning and Teaching test is a pedagogical exam that reviews your understanding of how children learn and how you can support their educational needs. You will take one of four tests based on the grade level you will teach. These tests are in the Early Childhood, K-6, 5-9, and 7-12 ranges.

3. Praxis II

The Praxis II course is for the specific subject area you will teach. These include tests for various grade levels, foreign languages, and other concepts. There are also some special education tests surrounding adaptive and functional efforts, handling gifted students, and teaching students with hearing or visual impairments.

Upgrading Your Kansas Teacher License

You can obtain your Professional License after you attain three or more years of teaching experience. Therefore, you must also complete a performance assessment involving your skills and efforts in teaching.

You may also receive professional development points by participating in a mentorship or other activities surrounding your work. You must attain 120 of these points in a program to qualify for your Professional License.

These professional development points may come from different studies you complete while you hold your initial license. One semester hour of credit from an accredited university is equal to twenty points, meaning you could complete six semester hours.

Among the courses you can complete when upgrading your license include:

• Understanding mental challenges and other learning disorders students hold
• Ethics
• Reflective teaching efforts
• Public speaking
• Managing mobile technology and other new forms of tech in the environment
• Language acquisition
• Managing multimedia and other unique ways of illustrating data in the classroom

You can contact a local accredited school within the state to see what opportunities are available.

Renewing Your License

Your professional license will last for five years. You must renew your license after that five-year period ends if you wish to keep teaching students. The Kansas State Department of Education can help educators with this process.

You must attain 120 professional development points to renew your license. The rules for acquiring your PDPs are the same as what you’d do when moving from your initial license to your professional one.

You must renew your license within six months of its expiration date. The state does not allow people to renew their work before that time frame.

Renewing a License When Retired

You can still renew your professional license if you are retired. You would require sixty professional development points here, which gives you the option to return to teaching if you wish.