Kentucky Teacher Requirements

Requirements For Your Initial Kentucky Teacher Certificate

• Bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA or greater, or 3.0 or higher for the last sixty semester hours; the degree must be in the proper field you will teach
• Completion of a Kentucky teacher preparation program
• Completion of the Praxis I and II exams
• Application for entry, including the necessary criminal background check

Exams to Complete

• Praxis I basic skills test
• Praxis II core area test

Upgrading to a Grade II Certificate

• Complete twenty-four hours of professional development courses for each year you teach
• Six of the hours you attain each year must be from in-school sessions

Renewal Data

• Twenty-four hours of professional development courses for each active year of teaching
• At least three years of active teaching work in the past five years

Points For a Bachelor’s Degree

The Commonwealth of Kentucky requires a bachelor’s degree among all teacher candidates. The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board provides help for getting people to become licensed.

The board states that the teacher must have a 2.5 GPA or greater or a 3.0 or greater GPA for the last sixty semester hours of courses one has completed.

Your bachelor’s degree must meet the necessary rules for completion, although those rules will vary surrounding what you wish to teach:

• Elementary School – Your courses must include ones in all subject areas taught in the elementary classroom environment. These include math, social studies, English, and other points.
• Middle School – You must have a major in English, math, science, or social studies. The major must have at least thirty semester hours of coursework. The program must also include courses in teaching and education.
• Secondary School – Your major must be in the subject area you will teach. There may be unique requirements surrounding whatever major you hold.

Completing a Kentucky Teacher Preparation Program

You must also finish a Kentucky teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university. Such programs are available through various schools throughout the state, although you may also complete a program in another state that is also a member of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. The agreement entails shared standards surrounding how you can qualify to become a teacher.

The teacher preparation program you complete will focus on a specific grade level. There are seven programs available, including ones for exceptional children and early childhood education. Some studies entail an all-around approach that focuses on all children from elementary, middle, and secondary schools. Still, the best solution is to take a course surrounding whatever level your bachelor’s degree supports.

Exams Necessary For Certification

All prospective teachers in Kentucky must complete the Praxis I test and the Praxis II exam for your content area. There are separate Praxis II tests for middle school and secondary education disciplines. You will also find Praxis II exams for all grades, including ones for various foreign languages, students with hearing or vision impairments, or teaching English as a Second Language.

The Application For Entry

You will complete the Application for Kentucky Certification form when you reach all the standards for your license. You must include information on your education history and training, plus the superintendent at the school where you completed your teaching studies will fill out part of the form. The institution where your preparation took place will also need to fill a portion of the same form.

You can add your college transcripts and your check or money order for whatever fees you owe to the state treasurer. You must also request that the Educational Testing Service delivers your test scores to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

You’ll need to undergo a background check after you finish your initial application. The check is necessary before you can attain a job or other work position in the commonwealth. The AOCFastCheck system works for online background checks, but you can also complete an in-person application if necessary.

You can get a response and earn your certification, but the timing will vary, based on the overall backlog. The department will contact you when you are ready to receive your certification and are eligible to teach in the state.

Other Kentucky Teacher Ranks You Could Qualify For

The basic rank that you will earn when getting your initial license in Kentucky is Rank III. This is for initial certification and is for those who have a four-year college degree.

You can apply for a Rank II license if you have a master’s degree or if you receive the necessary continuing education for your studies. This level is the one you must attain after you get your initial Rank III license. You will undergo further studies for professional development, including twenty-four hours of credit for each year you teach. Six of those hours should be provided by schools, while the other eighteen can be done online through an accredited service provider.

The Rank II license lasts for five years. You must complete the continuing education standards to maintain your license.

A Rank I certificate is possible, but you must hold the following to attain this level:

• A master’s degree in the field you serve
• Receive certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
• Continue earning your continuing education credits, including thirty hours of credit each year

The Rank IV and V levels are emergency licenses for those who have enough approved college credit or training. These licenses are necessary for ensuring schools that have substantial teacher shortages can take in the temporary educators necessary for the work at hand.

Renewing Your License

You can renew your Rank II license by completing at least three years of classroom teaching in the last five years or attaining six semester hours of further graduate credit. You must also earn twenty-four hours of professional development credit through in-class and online studies each year. Your local school can provide information on what you should be doing when completing your credits.

The Kentucky Department of Education is available to help people renew their licenses.