I Want to Become a Kansas
Certified Teacher
In order to teach in Kansas,
you must hold a valid teaching license. A
teaching license requires completion of an
approved teacher preparation program in the
subject or field that you want to teach. For
example, if you want to be an elementary classroom
teacher, you would complete an elementary
education program. Middle level or secondary
level teachers complete programs in the subject
area they want to teach, such as English language
arts, mathematics, biology, etc. The teacher
preparation programs are completed through
a regionally accredited college or university
that offers teacher preparation programs that
have been approved by the Kansas State Board
of Education.
Teacher preparation programs
may be completed as part of a bachelor’s
degree, or, for those who already hold a degree,
as post-baccalaureate programs that do not
lead to additional degrees.
You need to contact a
college or university that offers an approved
program in the teaching area you are seeking.
After you review the list of institutions
offering the approved program and have decided
on the one you want to work with,
contact the licensure officer at the institution
for a plan of study. The plan will include:
requirements that must be met for formal acceptance
into the program; coursework that must be
completed; and any degree requirements if
applicable. A minimum cumulative grade point
average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale must
be maintained as you complete your degree
and/or program coursework. When you complete
your program, you will need to pass licensure
tests in your content area and in teaching
skills before you apply for the initial teaching
license.
I already hold a degree
in the subject or content area I want to teach
(such as mathematics). What do I have to do
to qualify for a teaching license?
You will still have to
complete a teacher preparation program. You
could complete a traditional teacher preparation
program as described above. However, because
you already have content coursework completed,
you may be eligible for an alternative licensure
program under a
restricted teaching license.
