License Information and Applications

The first license that an individual holds to begin practice as a teacher while preparing for the professional teaching license.

This application is for educators who have completed a Kansas teacher preparation program and are applying for their first teaching license. 

Requirements to apply:

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college/university
• Completion of a state of Kansas approved teacher preparation program
• Completion of a teacher work sample verified by the Kansas college/university
• Passing scores on the content assessment for your endorsement area(s)

The first license that an individual holds to begin practice as a school specialist while preparing for the professional school specialist license.

Endorsements available for an initial school specialist license are:

• Library Media Specialist
• Reading Specialist
• School Counselor
• School Psychologist
• Teacher Leader

To apply for this license, you must verify:

• Specialist Program Completion
  You must have completed a graduate-level program specifically designed for school specialists. The college or university must confirm this
  

• Recent Experience or Coursework
  You must show either:

  • At least one year of recent accredited work experience
    or
  • At least eight semester hours of recent college coursework

• Minimum GPA
  Your grades in the specialist program must average at least 3.25 out of 4.0

• Extra Requirement for Certain Roles
  If you’re applying to be a Library Media Specialist or Reading Specialist, you must hold a valid professional teaching license

• Extra Requirement for School Counselors
  If you’re applying to be a School Counselor, you must either:

  • Already hold a valid teaching license
    or
  • Have completed additional field experiences during your training (two courses or 70 hours over two semesters)

• Content Assessment Exam
  You must pass a state-approved test that checks your knowledge and skills for your specialist role

• Application Form
  You must complete the KLAS application and pay the processing fee

The first license that an individual holds to begin practice in a school leadership position

A School Leadership License allows someone to work in a building-level leadership or district-level leadership position in a Kansas school system.

To apply for this license, you must verify:

• Leadership Program Completion
  You must have finished a graduate-level program focused on school leadership. The college or university must confirm this.

• Extra Requirement for District Leaders
  If you’re applying for a district-level role, you also need to show you’ve completed a program in building leadership (like principal training) or special education leadership.

• Minimum GPA
  Your grades in the leadership program must average at least 3.25 out of 4.0.

• Leadership Assessment Exam
  You must pass School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990) for your building leadership license.
  You must pass School Superintendent Assessment (6991) for your district leadership license.
  
  
• Recent Experience or Coursework
  Worked in education recently (at least one year).
  or
  Taken at least eight semester hours of recent college coursework.
  
  
• Application
  You must complete the application and pay the processing fee.
  
  
• Work Experience
  You must have five years of experience working in a state-accredited school while holding a standard* teaching or school specialist license.
  
  You need to have reached a professional-level license, a professional occupational license** or a full career and technical education certificate.

*Standard - when used to describe a license, means that the license is unrestricted, non-probationary, non-provisional, non-substitute, non-limited use, or non-temporary; is issued by the state board or a comparable agency in another state; and allows an individual to work as a teacher, administrator, or school specialist in an accredited school system in Kansas or another state.

**Professional Occupational License - the license required to practice in Kansas for the profession of speech language pathologist, audiologist, or licensed master social worker.

Upgrading your Initial Teaching License in Kansas

To upgrade your initial teaching license, you must provide:

• Proof of Completing a Two-Year Mentoring Program
• The mentoring program must be approved by the Kansas State Board of Education.
• You must complete mentoring while holding your initial license, working in a system accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education, and teaching in an area you hold an endorsement in.

If you are currently teaching outside of Kansas, you may be eligible to upgrade if the school you are teaching in is accredited by a national/regional accrediting agency recognized by the Kansas State Board of Education and were mentored during that time.

Upgrade your Initial School Specialist or School Leadership license

• Proof of Completing a One-Year Mentoring Program
• The program must be approved by the Kansas State Board of Education.
• You must complete mentoring while holding your initial school specialist or initial school leadership license, working in a system accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education, and serving in a school specialist or school leadership position.

If you are currently serving outside of Kansas, you may be eligible to upgrade if the school you are serving in is accredited by a national/regional accrediting agency recognized by the Kansas State Board of Education and were mentored during that time.

 National K-12 Accrediting Agencies

• Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist schools, colleges and universities (North America Division)
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
• Association of Christian Teachers and Schools Assembly of God (ACTS)
• American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)
• Christian Schools International (CSI)
• International Christian Accrediting Association
• Montessori School Accreditation Commission
• National Christian School Association
• National Independent Private Schools Association
• National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA)
• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation (WELSSA)

Regional K-12 Accrediting Associations

• Cognia (Formerly AdvancED)
• Middle States Association
• New England Association
• Western Association

 Regional K-12 Associations of Independent Schools

• Association of Independent Schools of New England
• Independent Schools Association of the Central States
• Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
• Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
• Southern Association of Independent Schools

An educator holding a valid Kansas teaching, school specialist, or school leadership license may add an endorsement by completing an approved program in the following area:

1. Early Childhood Unified
2. Elementary Education 
3. Elementary Education Unified
4. School Leadership
   
   • Building Leadership
   • District Leadership
     
5. School Specialist
   • Library Media Specialist
   • Reading Specialist
   • School Counselor
   • School Psychologist
6. Special Education            
   • High Incidence (formally known as adaptive)
   • Low Incidence (formally known as functional)
   • Gifted
   • Deaf or Hard of Hearing
   • Visually Impaired

Once the program is completed and you have passed the appropriate Praxis content exam, the educator must complete an added endorsement application and pay the processing fee.

Educators that hold an active Kansas TEACHING license may add most endorsements by passing the appropriate Praxis content exam.  

Endorsements that cannot be added by test only are:

• Early Childhood Unified 
• Elementary Education
• Elementary Education Unified
• School Leadership
• School Specialist
• ESOL, test plus option can be found here
• Special Education
  • High Incidence (formally known as adaptive)
  • Low Incidence (formally known as functional)
  • Gifted
  • Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  • Visually Impaired
    

  The requirements for adding an endorsement by testing are:

  1. You must hold an active Kansas teaching license.
  2. You must receive a passing score on the appropriate Praxis content exam.
  3. Have your content assessment score sent electronically to KSDE. Our recipient code is 7270.

  Once you have passed the correct content exam, you will need to fill out an added endorsement application and pay the processing fee. 

First-Time Applicants

You may qualify for an emergency substitute license in one of two ways:

Option 1: College Credit Pathway

Requirements:

• Minimum of 60 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university
  Accepted accrediting bodies:
  • Middle States Commission of Higher Education
  • The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (Formally Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
  • Association for Biblical Higher Education
  • New England Commission of Higher Education

Note: CEUs and clock hours do not count toward semester credit hours.

Option 2: Greenbush Training Pathway

If you do not meet the 60-credit requirement, you may qualify by completing the Greenbush Emergency Substitute Training Modules.

Requirements:

1. High school diploma
2. Completion of Greenbush Emergency Substitute Training Modules
3. Verification of hire from a local school district
4. Application + $60 processing fee
5. Fingerprint background check + $57 fee

*Click here to register and complete the Greenbush Emergency Substitute Training Modules: plus.greenbush.org.

License Validity

• First license: Valid through June 30 of the school year in which you apply
• Renewals: Valid for two school years
  • You may apply for renewal starting in February of the year your license expires

License Limitations (Greenbush Pathway)

• Non-transferable; limited to the school district listed on the license
• May apply for multiple districts if each submits an Expanded Emergency Substitute Qualification Form
• Only one $60 application fee is required for multiple districts
• May serve no more than 25 consecutive days in the same assignment
• May substitute up to 75 school days per semester in one district

In order to qualify for a standard substitute license:

• Have earned a bachelor's degree, or above 

AND

• Verification from an accredited institution of completion of an approved teacher preparation program. 

If you completed an approved Kansas teacher preparation program, you need to complete the standard substitute license application. 

If you completed a teacher preparation program outside of Kansas, then you need to complete the out of state application. 

If your degree has led to bachelor's degree but it did NOT lead to a teaching license you do NOT qualify for the standard substitute license. Please review the emergency substitute license information. 

A temporary nonrenewable license is for an applicant that meets all other requirements for an initial teaching license except for the Praxis content assessments. 

Each temporary nonrenewable license is valid ONLY for individuals applying for their initial teaching license.

The temporary nonrenewable license shall be valid ONLY through June 30th of the school year it is issued in. 

You apply for the temporary nonrenewable license by completing an initial license application.

How to Renew Your Kansas Professional Teaching License

To renew your professional license, you must submit:

1. Renewal Application
2. Licensure Fee
3. Proof that you meet one of the following requirements during your current license term:

Options for Meeting Renewal Requirements

National Board Certification:

• Completed all components of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards assessment

OR

• Earned National Board Certification.

Professional Development Points:

• If you hold an advanced degree:
  • Earn 120 points under an approved Individual Development Plan (IDP) filed with your local Professional Development Council.
• If you do NOT hold an advanced degree:
  • Earn 160 points, including at least 80 points from college credit, under an approved IDP.\
    • one college credit hour is 20 pd points

College Coursework

• Complete 8 credit hours in an approved program OR finish an approved program.

Accredited Experience

• If you hold an advanced degree:
  • Provide proof of 3 years of recent accredited experience during your current license term.
  • This option is limited to two renewals.

Retirement System Participants

• If you are in a Kansas or other state educational retirement system:
• Complete half the professional development points required in Option B.

Important Notes

• All professional development plans must be approved by your local Professional Development Council.
• Keep documentation of your points, coursework, or experience for verification.
• Starting July 1, 2028, some educators will also need to meet the Seal of Literacy requirement (state-approved training or literacy exam) to renew their license.

Who can renew?

Educators that hold a current initial teaching, school specialist or leadership license and has not completed the mandatory mentoring while serving in position for that endorsement.

If Your Initial License Has Expired:

• If you are within 5 years of the date your initial (first) license was first issued, you may apply for renewal by completing a renewal application.

If you did not renew within 5 years or you are renewing for a second time, you can get another initial license by meeting one of the requirements below:

• Taking the required assessments within 1 year before applying

 Or

• 8 recent semester hours of college credit related to your endorsements

Or

• 1 year of recent accredited experience in your initial endorsement

Or

• Completion of professional development points awarded by a Kansas local professional development council
  • bachelor's degree you need 160 pd points including 80 points from college credit
  • advanced degree you need 120 pd points

Or

• If you are completing (or complete) a program to add a new teaching, school specialist or leadership endorsement during this license period, you may renew on 8 of the semester credit hours you complete as part of the program.

Important Notes:

“Recent” means coursework or experience completed during the most recent license term.

If you choose assessments, they must be taken no more than one year before your application.

Professional development plans must be approved by your local Professional Development Council if you use that option.

Provisional Teaching Endorsement License – What You Need to Know

A Provisional Teaching Endorsement License allows a licensed teacher to temporarily teach in a new subject area while completing the required coursework for full endorsement.

Who Can Apply?

You must already hold a valid Kansas teaching license (either Initial or Professional).

Requirements for Non-Special Education Endorsement Areas:

To apply, you need to submit:

• Proof of Progress
  • Show you’ve completed at least 50% of an approved teacher education program in the subject you want to teach.
• Deficiency Plan
  • A plan from your college or university explaining what courses you still need to finish.
• Employment Verification
  • Confirmation that you have a teaching job in the area of the provisional endorsement.
• Application Form
  • Complete and submit the official application for a provisional endorsement license.

Special Education Endorsements:

If you’re applying for special education areas (such as high-incidence, low-incidence, deaf/hard-of-hearing, gifted, or visually impaired), you need:

To apply, you need to submit:

• Special Coursework:
  • Completed classes in special education methods and characteristics of exceptional children, plus a practicum in the specific area.
• Deficiency Plan
  • A plan from your college or university explaining what courses you still need to finish.
• Employment Verification
  • Confirmation that you have a teaching job in the area of the provisional endorsement.
• Application Form
  • Complete and submit the official application for a provisional endorsement license.

Provisional School Specialist Endorsement License – What Is It?

A provisional license is issued to a qualified individual that allows access to practice as a school specialist while the individual is in the process of completing requirements for the school specialist license

A Provisional School Specialist Endorsement License allows qualified professionals to work in a school specialist role (such as counselor, library media specialist, or reading specialist) while completing the remaining requirements for full licensure.

Who Can Apply?

• Educators enrolled in a school specialist program and has completed at least 50% of the coursework.
• Employed in the school specialist area for which the license is sought.

What Do You Need to Submit?

Proof of Progress

• Verification that you’ve completed 50% of your school specialist program.

Deficiency Plan:

• A plan from your college or university showing what courses you still need to finish.

Employment Verification

• Confirmation that you have a job in the school specialist area.

Additional Requirements for Certain Roles

Library Media or Reading Specialist:

• You must hold a valid professional teaching license.

School Counselor:

• Your employer must confirm that a licensed school counselor will supervise you during the provisional period.

You must either:

• Hold a valid teaching license.

OR

• Provide verification from your college that you’ve completed extra field experience (at least one 3-credit course or 35 of 70 required clock hours) and will be supervised on-site during your first semester.

Application:

Complete and submit the official application.

To apply for a Kansas teaching license based on your out of state teaching license, you will need to submit an online application and provide the following documentation:

Required Application Materials:

• Official transcripts showing the degree earned and the date it was conferred.
• If you hold additional degrees, an official transcript is required for each one.
• Evidence of a cntent assessment from Praxis or a comparable cotent assessment.
• A copy of your current, standard out‑of‑state teaching license.
  • The Kansas license you are applying for must match the endorsement(s) listed on your out‑of‑state license.

Verification of an approved teacher preparation program:

• This form is sent to the email address you enter for your education program in the application, must be completed by the unit head or designated official from the institution where you completed your state‑approved teacher education program.

Verification of recent teaching experience:

• You must provide proof of at least one year of teaching experience within the past two years before the date of your application.

Military documentation (if applicable):

• If you or your spouse is serving, or has honorably served, in the military, you will submit a copy of your standard military ID or DD‑214 showing honorable discharge.

Fingerprinting and Background Check:

• All applicants must submit fingerprints and successfully pass a criminal background check as part of the licensure process. Visit the Fingerprint page for more information.

Out of state Licensure Standing:

• Your out‑of‑state teaching license must be in good standing and not under any disciplinary action to qualify for Kansas licensure.

Submit an official evaluation of your foreign education credentials from a credential evaluator approved by the Kansas State Board of Education. You will need to use a member that is part of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

English Proficiency:

If English is not your primary language, you must provide proof of passing scores on an English proficiency test approved by the State Board. You may find more information about the TOEFL here.

Content testing: 

You must pass the correct content assessment exam for your specific content area.

Before completing this application, please refer to the upgrade requirements printed on your Temporary Nonrenewable License or Transitional license.  If you do not have a copy of your license, one can be downloaded on License Lookup.

You will fill out Form 3b Upgrade Nonrenewable license

If your Temporary Nonrenewable License has been expired for more than five years, please contact our office at 785-296-2288.

This is a license that allows an individual to temporarily practice if the individual held a license but does not meet recent credit, recent experience, or the renewal requirements to qualify for an initial teaching license or a professional teaching license, an initial school specialist license or a professional school specialist license, or an initial school leadership license or a professional school leadership license.

To be eligible for a transitional license:

• You have an expired Kansas Initial or professional license. 
• Your license has been expired for at least six months

A transitional license is:

• A nonrenewable license valid for the school year in which you apply.
• Allows you to accept a teaching position while completing renewal requirements for your expired initial or professional license.

You will fill out Form 3c Transitional License (for a licnese that has been expired six months or more)

It is recommended that you do not apply for this license unless you are employed or have been offered employment in a Kansas school district.  

If you have been teaching out of state at least halftime under contract for three of the last six years, please contact our office before applying for a transitional license

Before completing this application, please refer to the upgrade requirements printed on your Transitional license.  If you do not have a copy of your license, one can be downloaded on License Lookup.

You will fill out Form 3b Upgrade a Nonrenewable license.

If your Transitional license has been expired for more than five years, please contact our office at 785-296-2288.

STEM license allows an individual to teach only life science, physical science, earth and space science, mathematics, engineering, computer technology, finance, or accounting subjects in a KSDE accredited school. 

STEM license is only valid in the school year it is issued and must be renewed each year.

The license is only valid for grades 8 through 12.

To qualify for a STEM teaching license, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Education
   You must have an official transcript showing you earned a college degree (undergraduate or graduate) in one of these fields:
• Life Science
• Physical Science
• Earth & Space Science
• Mathematics
• Engineering
• Computer Technology
• Finance or Accounting
2. Work Experience
   You need at least five years of full-time professional experience in your subject area.
3. Job Offer
   A school district (local education agency) must agree to hire you and assign you to teach only the subject listed on your STEM license.
4. Professional Development
   The hiring school district must provide appropriate training and professional learning opportunities to support your success.

To apply for a STEM licnese you will fill out form 10.

Once you have completed your internship you will fill out form 19 -upgrade initial based on internship. 

This application is for educators who have successfully achieved national board certification. 

Educators applying for an Accomplished teaching License can qualify by verification of the following:

• Verification of achieving National Board Certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 
• Currently valid Professional teaching license.
• Submit an application by completing form 11-Accomplished-NBCT.
  

Checklist for Specialized CTE Certificate:

• Industry certificate
• Documented 2 years (~4,000 hours) of related work experience
• District request for issuance and course authorization
• Register in Kansas Licensure Application System (KLAS)
• Completed application
• Fingerprints

You will complete form 6e CTE Specialized Certificate.