Nontraditional Teaching License Pathway

Kansas offers several nontraditional pathways to becoming a licensed teacher, designed to meet individuals where they are in their education and career journey.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for the Limited Elementary Residency Program License (elementary education), the Limited Residency License (special education), or the Restricted Teaching License (specific content areas).

For individuals who do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree, Kansas offers the Limited Teacher Apprentice Program (LTAP) license, which includes the Wichita State University Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) and the Building Essential Skills Together (BEST) program through Fort Hays State University. The Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship is also a pathway toward earning a teaching license. 

The Limited Elementary Residency Program (LERP)

The Limited Elementary Residency Program (LERP) is a nontraditional pathway intended to respond to school districts’ need to hire qualified licensed teachers for elementary positions. It is designed to recruit mid-career professionals who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and are seeking a career change. 

This pathway provides an opportunity for these individuals, after they have completed a minimum of six (6) credit hours in the program, to then have access to start teaching under a Limited Elementary Residency License while completing professional education pedagogy coursework to become fully licensed. 

Limited Residency License (LRL)

The Limited Residency License (LRL) is a nontraditional pathway intended to respond to school districts’ need to hire qualified licensed teachers in the Special Education content area. It is designed to recruit individuals that have working experience, usually as a para educator, in the Special Education field or equivalent experience in a noneducational setting. 

This pathway provides an opportunity for these individuals, after they have completed a minimum of six (6) credit hours in the program, to then have access to start teaching under a Limited Residency License while completing professional education pedagogy and Special Education coursework to become fully licensed. 

Restricted Teaching License

The Restricted Teaching License is a special pathway designed to help school districts hire qualified teachers in high-need areas. It’s ideal for:

• Mid-career professionals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree who want to transition into teaching.
• Heritage language speakers with a degree who want to teach their native language.

This pathway allows eligible individuals to start teaching right away under a Restricted License while they complete required education coursework to earn a full teaching license.

Limited Teacher Apprentice Program (LTAP) License

What program can I be in for an LTAP License?

Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) only at Wichita State University, prepares individuals with a flexible program of study, specially designed for Para Educators to earn their bachelor's degree in one of the following endorsement areas:

• Early Childhood Unified, birth through grade 3 and Elementary Education Pre-Kindergarten through grade 6
• Middle Level Mathematics, grades 5-8
• Middle Level Science, grades 5-8

You can reach out to Jill Wood, TAP Coordinator, at Jill.Wood@wichita.edu for additional information on their program.

Building Essential Skills Together (BEST) only at Fort Hays State University, is a competency-based program for individuals to earn their bachelor's degree and become licensed in Elementary Education Pre-Kindergarten through grade 6 and Special Education High Incidence K-6. 

You can reach out to Dr. Chris Jochum, Chair, FHSU Teacher Education Department, at cjjochum@fhsu.edu for additional information on the program.