Skip to main content

The Teachers College

Professional Requirements

Types of Kansas Educator Licenses

There are several types of licenses to serve in jobs within the K-12 school system of Kansas, they include:

  • Initial Teaching License
  • Initial School Leadership License
  • Initial School Specialist License
  • Professional Teaching License
  • Professional School Leadership License
  • Direct Entry (formerly called Parallel Pathways) Professional School Specialist License
  • Provisional Teaching License Excluding Special Education
  • Provisional Special Education Teaching License
  • Provisional School Specialist License
  • Restricted Teaching License
  • Emergency Substitute Teaching License
  • Substitute Teaching License

Below are notes on each type of license, summarized from Regulations and Standards for Kansas Educators amended with notes on how to achieve your professional goals through Emporia State University.

All licenses require an application and license fee. Most require verification by a Kansas institution and/or school administrator.

Initial Teaching License

Entry-level teaching license valid for 2 years and earned by verifying:

  1. completion a bachelor's degree;
  2. completion of an approved teacher education program;
  3. a passing score on the prescribed pedagogical assessment (PLT);
  4. a passing score on the prescribed content/subject assessment; and
  5. completion of eight semester hours of recent credit.
  6. Verification of the above items by the institution where the approved teacher education program has been completed.

Initial School Leadership License

Entry-level building or district leadership license valid for 2 years and earned by verifying:

  1. completion of a master's/graduate degree;
  2. completion of an approved graduate-level leadership program;
  3. a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in graduate course work;
  4. a passing score on the prescribed school leadership assessment;
  5. one year of accredited experience or eight semester hours of recent credit;
  6. five years of experience in a state-accredited school while holding a professional teaching or school specialist license; and
  7. a currently valid professional teaching license.
  8. Verification of the above items 1-5 by the institution where the approved graduate-level leadership program has been completed. Item 6 verified by school administrators where the experience has occurred.

Initial School Specialist License

Entry-level library media, reading specialist, or school counselor license valid for 2 years and earned by verifying:

  1. completion of a master's/graduate degree;
  2. completion of an approved graduate-level school specialist program;
  3. a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in graduate course work;
  4. a passing score on the prescribed school specialist assessment;
  5. one year of accredited experience or eight semester hours of recent credit; and
  6. a currently valid professional teaching license.
  7. Verification of the above items by the institution where the approved graduate-level specialist program has been completed.

Professional Teaching License

Professional-level teaching license valid for 5 years and earned by verifying:

  1. Successful completion of the teaching performance assessment prescribed by the state board.
  2. Verification of the above by the school administrator where the performance assessment has been completed.

Professional School Leadership License

Professional-level license permanently attached to a 5-year professional teaching license and earned by verifying:

  1. Successful completion of the school leadership performance prescribed by the state board.
  2. Verification of the above by the school administrator where the performance assessment has been completed.

Direct Entry (formerly called Parallel Pathways) Professional School Specialist License

Professional-level license earned by verifying:

  1. Successful completion of a performance assessment.
  2. Verification of the above by the institution where the supervised internship has been completed.

Provisional Teaching License Excluding Special Education

Valid for 2 years and earned by verifying:

  1. a currently valid initial or professional license;
  2. completion of 50% of an approved teacher education program in the requested subject area endorsement field;
  3. a deficiency plan from the licensing officer of a teacher education institution to complete the approved program; and
  4. employment in the assignment to teach in the subject area endorsement field in which the provisional license is sought.
  5. Verified by the school administrator of the employing school district and by the institution of the approved teacher education program.

Provisional Special Education Teaching License

Valid for 2 years and earned by verifying:

  1. a currently valid initial or professional license;
  2. completion of course work in methodology and characteristics of exceptional children and special education and completion of a practicum in the specific special education endorsement field;
  3. a deficiency plan from the licensing officer of a teacher education institution to complete the approved program; and
  4. employment in the assignment to teach in the special education endorsement field in which the provisional license is sought.
  5. Verified by the school administrator of the employing school district/coop and by the institution of the approved teacher education program.

Provisional School Specialist License

Valid for 2 years and earned by verifying

  1. a currently valid professional license;
  2. completion of 50% of an approved school specialist program;
  3. a deficiency plan from the licensing officer of a teacher education institution to complete the approved program; and
  4. employment in the school specialist assignment in which the provisional license is sought.
  5. Verified by the school administrator of the employing school district and by the institution of the approved school specialist program.

Please note, Direct Entry (former Parallel Pathways) School Counseling students are not eligible for provisional licenses.

Restricted Teaching License

Valid up to 2 years and earned by providing:
1. an official transcript or transcripts verifying completion an undergraduate or graduate degree in the content/subject area in which the restricted license is sought or completion of a degree with equivalent course work in the area for which the restricted license is sought. Heritage language speakers qualify as having met content equivalency for their heritage language;

2. verification of a minimum 2.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the most recent 60 semester credit hours earned;

3. documentation of the following:

  • passing score on the appropriate content assessment;
  • the local education agency will employ the applicant if the license is issued;
  • the local education agency will assign a licensed teacher with three or more years of experience to mentor the applicant;
  • completion of a supervised practical training experience through collaboration of the teacher education institution and the hiring local education agency.

4. a statement from the licensing officer of a Kansas teacher education institution attesting to the following:

5. the local education agency and the teacher education institution have collaborated regarding the approved program that the applicant will pursue and the support that the applicant will receive.

Learn more about ESU's Restricted Licensure program

Emergency Substitute Teaching License

  • Valid until June 30 following its issuance and earned by verifying completion of 60 semester hours of college course work.
  • Verified by the individual (and official transcript) making application for this license.

Substitute Teaching License

Valid for 5 years and earned by verifying a previously held Kansas certificate or license OR by verifying:

  1. completion a bachelor's degree; and
  2. completion of an approved teacher education program in Kansas or another state.

Other Licenses

There are other licenses available through the Kansas State Department of Education:

  • Accomplished Teaching License
  • One-Year Nonrenewable Teaching License (ESU students/graduates are not eligible for this license)
  • Transitional License