The Kentucky Teaching and Certification Resource
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board oversees the state’s teacher certification process. The traditional process for earning Kentucky teacher certification is outlined in detail below for those looking to learn how to become a teacher in Kentucky.
How to Become a Teacher in Kentucky
Kentucky requires prospective teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree and complete an approved teacher preparation program. Depending on eligibility, there are alternative pathways to become a teacher in Kentucky for those who have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a teacher preparation program.
Kentucky has adopted a tiered teacher certification structure that requires educators to complete continuing education while working towards advanced ranks. New teachers who completed a four-year program initially earn Rank III status and must complete ongoing education within a set timeframe to advance to Rank II. The highest rank, Rank I, is earned by completing an approved master’s degree and 30 semester hours of additional graduate work or continuing education. Teachers can also earn Rank I through achieving National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification.
- I want to be a teacher in Kentucky, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Kentucky’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
- I am already certified and want to teach in another state: Learn about Teacher Certification Reciprocity.
Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Kentucky
Projected Job Growth
5.4%
Growth in Teaching Jobs in KY through 20262
Perhaps the most important step to earning Kentucky teacher certification is completing an approved and accredited teacher preparation program. Completing a program at an institution approved by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is a requirement for licensure for prospective teachers. You can compare key metrics for these state-approved teacher preparation programs by using the sortable table on our Kentucky schools page.
Out-of-state schools must have regional accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies overseen by the US Department of Education as well as approval from that state’s Board of Education for the preparation of teachers. Schools that do not meet these requirements will not qualify graduates for Kentucky teacher certification.
Additionally, accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is highly respected. CAEP was formed by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and is seen as a mark of quality teacher preparation curriculum in the education sector.
Kentucky Teacher Education Requirements
As with most states, Kentucky requires that candidates for Kentucky educator certification complete a bachelor’s degree and teacher preparation program that includes student teaching. New teachers also receive additional assistance through the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP) during their first years of teaching. Kentucky also carries a recency requirement, meaning that applicants must have completed teacher preparation or graduate credit within five years of applying for a certificate; those who do not meet this requirement must complete six semester hours of graduate credit under a one-year temporary certificate.
Kentucky Teacher Testing Requirements
Kentucky uses the Praxis series of tests for prospective educators. All prospective educators must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics). Note that the Praxis Core exams are commonly required as a condition of admission to a Kentucky-based teacher education program. All individuals pursuing a Kentucky educator license must also complete the Praxis Subject Assessments in each content area for which they are seeking certification.
Additional Kentucky Teacher Certification Requirements
Like most US states, Kentucky requires new teachers applying for a Kentucky teaching license to complete a state and federal background check. For current instructions on completing this requirement, refer to the Education Professional Standards Board.
Kentucky Teachers Licensing Application Process
Once prospective educators have completed all of the requirements stipulated by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, an application for a teaching certificate must be submitted. The following documentation is required:
- A completed teacher certification application form.
- Official transcripts from all graduate and undergraduate coursework.
- Verification of full-time classroom teaching experience at the appropriate grade level(s).
- Passing scores on the Praxis exams for the endorsement areas sought.
- Verification of completion of a Kentucky teacher preparation program from an approved school, including the school’s recommendation for a license for the applicant.
- Non-refundable application fee.
Applications should be mailed to:
Division of Certification
Education Professional Standards Board
300 Sower Blvd, 5th Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Visit the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board for further details on becoming a certified teacher in Kentucky.
Kentucky Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs
There were approximately 684,017 students enrolled in Kentucky’s 1,539 K-12 public schools during the 2016-2017 school year.3 During the same timeframe, there were an estimated 42,028 public school teachers in the state, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1.3
Projections call for 1,360 average annual job openings for elementary school teachers, 590 average annual job openings for middle school teachers, and 880 average annual job openings for secondary school teachers in Kentucky through 2026.2 The average annual salary for elementary school teachers in Kentucky is $53,830, for middle school teachers $54,620, and for secondary school teachers $56,200.4 Visit the Kentucky Education Association for current news for education professionals in the state.
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 3,950 | $33,650 |
| Preschool Teachers, Special Education | 140 | $53,420 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 2,500 | $54,510 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 19,150 | $53,830 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 3,250 | $54,010 |
| Middle School Teachers | 8,180 | $54,620 |
| Middle School Teachers, Special Education | 1,430 | $54,020 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 12,250 | $56,200 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Special Education | 2,280 | $54,940 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 180 | $57,490 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2018.4
Teacher Shortages in Kentucky
According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2021-2022, Kentucky broadly has the following shortages5:
- Art and Music Education (General), Pre-K-12
- Career and Technical Education (General), 5-12
- Early Childhood (General), Pre-K
- English as a Second Language (General), Pre-K-12
- Health and Physical Fitness (General), Pre-K-12
- Language Arts (English & Communications; General), 5-12
- Mathematics (General), 5-12
- Science (General), 5-12
- Social Studies (General), 5-12
- Special Education (General), Pre-K-12
- Support Staff (Guidance and Counseling; Library/Media Specialist; Psychologist), Pre-K-12
- World Languages (General), Pre-K-12
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Kentucky?
Answer: Becoming an elementary teacher in Kentucky requires certification from the state. You must have a bachelor’s degree and complete a teacher education program in elementary education at an accredited university. You must also pass state exams for teaching practices and basic skills and participate in student teaching.
Question: Is there a teacher shortage in Kentucky?
Answer: According to a teacher shortages report by the US Department of Education, teachers are needed in numerous areas in Kentucky for the 2021-2022 school year, including math, science, special education, world languages, language arts, and more.5
Question: How much does a teacher in Kentucky make?
Answer: The average annual salary for preschool through high school educators in Kentucky is $52,669.4 The highest-paid teachers in the state are high school teachers, particularly those in career and technical education.4
References:
1. Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board: http://www.epsb.ky.gov/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2016-2017: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Kentucky: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm
5. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/