To embark on a teaching career in Kentucky, you’ll need to obtain state certification. Achieving state certification allows you to teach in Kentucky public schools.

The certification process consists of the following steps:

• Meet Kentucky’s educational background requirements, as well as any requirements for your teacher preparation program
• Complete a teacher preparation program (this could be a traditional certification program or an alternative certification program)
• Pass the PRAXIS exams in your desired teaching subject area
• Apply for your teaching certificate and pay the associated fees
• Pass a background check

Once you’ve earned your certification, you can expect to earn a starting salary between $34,000 and $50,000.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to earn your Kentucky teacher certification, step-by-step, and answer key questions you might have about earning your teaching certification in Kentucky.

Get Your Kentucky Teacher Certification

If you want to teach in public schools in Kentucky, you need to obtain your teacher certification. You cannot legally teach in Kentucky without this certification.

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) oversees the certification process and offers a number of paths to earning your teacher certification.

One of the most common paths to certification in Kentucky is to complete a traditional teacher preparation program. Completing a traditional teacher preparation program involves attending an accredited college or university and majoring in education. This pathway can take several years and often costs tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.

You can also obtain your teacher certification in Kentucky through alternative pathways. Kentucky offers a number of alternative pathways to certification. You may choose to pursue an alternative pathway to certification if you didn’t earn your bachelor’s degree in education, if you’re hoping to change careers from another field without going back to school, or if you’re looking to save time and money in the process.

Meet Educational Background Requirements to Become a Teacher in Kentucky

In order to pursue teacher certification, you have to meet the educational background requirements dictated by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). You will also need to meet any requirements imposed by the program you hope to attend to complete your teacher training.

To teach in Kentucky public schools, the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) requires that you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. In certain cases, you may also have to have achieved a GPA of 2.75 or higher in your course of study.

Your teacher training program may impose additional standards. Be sure to review the requirements of the program you hope to attend before applying.

Complete an Educator Preparation Program

In most instances, to teach in Kentucky, you need to have completed an educator preparation program. 

There are certain alternative pathways to teacher certification, such as the college faculty or armed forces veteran pathways, that do not require completion of a teacher preparation program. However, those pathways still require that you pass required tests to earn your certification. We will discuss those required tests in more detail in the next section.

Most aspiring teachers will need to complete an educator preparation program. You may choose to complete a traditional educator preparation program by earning your bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or you may choose to complete an alternative certification program.

Completing an approved educator preparation program is an important step on the path to becoming a teacher in Kentucky public schools. Most prospective teachers will need to complete an approved program (traditional or alternative) in order to qualify for certification.

In addition, educator preparation programs are crucial in developing the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed as a teacher. These programs provide training around areas like educational theory, instructional strategies, classroom management, assessment techniques, and subject area expertise. 

Depending on the program you enroll in, you may also gain experience teaching in real classrooms, whether through an internship, student teaching, or full-time placement. These experiences will give you the opportunity to practice the skills and theory that you have learned in a live setting. Your program will provide support during these placements to help you build your skills.

Pass Required Tests to Become a Teacher in Kentucky

To qualify for certification in Kentucky, you must pass required tests to show your knowledge and ability in your chosen subject area and/or grade level.

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) requires prospective teachers to take and pass Praxis exams in their area. The Praxis exams measure the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in the classroom. 

The specific Praxis exams you’ll need to take depend on the certification area you’re pursuing. For example, if you’re seeking certification to teach elementary school, you may need to take the Praxis II Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) exam. If you’re seeking certification to teach biology in high school, you  may need to take the Praxis II Biology: Content Knowledge (5235) exam.

It’s important to prepare for taking the Praxis exams. If you don’t pass the Praxis exams, you won’t be able to apply for certification. There are many resources available to help you study and practice for your Praxis exams. 

You will want to use resources like study guides and practice tests, while also making a comprehensive study plan to make sure you pass the exam. You cannot earn your certification until you successfully pass the Praxis exams. If you fail your exams, you’ll need to pay for and take the exams again until you pass.

Submit Your Certification Application to Become a Teacher in Kentucky

If you’ve met all the outlined requirements for teacher certification in Kentucky, you can submit your application to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). 

To complete your application, you’ll need to provide documentation of your educational background (such as an official transcript), evidence that you’ve completed an educator preparation program, and the score reports for your Praxis exams. Be sure to gather all of these resources before you submit your application to avoid any delays in processing.

To finalize your application, you’ll also need to pay the $85 application fee and complete a criminal background check. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive your certification and be able to teach in public schools in Kentucky.

Your certification will last for five years. After five years, you’ll need to apply to renew your certification. As part of the renewal process, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve taught for at least three years in the five year certification period or completed additional graduate-level coursework.

There are no lifetime teaching certifications in Kentucky, so you’ll need to renew your certification for the duration of your career as a teacher in Kentucky public schools.

Teaching Careers in Kentucky

Working as a teacher in Kentucky is a fulfilling and meaningful career with a myriad of opportunities for career growth.

The median starting salary for teachers in Kentucky depends on a variety of factors, including district and prior experience. Typically, most teachers make between $36,000 and $40,000 their first year. While this salary is lower than in other states, Kentucky offers a relatively low cost of living, which helps offset the difference in pay. The state of Kentucky has also undertaken measures in recent years to increase teacher pay and support ongoing retention, showing its commitment to supporting educators with meaningful compensation.

Most teachers receive pay raises as their career progresses. The average public school teacher salary in Kentucky is about $55,000, though the range falls between $45,000 and $67,000.

Career growth in Kentucky depends on a variety of factors like experience, additional training and qualifications, and interest in leadership roles. Many teachers in Kentucky start working in the classroom and later undertake leadership roles like department chairs or instructional coaches. Some teachers also pursue additional training to work as principals or at the district-level.

In terms of subject areas, teachers with expertise in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are in high demand in Kentucky. There is also a strong need for teachers who specialize in special education and English as a second language (ESL). Pursuing certification in one of these subject areas may increase your opportunities for hire and pay.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alternative Teacher Certification in Kentucky

How do I get a teaching certification in Kentucky?

To earn your teaching certificate in Kentucky, you need to:

1. Complete a traditional or alternative teacher preparation program. You may also qualify for your teaching certificate because of your professional experience, military service, or demonstrated expertise.
2. Pass required tests. Kentucky requires prospective teachers to pass the PRAXIS exam in subject areas they want to teach.
3. Pass background checks. Kentucky requires all teachers pass state and federal background checks to be able to teach.
4. Submit your application and application fee.

Once you have completed those steps, you will receive your teacher certification and be able to teach in Kentucky. It’s important to make sure you have all the requirements gathered before you submit your application to avoid any delays or processing errors.

How long does it take to become a certified teacher in Kentucky?

How long it takes to achieve teacher certification in Kentucky depends on which pathway to certification you follow. 

If you follow a traditional teacher certification path earning a bachelor’s degree in education, it may take you several years before you’re able to apply for certification. During that time, you won’t work as a full time teacher so you may not have any income.

Alternative teacher certification programs, on the other hand, are much quicker and can take less than a year for you to enter the classroom. Depending on your program, you may be able to enter the classroom as a full time paid teacher in just a few months.

What is the fastest way to become a teacher in Kentucky?

If you have a bachelor’s degree, the fastest way to become a teacher in Kentucky is through an alternative certification program. Alternative certification programs offer different pathways into the classroom which may allow you to teach in months rather than years. 

Some of these programs allow you to teach while you are still progressing through the program, so you will be working as a teacher and earning income as you learn.

Can you become a teacher in Kentucky without a degree in education?

Yes. There are eight alternative pathways to becoming a teacher in Kentucky without holding a degree in education. That means you can earn your certification and become a classroom teacher even if you haven’t earned a bachelor’s degree in education.

Those eight pathways are:

• Option 1: Exceptional work experience: Applicants with exceptional work experience in a particular subject area may qualify for teacher certification.
• Option 2: Local district training program: Applicants may complete an approved training program run by their local school or school district.
• Option 3: College faculty: Applicants who hold an advanced degree (like a Masters or PhD) and have taught for at least five years in their content area at a college setting may qualify to earn their certification for teaching grades 8-12.
• Option 4: Adjunct instructor: Applicants with expertise and a major or minor in specific content areas may qualify as adjunct instructors in Kentucky. Adjunct instructors are not fully licensed teachers but can teach part-time on a contract basis.
• Option 5: Veterans of the Armed Forces: Applicants with at least six years of military service and an honorable discharge may be eligible to receive their teacher certification if they also pass the PRAXIS tests or have significant experience in a particular subject area. 
• Option 6: University-based alternative route: Applicants who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and have a college GPA of 2.75 or higher may qualify for this route.
• Option 7: Institute alternative route: In this pathway, applicants complete teacher training through an approved organization or institute. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a college GPA of 2.75 or higher. 
• Option 8: Teach for America: Applicants interested in teaching in school districts within the Appalachian Region in Kentucky may qualify for teacher certification through Teach for America.

How long does my teacher certification last in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, your teacher certification lasts five years. After five years, you must apply to renew your teacher certification. 

There are no lifetime teacher certificates in Kentucky so you will need to apply to renew your teacher certification every five years for as long as you are working as a teacher.

How do I renew my teacher certification in Kentucky?

Teacher certification in Kentucky lasts five years. After five years, you have to complete an application to renew your teacher certification in Kentucky.

To renew your teacher certification in Kentucky, you must:

• Complete the online CA-2 application. The CA-2 application is specifically for renewing your teaching license.
• Demonstrate that you have completed either a.) three years of classroom teaching during the period of your five year teaching license, or b.) that you have earned six semester hours of additional graduate credit. 
• If you have completed three years of teaching to qualify for renewal, you must get the signature of your superintendent verifying your experience.
• If you have earned six semester hours of additional graduate credit to qualify for renewal, you must provide an official transcript from your coursework.

You must also pay $85 to renew your certification.

Can I teach in Kentucky without certification?

If you want to teach in public schools in Kentucky, you must have a teaching certification. If you want to teach at a private or alternative school in Kentucky, you may not need a teaching certification. The specific requirements for private or alternative schools will depend on the school itself.

There are a number of ways to earn your teaching certification in Kentucky. You can qualify for certification by completing a traditional teacher preparation program and earning your bachelor’s degree in education. There are also eight alternative pathways to certification in Kentucky if you do not hold a degree in education.

How do I get approved to teach in Kentucky if I have a teaching certificate from another state?

If you have a teaching certificate from another state, you may be eligible to apply for a Kentucky teaching certificate. Both teachers who trained at traditional teacher preparation programs and teachers who trained at alternative certification programs in another state can apply to teach in Kentucky if they meet certain requirements.

Kentucky requires that all applicants intending to transfer their certificate from another state must have completed a state approved teacher prep program at an accredited university or have completed a state-approved alternative teacher preparation program.

Applicants must also meet certain requirements (like completing an internship and GPA). In addition, applicants need to pass the PRAXIS tests in their subject areas. The requirements for testing may be waived if the applicant has taught for more than two years in their subject area.

To apply to transfer your out-of-state teaching certificate to Kentucky, you must: 

• Submit an official copy of your college transcripts.
• Provide a copy of your out of state teaching certificate.
• Pass the PRAXIS test in your subject area (or provide verification that you have taught for more than two years).
• Pay the $85 application fee

If you are interested in becoming a teacher in Kentucky, apply today!