Kansas State University provides resources and guidance for educators pursuing, advancing or maintaining Kansas licensure. Explore the options below to find information about teaching licenses, specialist and leadership licenses, endorsements, substitute licenses and license renewal.
Licensure recommendations are initiated through the College of Education’s Center for Student Success and Professional Services. K-State recommends individuals for licensure after they have satisfied applicable program requirements and passed the required Praxis assessment for their teaching, specialist or educational leadership area.
The Initial Kansas Teaching License is the first license issued to beginning teachers and is valid for two years. To qualify, applicants generally must:
After completing the applicable requirements, applicants submit their license application through the Kansas License Application System (KLAS).
If you complete the early Childhood Education program, you will be eligible to teach children from Birth through Kindergarten, including Special Education in the State of Kansas. To be licensed, you must complete the Praxis Early Childhood content test. More information can be found on the Health and Human Sciences website, or by contacting Dr. Jennifer Francois at jfrancois@ksu.edu.
If you complete an Education program in Art, Music, Modern Languages (Chinese/French/German/Japanese/Spanish) or Physical Education/Health, you will be licensed to teach in Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 in the State of Kansas. To be licensed in Kansas, you must pass the Praxis subject/content assessment test in your teaching field. You can work at an Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary school, teaching in your subject area.
If you complete the B.S. in Education – elementary education program , you will be eligible to teach in a PK-6 self-contained classroom in the State of Kansas. To be licensed, you must pass the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects 7001 test.
If you complete the B.S. in Education – secondary education program , you will be licensed for grades 6-12 with an endorsement in your teaching field in the State of Kansas. Teaching Fields are available in Agriculture, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, English/Journalism, Family and Consumer Sciences, Journalism, Math, Physics, Social Studies, and Speech/Theatre. To be licensed in Kansas, you must pass the Praxis subject/content assessment test in your teaching field.
A Middle Level Endorsement allows you to teach Grades 5-8 in Social Studies (History Comprehensive), General Science, English, or Math in the State of Kansas. Secondary students in Math, Social Studies, and English are eligible to teach in the 6-8th grades when they complete the 6-12 program. Others can add the endorsement in Kansas by passing the appropriate Praxis Middle Level test.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree you can complete a Master’s degree and a Teacher Education licensure program in Elementary (PK-6), Elementary Unified (K-6), Agriculture, English, Math, Social Studies (6-12) or Modern Language (PK-12) through an online program. See Master of Arts in Teaching.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a content area taught in the secondary schools, you can add the Teacher Education program at the Graduate level by completing the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (TELRN). To be licensed in Kansas, you must pass the subject/content assessment test in your teaching field.
If you have completed a teacher education program but have not yet passed the required Praxis tests, you may be eligible for a Temporary Non-Renewable License.
This license allows you to teach in Kansas for one year while completing the required testing. It is valid for one school year and cannot be renewed.
Specialist licenses provide pathways for educators to develop specialized expertise and serve students in roles beyond the traditional classroom.
The Reading Specialist pathway can be completed as part of the M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. Applicants seeking the Kansas endorsement must hold a currently valid Kansas professional teaching license or successfully complete field experiences in schools over two semesters during the master’s program and complete the master’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.25, along with the required coursework, practicum, Praxis examination and other KSDE requirements.
The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Counseling is a 60-credit-hour program that prepares professionals to provide comprehensive K–12 counseling services, with pathways toward Kansas school counseling licensure and eligibility for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. Applicants must hold a currently valid Kansas professional teaching license or successfully complete field experiences in schools over two semesters during the master’s program and complete the master’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
K-State offers pathways for educators preparing to move into school- and district-level leadership.
The Building Leadership pathway prepares educators for building-level leadership roles, including PK–12 principal licensure in Kansas. K-State’s program is offered through the M.S. in Educational Leadership and includes the coursework and practicum required for Kansas licensure. Applicants must hold a currently valid Kansas professional teaching license or successfully complete field experiences in schools over two semesters during the master’s program and complete the master’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
The District Leadership pathway prepares educators for district-level leadership, including PK–12 superintendent licensure in Kansas. The program requires completion of a building leadership program and includes the coursework and practicum necessary for district-level licensure. After completing the coursework and practicum, applicants for the initial Kansas license must hold a currently valid Kansas professional teaching license and complete the master’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
Kansas offers substitute licenses for individuals who want to teach in a classroom while meeting specific licensure requirements.
The Emergency Substitute License is available to individuals with at least 60 college credit hours. A background check is required. The first E-Sub typically expires in June of the academic year in which it is issued. Subsequent E-Sub licenses expire in June after two years.
The Standard Substitute License is available to individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and have completed a teacher education program. A background check is required, and the license is valid for five years.
Educators with a Kansas teaching license can add endorsements to expand the subjects, grade levels or student populations they are qualified to teach.
Educators may complete an approved program of study for an endorsement and pass the required Praxis subject/content assessment. Completing an approved program can be particularly important for educators who may seek licensure in another state, as some states require more than a testing-only pathway. To add an endorsement through an approved program, submit the appropriate KSDE Form 1.
Kansas educators may add most teaching endorsements by passing the required Praxis content test without completing an approved program of study. This option is not available for Elementary, Early Childhood or Special Education endorsements. After passing the test, submit your scores and KSDE Form 22 to add the endorsement to your current license. This Kansas-only pathway does not guarantee licensure in another state, and adding an endorsement does not renew your teaching license.
A Provisional Kansas License may allow a licensed teacher to teach in an endorsement area while completing the requirements for full licensure.
Generally, educators must:
Special provisions apply to Special Education. A provisional license is valid for two years and may provide additional time to complete remaining coursework and testing requirements.
K-State offers provisional endorsement pathways for undergraduate education students:
These programs prepare undergraduate education students to work with exceptional students in the general education classroom.
A Kansas school district may request a Waiver when it is unable to find a qualified candidate for a position.
The teacher and university develop a Plan of Study outlining the coursework needed to complete the applicable Kansas endorsement. While on a waiver, the teacher must enroll in at least one course each semester toward completing the requirements.
Keeping your Kansas license current is an important part of maintaining your eligibility to teach and pursue additional opportunities.
An Initial Kansas License is valid for two years. Educators who are teaching and successfully complete a one-year mentoring program may upgrade to a Professional Kansas License.
If the mentoring requirement has not been completed, educators may be eligible to apply for a second Initial Kansas License. Renewal requirements vary based on how long it has been since the original license was issued.
A Professional Kansas License is valid for five years and may be renewed through professional development or by adding a new Kansas endorsement.
K-State Global Campus offers coursework that may be used toward Kansas license renewal. Coursework intended to add an endorsement must be approved by the appropriate K-State college representative.
If you are renewing your Kansas license while also adding an endorsement, you may submit applications for both processes at the same time. Processing both applications together may allow you to pay one application fee.
Contact Di Murphy at dim@k-state.edu for information about obtaining the appropriate Kansas paper applications.
Kansas licensure requirements are established by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and may change. Always review current KSDE requirements for your specific license or endorsement before applying.
For questions about your licensure pathway, endorsement requirements or application process, contact the College of Education’s Center for Student Success and Professional Services.
Di Murphy
Licensing Officer
edcatslicensing@ksu.edu
Joe Duntz
Administrative Officer
edcatslicensing@ksu.edu