Certification FAQ's
Q. How do I apply for a Kentucky teaching certificate?
A. Kentucky certification is based upon the completion
of a 4-year teacher preparation program that includes student
teaching and testing when applicable. Kentucky requires a recommendation
from the certification official at the college/university (where
the applicant completed his/her initial teacher preparation program,
student teaching) regarding the specific teacher preparation program
completed, grade level, degree level, and completion
date of the program.
ALL applicants must submit the following for certification:
- A completed TC-1 application form
- Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate coursework
- Verification by the Superintendent or Personnel Director
of full-time classroom teaching experience at the appropriate
grade level(s) (Section 2 of TC-1)
- Passing Praxis II Specialty Area test scores for EACH area
of certification (if less than two years of appropriate full-time
teaching experience) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching
test score for appropriate grade range
- Verification of completion of teacher preparation program
from the preparing college or university (Section 4 of TC-1)
- A $50 money order or certified check made payable to the
"Kentucky State Treasurer" or applicants may also
use EPSB
"E-Pay" online payment service to pay certification
fees once the completed application has been mailed.
Q. I was trained out-of-state. How do I apply for a Kentucky
teaching certificate?
A. Out-of-state applicants must have completed
a state approved teacher preparation program at a regionally accredited
educator preparation institution or a state-approved alternative
training program. In addition, candidates must comply with the
state ancillary requirements such as GPA, testing and internship.
Testing requirements will be waived for out-of-state applicants who hold a valid certificate and have
completed two (2) years of teaching in the subject area and grade
level on their certificate.
All out-of-state applicants MUST:
NOTE: Out-of-state
applicants should also see the next two questions below.
Q: Does Kentucky have full reciprocity regarding teaching
certification?
A.Reciprocity is a term often used when educators need to transfer their certification from one state to another. This does not mean, however, that a state with “reciprocity” will automatically grant the same certification as was held in another state, since each state has its own special requirements. Kentucky is part of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement*; therefore, the state accepts recommendations from teacher preparation programs from state-accredited colleges and universities in many states. Cases are evaluated on an individual basis. In general, Kentucky does not recognize certificates which have been granted by testing only.
*The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement aids candidates in gaining information on what the various state requirements are from state-to-state. It may be viewed at: http://www.nasdtec.org/agreement.php. The NASDTEC credential “stages” are shown below in types of KY teaching credentials:
Stage 1-Temporary Provisional certificate (issued for alternate route candidates only)
Stage 2- Statement of Eligibility (issued for all completers of an approved teacher education program)
Stages 3, 4 & 5- Professional Certificate
Q. What is recency?
A. An applicant for initial Kentucky certification
must have prepared as a teacher within the five years preceding
the application or completed a minimum of six semester hours of
graduate credit within the five years preceding application. Applicants
who have completed an approved Fifth-Year program (Rank II) and who have
two successful years of teaching experience within the last 10
years are exempt from the six hours. For applicants who do not
meet the recency requirements, the certificate is issued for a
one-year period with the condition that six semester hours of
graduate credit be completed by September 1 of the year of expiration.
Q. I was trained out-of-country. How do I apply for a Kentucky
teaching certificate?
A. Applicants with foreign training must
meet the same academic requirements as applicants trained in the
United States and submit the documentation listed below. A course-by-course
evaluation MUST also be submitted from one of the approved evaluation
agencies indicating that the foreign degree(s) meet(s) the following
criteria:
- A four-year bachelor’s degree teacher preparation program
which includes a sequence of professional education courses
- Practice teaching or student teaching component
- A cumulative 2.5 grade point average or 3.0 on the last 60
hours of coursework
- Copy of foreign teaching credential
- A teaching area recognized by Kentucky as an area of certification
- Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies.
In addition to the approved agencies seen via the link below,
EPSB also recognizes course-by-course evaluations conducted
by AACRAO-American Association of Collegiate Registrars and
Admissions Officers
(http://www.aacrao.org/)
Click
Here for a List of Approved Evaluation Agencies
Q. How do I renew my certificate?
A. Through the years, the Education Professional
Standards Board and its predecessors made changes to the types
of certificates issued. Specific renewal requirements for most
certificates are listed on the reverse side of your certificate.
After 1985, the state stopped issuing lifetime certificates and
required that certificates be renewed every five years. If you
hold one of the 5-year certificates, these are the requirements:
- First 5-year renewal: 15 graduate hours or half of CEO requirements
- Second 5-year renewal: Completion of an approved Master’s
degree or an approved Fifth Year program (32 graduate hours)
or completion of CEO requirements
- Subsequent 5-year renewals: Three years of classroom teaching
during the last 5-year period of the certificate OR six semester
hours of additional graduate credit
Educators may also complete Rank I and additional certifications
as part of the renewal requirements.
To renew a certificate, complete a TC-2
(.pdf) renewal application and obtain:
- The signature of the superintendent verifying your three years
of teaching experience OR
an OFFICIAL transcript of the courses you have completed for
renewal and the recommendation from the college of education
official (if applicable).
Q. My Statement of Eligibility has expired, and I have not
completed an internship. What do I do?
A. You have two options to re-qualify for
a Statement of Eligibility. An applicant must complete a TC-2
(.pdf) renewal application
AND
successfully complete the specialty tests (PRAXIS II) in EACH
certification field you are seeking. You MUST successfully complete
the tests that are required at the present time and meet the passing
scores currently in effect. You can get information about the
tests at www.ets.org or by phoning the Educational Testing Service
(ETS) at (609) 771-7395. You can request ETS to submit an official
copy of recent scores (less than five years old) to the Education
Professional Standards Board. If you complete your testing in
Kentucky, the scores automatically come to this office and you
will not have to request that scores be sent to the EPSB.
OR
take six semester graduate hours towards completion of the master's
degree or planned fifth-year program. This option is ONLY available
to you once for renewal of the statement. Have the college or
university submit an OFFICIAL transcript of the six graduate credits
you have completed for renewal.
Q. What is the status of my application?
A. It takes approximately two weeks to process
an application. All applicants with incomplete applications will
receive correspondence from the Division of Certification regarding
materials received and items required for completion of the application
process.
Q. How do I request a copy of my current certificate?
A. You may request two additional copies
of a VALID certificate by sending in a completed TC-2 application
AND a $25 fee. DO NOT SEND PERSONAL CHECKS OR CASH. You MUST send
a certified check or money order made payable to "Kentucky
State Treasurer" or applicants may also use EPSB
"E-Pay" online payment service to pay certification
fees once the completed application has been mailed. PERSONAL
CHECKS WILL BE RETURNED.
Q. What do I need to do to add areas to my certificate?
A. Kentucky issued certification is generally
added based upon completion of an approved certification program.
You need to contact a Kentucky college or university. An advisor
will evaluate your transcript and outline a curriculum contract
listing specific coursework needed. Since each college or university
has its own requirements, and Kentucky uses standards-based
preparation, you may want to contact several institutions.
Under certain conditions, experienced Kentucky teachers may add
an additional CORE CONTENT area certification or extend the grade
level of such a certificate. Details on this method may
be found at: http://epsb.ky.gov/certification/tchq.asp
Click Here for a List of
Available Certifications
Q. Can I send you a photocopy of my test scores?
A. No. ETS MUST send an official report
of your test scores or your college or university may verify your
scores on the TC-1 application form.
Q. Can I get a copy of my test scores?
A. Yes. Scores which are five years
or older can be requested from the EPSB in writing by fax or US Mail with a
signed letter of request sent to the EPSB with detailed instructions and addresses
of where to send them.
Q. Can I get a lifetime certificate?
A. No. Lifetime certificates were last issued
in 1985.
Q. How can I request and obtain an application packet?
A. You can request an application packet
by email at EPSB Certification OR by calling our automated packet
request line at (502) 564-4606, ext. 240.
Q. What tests do I need to take to become a teacher?
A. Praxis
Q. What is the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program?
A. Internships
Q. What is re-issuance?
A. If a certificate has lapsed as a result
of the applicant's failure to meet the renewal requirements, the
certificate shall be reissued at a later date for a one year period
if the applicant completes at least six semester hours of graduate
credit applicable towards the master's degree or planned fifth-year
program.
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