Educator Certification

PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW.  THIS ROUTE IS FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION ONLY.  IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU MAY BE AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE THROUGH THIS ROUTE, PLEASE CONTACT Melinda Penny AT:  melinda.penny@education.ky.gov.

The Exceptional Work Experience option requires extensive development of materials because the documentation is extensive and the review process is rigorous. To see if you are a candidate for this route, answer the following questions:

1. Do you have years of Exceptional Work Experience after completing your Bachelor’s degree (not including classroom teaching experience) in the area for which you are seeking certification?
2. Do you have a bachelor's degree with at least a 2.75 overall grade point average (GPA)? (The GPA is based on a 4.0 scale.)
3. Do you have a major in the content area for the certification you are seeking? If not, have you passed the Praxis II in that content area?
4. Can you provide documentation of Exceptional Work Experience as defined by the Education Professional Standards Board? 16 KAR 9:010 defines someone having “Exceptional Work Experience” to mean “A person with recognized superiority as compared with others in rank, status, and attainment or superior knowledge and skill in comparison with the generally accepted standards in the area in which certification is sought.”
5. Can you provide 3 – 5 recommendations from employers directly associated with your years of Exceptional Work Experience all of which specifically support the exceptional aspects of your work experience?

If you answered 'yes' to all of these questions, continue to create your portfolio. If you answered 'no' to any question, your alternative route choice will not be this option. Look at the criteria for the other alternate routes to see which best fits your situation. 

Exceptional Work Experience Portfolio

The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) looks carefully at your documentation. Your goal is to demonstrate the exceptionality of your work experience. You must show that your experience is above and beyond that of the average professional in your field.

Prior to preparing your portfolio, please make sure you meet the minimum qualifications for this alternative route:

• Years of exceptional work experience after completing your Bachelor's degree (not including classroom teaching experience) in the area for which you are seeking certification.
• A bachelor's degree with at least a 2.75 overall grade point average (GPA) (The GPA is based on a 4.0 scale.)
• A major in the content area for the certification you are seeking. If you do not meet this requirement, you must pass the Praxis II in the content area before submitting your materials.

Portfolio Checklist

Submit the portfolio (no more than 50 pages) electronically in this order:

1.    Complete an application for Exceptional Work Experience (CA-265) through the Kentucky Educator Crentialing System (KECS). 

2.    Upload documentation of a multi-page résumé (be very detailed when explaining past work experience; the portfolio has to demonstrate your exceptional work experience to the EPSB). Clearly identify the years the Board should consider. Please note that this experience must have been gained after completing your bachelor's degree. Classroom teaching experience will not be counted toward the years.

3.   Send all official transcripts to KDELICENSURE@education.ky.gov via National Clearinghouse or Parchment. Official transcripts may also be mailed to:

                Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness

                Division of Educator Preparation and Certification

                300 Sower Blvd. (5th Floor)

                Frankfort, KY  40601

4.    Upload letters of recommendation from former employers, respected experts in your field, community leaders, and school or school district employees. You must have 3-5 such letters, including at least one directly associated with each experience you are using as your exceptional work experience.

5.    Include awards or professional achievements.

6.    Include copies of published articles written by or about you.

7.    Provide a detailed explanation of how you will draw from your exceptional work experience to meet each of the Kentucky Teacher Standards. Reflect how past work experience substantiates each Kentucky Teacher Standard—not what you plan to do in the classroom. In this explanation, specifically tell the board what skills gained from your exceptional work experience will allow you to effectively meet the following standards:

·         Standard 1 – Learner development

·         Standard 2 – Learning differences

·         Standard 3 – Learning environments

·         Standard 4 – Content knowledge

·         Standard 5 – Application of content

·         Standard 6 – Assessment

·         Standard 7 – Planning for instruction

·         Standard 8 – Instructional strategies

·         Standard 9 – Professional learning and ethical practice

·         Standard 10 – Leadership and collaboration

Follow these steps carefully:

1. Complete your portfolio.
2. Present your portfolio in order shown above. Please try to limit your portfolio to 50 pages or less. No more than 50 pages will be presented to the board (pages for exclusion will be chosen by EPSB staff).
3. Ensure that your portfolio is received at EPSB 6 weeks prior to the board meeting in order to be presented. (Example: If the board meeting is scheduled for August 1, your portfolio must be received in its entirety by June 20) If the portfolio is not complete, EPSB staff cannot guarantee presentation at the upcoming board meeting.
4. Submit your portfolio to the Division of Educator Preparation and Certification in KECS.

If determined to be complete by EPSB staff, your portfolio will be presented to the Board.

If your application is approved, you will receive a one-year Provisional Teaching Certificate. Upon successful completion of one year of teaching under a provisional certificate and verification from a district, you will receive the Professional Certificate (See 16 KAR 7:010 for a description of certificates.)

If your application is not approved, then you may want to consider the University-Based Alternative Route.