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You are here: Teacher Licensure » Licensure Information » How to Become a Teacher

         		   
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I Want to Become a Teacher

 
In order to teach in Kansas, you must hold a valid teaching license.  A teaching license requires completion of  an approved teacher preparation program in the subject or field that you want to teach.  For example, if you want to be an elementary classroom teacher, you would complete an elementary education program.   Middle level or secondary level teachers complete programs in the subject area they want to teach, such as English language arts, mathematics, biology, etc.  The teacher preparation programs are completed through a regionally accredited college or university that offers teacher preparation programs that have been approved by the Kansas State Board of Education.   
 
Teacher preparation programs may be completed as part of a bachelor’s degree, or, for those who already hold a degree, as post-baccalaureate programs that do not lead to additional degrees.
 
You need to contact a college or university that offers an approved program in the teaching area you are seeking.  After you review the list of institutions offering the approved program and have decided on the one you want to work with, contact the licensure officer at the institution for a plan of study.  The plan will include:  requirements that must be met for formal acceptance into the program; coursework that must be completed; and any degree requirements if applicable.  When you complete your program, you will need to pass licensure tests in your content area and in teaching skills before you apply for the initial teaching license.    
  
I already hold a degree in the subject or content area I want to teach (such as mathematics).  What do I have to do to qualify for a teaching license? 
You will still have to complete a teacher preparation program.  You could complete a traditional teacher preparation program as described above.  However, because you already have content coursework completed, you may be eligible for an alternative licensure program.
For information on the restricted license, please select the following link:
restricted license
  
Are there scholarships available to help me complete a teacher preparation program?
Check with the college or university that you will be attending for information on scholarships available through that particular institution.  There are some limited scholarships available through the Board of Regents for specific teaching areas.
         

Licensure Contacts

 
Dr. Beverly Schottler - ACCK
Email:   bev.schottler@acck.edu
Phone:   620-241-5150 x118
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Tonya Simms (Undergraduate Programs) - Baker University
Email:   tonya.simms@bakeru.edu
Phone:   785-594-4502
Title:   Licensure Officer
Steve Groninga (Graduate Programs) - Baker University
Email:   sgroninga@bakeru.edu
Phone:   913-491-4432
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. Dian Henderson - Benedictine College
Email:   diannah@benedictine.edu
Phone:   913-360-7386
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. Marlysue Holmquist - Bethany College
Email:   holmquist@bethanylb.edu
Phone:   785-227-3380 x8297
Title:   Licensure Officer
Mr. Allen Jantz - Bethel College
Email:   ajantz@bethelks.edu
Phone:   316-283-2500 x257
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Shannon Hall - Emporia State University
Email:   shall6@emporia.edu
Phone:   620-341-5412
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Kerry Schuckman - Fort Hays State University
Email:   kschuckm@fhsu.edu
Phone:   785-628-4542
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. John Rhodes - Friends University
Email:   johnr@friends.edu
Phone:   316-295-5873
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Jacqueline Boyd - Haskell Indian Nations University
Email:   jboyd@haskell.edu
Phone:   785-832-6685
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Diane Murphy - Kansas State University
Email:   dim@ksu.edu
Phone:   785-532-5524
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. Ray Tucker - Kansas Wesleyan University
Email:   rtucker@kwu.edu
Phone:   785-827-5541 x1398
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. Marilyn Kimbrell - McPherson College
Email:   kimbrelm@mcpherson.edu
Phone:   620-242-0542
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Janelle Hoffpauir- MidAmerica Nazarene University
Email:   jdhoffpauir@mnu.edu
Phone:   913-971-3526
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Juanita Alarcon - Newman University
Email:   alarconj@newmanu.edu
Phone:   316-942-4291 x2204
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Amy Hogan - Ottawa University
Email:   amy.hogan@ottawa.edu
Phone:   785-248-2554
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Juliana Hughes - Pittsburg State University
Email:   jdhughes@pittstate.edu
Phone:   620-235-4490
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. David Hofmeister - Southwestern College
Email:   david.hofmeister@sckans.edu
Phone:   620-229-6115
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Terri Gaeddert - Sterling College
Email:   tgaeddert@sterling.edu
Phone:   620-278-4230
Title:   Licensure Officer
Mr. David Loewen - Tabor College
Email:   davidl@tabor.edu
Phone:   620-947-3121 x1002
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Alisa Branham - University of Kansas
Email:   abranham@ku.edu
Phone:   785-864-9602
Title:   Licensure Officer
Dr. Gwen Landever - University of Saint Mary
Email:   landever59@stmary.edu
Phone:   913-758-6159
Title:   Licensure Officer
Ms. Tara Porter - Washburn University
Email:   tara.porter@washburn.edu
Phone:   785-670-1434
Title:   Licensure Officer
Mr. Zachary Brown - Wichita State University
Email:   zachary.brown@wichita.edu
Phone:   316-978-3300
Title:   Licensure Officer

 
         

Teacher Licensure Index

 
       

Need Assistance

 

Call 785-291-3678
for assistance
with licensure questions.
       

Application Packets

 

Mail packets to: 
Teacher Ed and Licensure
KS State Department of Ed
120 SE 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS  66612-1182
       
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