Licensing FAQs

I already have a degree. What do I need to do to get a teaching license?

Can I get licensed to teach by doing a Master’s degree?

I live outside of the Manhattan area.
Can I take classes to get my teaching degree online?

Can I get a restricted license through K-State?

I need to apply for my first license. What should I do?

I am filling out the online application.
What do they mean by subject and level?

I submitted my application online to K-STATE and it was rejected. Why? What do I do?

I have not passed either the PLT or the Subject Assessment Test. Can I still teach?

I need to renew my license. How do I do that?

I completed the requirements to add an endorsement.
How do I do that?

I want to add an endorsement and renew my license at the same time. How do I do that?

I tried to submit my online application, but it was rejected, telling me to fill out a paper application. Why?

How long after I submit my online application to K-State will I receive my license?

Where do I get my fingerprints done?

When should I get my fingerprints/background check done?

How long are my fingerprints/background check good for?

I have an Emergency Substitute License and had to do a background check to get it. Do I need to have another background check to get my Conditional License?


I already have a degree. What do I need to do to get a teaching license?
Many people who have completed a Bachelors, Masters, or even Doctorate Degree decide that they would like to teach in the public schools. The level of your degree makes no difference in getting a Kansas Teaching license; the content of the classes you have taken determines the license. It usually takes 2-3 years of full time classes to complete these requirements. The K-State teacher education program works closely with the schools in the area to provide our students hands-on experience as they learn to teach. Therefore, you will be required to take many of your classes in Manhattan.

For K-State to recommend you for a teaching license, you must complete the requirements the Kansas State Department of Education has set up for all teachers. K-State has matched the State regulations to our courses at K-State and set up the curriculum required for Elementary and Secondary teachers. Our curriculum consists of General Education classes, Teaching Field or Area of Concentration classes, and Teacher Education classes.

The General Education classes consist of Communications, Humanities, Social Sciences, Quantitative Sciences, and General Sciences. These are especially important in the Elementary program, as these are the subjects you will be teaching. There are 53 hours of General Education classes for Elementary majors, and 36 hours for Secondary majors.

The Teaching Field for secondary majors must meet very specific classes to meet the standards determined by the state. The list of required classes ranges from 30-72 hours. In the Elementary program, only 15 hours in one area of concentration are required.

The Professional Education classes are designed to provide teaching skills. Most of the classes in this area require admission to Teacher Education. There are approximately 60 hours in the Elementary program and 40 hours in the Secondary program. Both programs require three blocks of classes that must be taken in order. The last block consists of 16 weeks of student teaching. This will be the only class taken that semester.

Adding a teaching license is not an easy feat. If you are interested in pursuing this career, look at the requirements listed in our handbook for Elementary or Secondary. If desired, you can have a transcript evaluation done. Send a copy of your transcripts to our office along with a note requesting Elementary or Secondary (with subject), and an address to send a copy of the evaluation when completed. We will evaluate K-State degree transcripts for free. There is a $10 evaluation fee for degrees from other Kansas institutions, $20 for out of state transcripts and $30 for international transcripts. International transcripts must be evaluated by an education credential evaluator, approved by the KSDE, before an evaluation can be done.

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Can I get licensed to teach by doing a Master’s degree?
K-State does not offer a Master’s program that leads to a teaching license. The licensing program is at the Undergraduate level.

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I live outside of the Manhattan area.
Can I take classes to get my teaching degree online?
K-State has started an outreach program in Southwestern Kansas called ACCESS US. This special program has been set up to train Elementary ESL teachers in the area.

Other than that program, K-State’s education program cannot be done without coming to Manhattan. There are many classes in the General Education and Teaching Field/Area of Concentration that can be found online or at other colleges. When it comes to our Teacher Education classes, particularly our Block courses, you will need to take classes in Manhattan. Since our Blocks work so closely with the public schools in the area, your attendance is necessary.

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Can I get a restricted license through K-State?
The Restricted License is an alternative way to get licensed in Kansas. It allows professionals who have been working in other fields to teach their content to Secondary students while they are taking classes in teacher preparation. Kansas State University does not typically work with the Restricted License.

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I need to apply for my first license. What should I do?
See the Instructions for Initial License (PDF).

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I am filling out the online application.
What do they mean by subject and level?
The “subject” refers to the endorsement you are applying for (math, elementary, biology, etc). Level refers the grade level (K-6, 6-12, or PK-12).

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I submitted my application online to K-STATE and it was rejected. Why? What do I do?
Please read the email you received notifying you that the application was deleted. It will give you the reason. Our office rejects applications if we do not have your official PRAXIS scores or official transcripts (for added endorsements).

To verify your score report was mailed to K-State, look on your copy of the score report for the correct code. Check the “Score Recipient(s) Requested” box (on the left side). The Code # must be 6334 with the Recipient Name of Kansas State University. If the 6334 code is not listed, you must contact ETS/PRAXIS at www.ets.org/praxis to have an official score report mailed directly to K-State showing passing scores for the PLT and/or Content test(s).

If we are missing transcripts, you must request OFFICIAL transcripts from ALL institutions (INCLUDING K-STATE) for credit needed for the recommendation you are applying for and have the transcripts sent. You may request your K-State transcripts by going to the Registrar’s web page. If you are applying for your first conditional license, we do not need transcripts.

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I have not passed either the PLT or the Subject Assessment Test. Can I still teach?
KSDE will allow you to apply for a One-Year Non-Renewable License if you have met all of the Teaching License requirements except for the test(s). As the name states, it is only good for one year and cannot be renewed. You must pass the test(s) before you can continue teaching.

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I need to renew my license. How do I do that?
K-State does not work with the renewal of licenses.

To renew your Initial License, go to the KSDE web page for the forms and instructions.

To renew the Professional License, you must go through the Professional Development Council (PDC) in your local school district. They will work with you to set up a plan for your renewal. You may take coursework from K-State as part of the plan, but it must be approved by the PDC. You may contact Di Murphy, Licensing Officer (785-532-5524) to get enrollment information for the classes. Instructions for renewal can be found on the KSDE web site.

If you are renewing your license at the same time you are adding an endorsement, you can send both applications to us at the same time. See the Instructions to Renew and Add an Endorsement (PDF).

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I completed the requirements to add an endorsement.
How do I do that?
See the Instructions to Add an Endorsement (PDF).

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I want to add an endorsement and renew my license at the same time. How do I do that?
See the Instructions to Renew and Add an Endorsement (PDF).

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I tried to submit my online application, but it was rejected, telling me to fill out a paper application. Why?
License applications ask about a prior history of felonies, crimes involving theft, drugs, or a child, denied licenses, or teaching offenses. If you have been involved in any of these activities, you will need to provide documentation about them. Therefore, you are asked to submit a paper application, along with the documentation. The application can be picked up in our office, and must be submitted to our office. We will verify your education program and forward all information to the KSDE.

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How long after I submit my online application to K-State will I receive my license?
Once you submit your application to K-State, we check to see that you have all the required transcripts and scores. If we have all of your information, we try to have the application approved and sent to KSDE within a week. At that point you are sent an email, explaining the payment process for KSDE. After KSDE receives your payment, you can typically expect your license in 4-6 weeks.

If you are a recent graduate applying for your first Conditional License, we ask that you submit your application about 2 weeks before you complete your final classes. We must hold your application until your degree is posted, typically 2 weeks after finals.

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Where do I get my fingerprints done?
The fingerprint cards and mailing envelope are available in the Licensing Office (13 Bluemont Hall). You can get your fingerprints taken at the Police Station. In Manhattan, the K-State Police Department will do the fingerprinting for you. There is a charge for the fingerprints. The fingerprint card is then put into the addressed envelope along with a $44 check to KSDE for the background check.

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When should I get my fingerprints/background check done?
All applicants for an initial Kansas license must submit one fingerprint card for the purpose of a KBI and FBI background clearance report. We suggest that you do this about 6 weeks before you apply for your license.

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How long are my fingerprints/background check good for?
The background check expires after 6 months if you are not licensed. If you have your fingerprints done more than 6 months before you get a license, you will need to have them redone.

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I have an Emergency Substitute License and had to do a background check to get it. Do I need to have another background check to get my Conditional License?
An emergency substitute license is in effect for on academic school year (August – June 30). Your background check will be good for 6 months after your license expires (December 30). If you are graduating in the fall semester, you may want to renew your Emergency Substitute License to avoid having to redo the background check.

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