Kansas Substitute Teaching License
Kansas issues two substitute teaching credentials through the Kansas State Department of Education: a Substitute License, which requires a bachelor’s degree and completion of an approved teacher preparation program, and an Emergency Substitute License, available to candidates with at least 60 college credit hours. Both require a fingerprint-based background check and are renewed on different schedules, five years for the Substitute License and every two years for the Emergency Substitute License.
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The Kansas State Department of Education issues two substitute teaching credentials to first-time applicants who have never held a Kansas teaching license: the Substitute License and the Emergency Substitute License. Which one you qualify for depends mostly on how much college coursework you’ve completed, and each comes with its own limit on how long you can work a single assignment.
Who Qualifies for a Kansas Substitute License
To receive a Substitute License, you need a bachelor’s degree and completion of a Kansas- or out-of-state-approved teacher preparation program. Official transcripts and verification from your institution’s licensure officer must accompany your application. If you haven’t completed a teacher prep program but have finished at least 60 college credit hours, you may instead qualify for an Emergency Substitute License. Find teacher preparation programs here. See KSDE’s Standard & Emergency Substitute License Requirements page for the current eligibility rules. If you completed your teacher preparation program in another state and want a full Kansas teaching license instead of a substitute credential, check Kansas Teacher Reciprocity Agreements.
| License Type | Education Required | Max Days Per Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute License | Bachelor’s degree + approved teacher preparation program | 90 days |
| Emergency Substitute License | At least 60 college credit hours | 45 days |
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Kansas.
Experience Requirements
No experience beyond the student teaching already required in a teacher preparation program is necessary to obtain either license. This is one of the few states where a first-time applicant can move directly from a completed degree program into a substitute assignment without separate classroom hours.
Criminal History Background Check
Every applicant for a Substitute or Emergency Substitute License must undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. Schedule an appointment with an authorized law enforcement agency or livescan location, and bring a signed KSDE Waiver Form along with a government-issued photo ID. Give the officer taking your prints the KSDE code 902KS1600. After your appointment, log into the Kansas Licensure Application System (KLAS), open the Fingerprint Payment Portal, upload your signed waiver, and pay the $57 KBI background-check fee. This fee is separate from anything the printing agency charges to take your prints. Full instructions are on KSDE’s Fingerprint Information page.
Substitute License Restrictions
Kansas caps how long you can work the same teaching assignment on a substitute license. If you hold a Substitute License, you can’t work more than 90 days in any one assignment. With an Emergency Substitute License, the cap is 45 days in the same assignment. Districts track this closely, since exceeding the cap can require the district to place a fully certified teacher in the role instead.
How to Apply for a Kansas Substitute License
Applications for both the Substitute License and Emergency Substitute License are submitted through the Kansas Licensure Application System (KLAS), not by mail. Register for a KLAS account, select the appropriate license form, and upload your transcripts and supporting documentation along with the application fee. KSDE’s License Information and Application page walks through the current forms and process. Standard processing time is 4 to 8 weeks, longer from May through August when application volume peaks.
Renewing Your Kansas Substitute License
Renewal requirements differ by license type. A Substitute License is valid for five years. To renew it, you need 50 professional development points through a Kansas Professional Development Council, submitted through KLAS. An Emergency Substitute License works differently: your first license is valid only through June 30 of the school year you apply, and each renewal after that is valid for two years. Renewal applications open in February of your expiration year, and if you still meet the 60-credit-hour requirement, you don’t need additional coursework to renew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to substitute teach in Kansas?
Not necessarily. A Substitute License requires a bachelor’s degree and completion of an approved teacher preparation program, but an Emergency Substitute License only requires 60 completed college credit hours, regardless of major. If you’d rather work toward a full teaching license without a traditional degree program, look into Kansas alternative teaching certification.
How long does a Kansas substitute license last?
A Substitute License is valid for five years and renews with 50 professional development points. An Emergency Substitute License is valid through June 30 of the school year you first apply, then renews every two years after that.
Can I substitute teach in Kansas with an out-of-state degree?
Yes. The Kansas State Department of Education accepts completion of an out-of-state approved teacher preparation program for the Substitute License, as long as your institution’s licensure officer verifies your transcripts.
How many days can I work as a substitute teacher in the same classroom in Kansas?
It depends on your license type. A Substitute License caps you at 90 days in the same assignment, while an Emergency Substitute License caps you at 45 days.
How do I look up my Kansas substitute teacher license status?
Use the KSDE Educator License Lookup tool online, or contact the Kansas State Department of Education directly at 785-291-3678 for current status on your application or existing license.
- Two license paths exist — a Substitute License needs a bachelor’s degree and an approved teacher preparation program, while an Emergency Substitute License only needs 60 college credit hours.
- Assignment limits differ by license — 90 days per assignment on a Substitute License, 45 days on an Emergency Substitute License.
- A background check is mandatory — every applicant needs KBI-processed fingerprints and a $57 background-check fee before licensure.
- Renewal schedules differ — 5 years with 50 professional development points for the Substitute License, every 2 years with no added coursework for the Emergency Substitute License.
- No separate teaching experience is required — the student teaching completed during your degree program satisfies Kansas’s experience requirement.
Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Kansas to learn more about turning your substitute experience into a full teaching license.
