Alternative Teaching Certification in Kentucky
Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board offers nine routes to alternative teaching certification, most designed for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field. Requirements range from a decade of documented work experience to specific Praxis II scores, and one newer option lets candidates without a degree earn certification through a school district partnership. Each route leads to a provisional or professional Kentucky teaching certificate.
Sponsored School(s)
Kentucky doesn’t require every teacher to finish a traditional preparation program before stepping into a classroom. The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) authorizes nine separate alternative certification routes under KRS 161.048, and each one targets a different background: career changers with related work experience, veterans, current college faculty, adjunct instructors, and candidates who haven’t yet completed a bachelor’s degree. Here’s how each option works, what it requires, and who it’s built for. Check Kentucky teacher reciprocity instead, and once you’ve earned your certificate, you’ll eventually need to look at renewing a Kentucky teaching certificate to keep it active.
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board offers nine alternative options for teacher certification.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Kentucky.
These routes are built for non-traditional applicants who are already in the workforce and want a career change, or who served in the military. The alternative routes are as follows:
- Option 1: Exceptional Work Experience Certification
- Option 2: Local District Training Program Certification
- Option 3: College Faculty Certification (for teaching grades 8-12 only)
- Option 4: Adjunct Instructor Certification
- Option 5: Veterans of the Armed Forces
- Option 6: University-Based Alternative Route to Certification
- Option 7: Institute Alternative Route to Certification
- Option 8: Teach for America (TFA) Alternative Route to Certification
- Option 9: Expedited Cooperative Route to Certification (for candidates without a bachelor’s degree)
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
Option 1: You need a bachelor’s degree with a major in the area you want to teach (or a passing Praxis II score in that area, see below), with a 2.5 overall GPA.
Option 2: You need a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 overall GPA, plus either 30 hours of college credit in the area you want to teach or five years of exceptional work experience in that area (see below).
Option 3: You need a master’s degree in the area you’re seeking certification in, plus 90 semester hours of college credit in that area or five years of full-time teaching experience in that area (see below).
Option 4: If you’re pursuing elementary certification, you need a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 overall GPA. If you’re pursuing middle or secondary certification, you need an overall GPA of 2.5 and a 2.5 GPA in the major or content area you want to teach.
Option 5: You need at least a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5.
Option 6: You need a bachelor’s or master’s degree and must meet the admission standards of the college or university housing the alternative certification program.
Option 7: You need a bachelor’s degree in the area you want to teach, with a 3.0 overall GPA. You must enroll in a Kentucky college or university offering this program.
Option 8: You need a bachelor’s degree.
Option 9: You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to start. This route requires an EPSB-approved college or university to partner directly with a school district or educational cooperative, building a program that leads to both a bachelor’s degree and initial teaching certification within three school years.
Examinations
Option 1: If your major isn’t in the content area you want to teach, you need to pass the Praxis II for that area.
Option 2: You need to pass the Praxis II exam for the content area(s) you want to become certified in.
Option 3: No specific exams are required to enter this program.
Option 4: No specific exams are required to enter this program.
Option 5: You need to pass the Praxis II exam for the content area(s) you want to become certified in.
Option 6: You need to pass the Praxis I exam before entering the college or university, if requested, and the Praxis II exam in your content area(s).
Option 7: You need to score at least 500 on the verbal section of the GRE. If you want to teach math or science, you also need a score of 450 on the quantitative section. If you already hold a graduate degree, you don’t need to take the GRE. You must also pass the Praxis II exam for your certification area.
Option 8: You need to pass the Praxis II exam(s) in the area(s) you want to become certified in.
Option 9: No separate admission exam is required to enter the program. The partnering EPSB-approved college or university sets Certification exam requirements as part of the cooperative agreement.
Experience
Option 1: You need at least 10 years of documented exceptional work experience after earning your bachelor’s degree, plus 3 to 5 recommendations from former employers. You also need an offer of employment from a Kentucky school district before entering this program.
Option 2: If you don’t have 30 hours of college credit in the area you want to teach, you need 5 years of documented exceptional work experience in that area. You also need an offer of employment from a Kentucky school district before entering this program.
Option 3: If you don’t have 90 semester hours of college credit in your academic certification area, you need 5 years of full-time teaching experience in that area.
Option 4: You need expertise in the area you want to become certified in, along with the required education in that area. You also need a part-time employment offer from a Kentucky school district before enrolling. This route does not lead to full teacher certification.
Option 5: You need at least six years of active military duty and an honorable release or discharge.
Option 6: You need an offer of employment from a Kentucky school district before entering the program. You must also complete all program requirements within three years while teaching full-time.
Option 7: You need an offer of employment from a Kentucky school district before entering the program. You’ll receive a one-year Temporary Provisional Teaching Certificate, renewable for three years.
Option 8: You’ll be placed in a school district in Eastern Kentucky (Appalachia). Geographic areas and content areas available are listed here. You must teach in this district for at least two years while completing the program.
Option 9: You’ll teach full-time in the partnering school district or educational cooperative while completing your bachelor’s degree and certification requirements, with the full program designed to finish within three school years.
Criminal History Background Check
Once a Kentucky school hires you, you must undergo a criminal history background check. This is typically handled through the Administrative Office of the Courts. For more information, contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at AOC Records Unit, 100 Millcreek Park, Frankfort, KY 40601, or by phone at 800-928-6381.
Contact Information
Click here for a list of Kentucky colleges and universities offering alternative certification programs.
For more information on alternative routes to teacher certification in Kentucky, contact the Education Professional Standards Board, Attn: Alternative Routes Coordinator, 100 Airport Rd., Third floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, or email [email protected], noting the option you’re interested in the subject line.
For specific information on Option 5, email [email protected].
For specific information on Option 8, contact Teach for America Appalachia, 470 East Main Street, Suite 1, Hazard, KY 41701, or call 606-436-6000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alternative teacher certification in Kentucky?
Alternative teacher certification is a set of nine EPSB-approved pathways that let candidates become licensed to teach in Kentucky without first completing a traditional four-year teacher preparation program. Most routes require a bachelor’s degree already in hand, though the newest option is built for candidates who haven’t finished one yet.
How many alternative certification routes does Kentucky offer?
Kentucky offers nine routes under KRS 161.048, ranging from Exceptional Work Experience Certification and a University-Based Alternative Route to a Teach for America pathway focused on Eastern Kentucky school districts. The GoTeachKY alternative pathways page lists current program availability for each option.
Do I need to pass the Praxis exam for alternative certification in Kentucky?
Most routes require passing the Praxis II exam in your certification content area, though the specific requirement depends on the option. Options 3 and 4 don’t require a specific exam to enter the program, and the partnering college or university sets the testing requirements for Option 9.
Can I become certified to teach in Kentucky without a bachelor’s degree?
Yes, through Option 9. This route pairs an EPSB-approved college or university with a school district or educational cooperative, letting candidates without a bachelor’s degree earn one alongside initial teaching certification within three school years.
How long does alternative certification take in Kentucky?
Timelines vary by option. Some routes, like Options 6 and 9, are designed to be completed within three years while you teach full-time. Others, like the Exceptional Work Experience route, depend on documented experience you’ve already accumulated before you apply.
- Kentucky offers nine alternative certification routes. Each one is built for a different background, from decade-long work experience to military service to candidates without a bachelor’s degree.
- The EPSB oversees every route. The Education Professional Standards Board sets eligibility, GPA, and exam requirements for each option and reviews every application.
- Most routes require Praxis II scores. Passing the exam in your certification content area is a standard requirement across several options, though a few skip formal testing to enter.
- Option 9 opens the door without a degree. Candidates without a bachelor’s degree can now earn one alongside certification through an EPSB-approved cooperative program with a school district.
- A background check is mandatory before hiring. Every candidate must clear a criminal history check through the Administrative Office of the Courts once a Kentucky school extends an offer.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Kentucky, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
