Become a Teacher in Kansas

Choose the statement that best describes you to jump to applicable information.

I AM…

Teaching in Kansas Snapshot

$52,050

Secondary School Teacher Salary

$50,650

Elementary School Teacher Salary

$10,961

Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Landon State Office Building
900 SW Jackson Street
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-3201

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Rossier School of Education

info

Master of Arts in Teaching online

The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.

  • Fieldwork placement  
  • Complete in 12-36 months  
  • GRE scores not required 

info SPONSORED

Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Kansas

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 04/26/2020)

1

Prerequisite Coursework in Kansas

All states require that prospective teachers have at least a Bachelor’s degree and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program to receive certification. Some states also have specific course and credit-hour requirements.

Teacher education programs generally consist of two elements—curricula and fieldwork. Curricula generally include instruction on teaching fundamental skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching) and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Fieldwork often includes field observations, internships, student teaching or a combination of all three. Check with your teacher preparation program or the Department of Education for more information about specific requirements.

Kansas does not list specific course or credit hour requirements, but every college or university teacher preparation program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher preparation program or the Department of Education for more information.

2

Kansas Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher Certification Programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area. A list of accredited teacher preparation programs in Kansas can be found on the Kansas Department of Education Preparation Programs and Institutions page.

3

Required Tests for Kansas

Most states require tests to show competency in Basic Skills, as well as in the desired Subject Area. Kansas requires only the Praxis II: Subject Tests in your specialty area and the Praxis II PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) test.

You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms’ Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.

Initial Teaching Certifications

To earn your Kansas teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Kansas issues three types of license: Initial (for a teacher’s first 2 years), Professional (requiring a performance assessment and valid for 5 years), and Accomplished (valid for 10 years; teachers must have achieved National Board Certification® from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards). Visit the Kansas Department of Education Teacher Licensure and Accreditation page to learn more about getting your Kansas teaching credential.

Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.

Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard’s Bok Center

Harvard University

Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

info

Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.

infoSPONSORED

Alternative Certification in Kansas

Kansas offers a Restricted Teaching License Alternative Pathway, designed to help career professionals with the appropriate prerequisite coursework easily transition to teaching. The restricted license allows professionals to teach in secondary level content areas or at all levels in certain subject areas while working towards applying for a full Kansas teaching license. Veterans may also be eligible for the Troops to Teachers program.

Kansas Teacher Certification Information & Links

Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in Kansas

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Kansas, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Kansas Department of Education.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Kansas, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Kansas

Kansas Teaching Jobs

The Kansas Education Employment Board maintains the Kansas Teaching Jobs website. It provides teachers with up-to-date open teaching positions, allowing them to apply online.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

Kansas Teacher Salary and Incentives

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average teacher in Kansas makes about $52,000 per year. Salaries in Kansas vary by county and school district. You can find more information on Kansas teacher salaries on the Kansas Department of Education website.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Kansas Teacher Benefits and Retirement

The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) was established in 1961 for all Kansas public employees, which includes teachers. Depending on what tier their retirement plan falls into, members may retire as early as 55 with reduced benefits if they have at least 10 years of service, or for full benefits at age 62 with 10 years of service or age 65 with 1 year of service. Kansas offers teachers other benefits such as health care, dental care, annual and sick leave, surviving spouse support and job promotion opportunities.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Kansas Teacher Shortage Areas

The United States Department of Education defines a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) as a subject matter or grade level within a state in which there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary teachers.  The shortage may be caused by teaching positions that are unfilled or are filled by teachers who have temporary certification or teach in an academic subject other than their area of preparation.  According to a report by the US Department of Education, Kansas has the following Teacher Shortage Areas:

  • Academically Advanced
  • Special Education
  • Psychologist
  • Physical Therapy
  • Social Worker
  • Orientation Mobility Specialist

Financial Aid in Kansas

Kansas residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship, as well as the TEACH Grant, which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

Career Advancement

Professional Development for Kansas Teachers

Kansas’ Professional Development plans include goals to continually educate teachers and ensure they have the most current knowledge and skills to best educate students. Kansas’ Professional Development goals and ideas are explained more thoroughly on the Kansas Department of Education Professional Learning page.

In order to renew a professional license, teachers must complete 120 Professional Development Points if they hold an advanced degree and 160 Professional Development points without an advanced degree. In addition, the Kansas State Board of Education adopted the Learning Forward Standards for Professional Learning which replace the NSDC Standards for Staff Development. More information on these standards can be found at Learning Forward.

Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Kansas

It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a Master’s program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and may have more job security and the potential for higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Rossier School of Education

info

Master of Arts in Teaching online

The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.

  • Fieldwork placement  
  • Complete in 12-36 months  
  • GRE scores not required 

Harvard University

Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

info

Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.

infoSPONSORED

Last Updated May 2020