Become a Teacher in Kansas

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.