Initial Education Requirements

• To qualify for certification application, teaching candidates must complete an approved four-year degree program at the college level and a prescribed internship of student teaching. In addition, the state of Kentucky requires that a certification official from the institution of higher learning where the applicant studied present a recommendation for the prospective teacher. The recommendation must include the description of the preparatory program completed.
  
  

Continuing Education

• A provisional teaching certificate upon completion of a bachelor's degree provides a beginning teacher in Kentucky with a designation known as "Rank III." Used to determine salaries, ranks for Kentucky teachers go up with advanced education. For example, a Rank II teacher must hold a master's degree or complete a 32-semester-hour graduate-level education planned fifth-year program, or the Kentucky Continuing Education option. To obtain Rank I, a Kentucky teacher must complete 30 semester hours of approved graduate study as a Rank II teacher, or 60 semester hours of approved graduate study that achieves a master's dDegree, or the Kentucky Continuing Education option or obtain National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Kentucky teachers are also required to advance their education to maintain certification.
  
  

Application Form

• To apply for certification, prospective teachers in Kentucky must complete Form TC-1 Application for Kentucky Certification or Change in Salary Rank. Along with the TC-1 form, individuals will need transcripts of their college work and a passing score on the Praxis II test. The Praxis II tests prospective teachers for competency in their declared specialty areas.
  
  

Code of Conduct

• The state makes known to prospective teachers the professional code of ethics by which Kentucky educators are expected to abide. The code outlines specific professional conduct expected of educators in their relationships with students, parents and colleagues. As part of the application process, all candidates are expected to read and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the policy.
  
  

Character Review

• Candidates applying for teacher certification in Kentucky must also submit what is known as a Character and Fitness Review. This document, required by the KEPSB, asks questions pertaining to ethics, conduct and past behavior. Falsifying information on this document can lead to immediate revocation of the certificate and thus dismissal from a teaching position.