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Renewing a Kansas License

Renewal requirements will vary, depending on whether you have a "certificate" or a "license", and whether it is current or expired.

Renewal forms, with several pages of instructions, may be downloaded from http://www.ksde.org under Educators, Licensure, Applications. Renewals are sent to KSDE, not to KU, unless you are adding an endorsement at the same time. If you have specific renewal questions, please call KSDE at 785-291-3678. They are the authorities on renewals.

If you simply need to renew a Conditional (initial) License, use the Form 20 from the KSDE web site.

If you need to renew your existing license and add an endorsement at the same time, you’ll need hardcopy forms for both processes. By sending hardcopy applications together, you will only pay one $39.00 fee, which saves you money! Contact Alisa to get the hardcopy Form 1 to add the endorsement in this situation and download the appropriate renewal form from the KSDE web site.

Certificates may be renewed several ways, usually with recent teaching experience, college credit or professional development points. If you’ve been teaching in an accredited school at a proper subject and level, you can renew by having your employer sign the "verification of accredited experience" form in the renewal packet. If you currently hold a 3-year standard certificate and have been teaching two years, it is VERY important that you use the experience option for your next renewal and UPGRADE to the 5-year Professional License. If you haven’t been teaching, you’ll need 8 hours of credit (if you have a bachelor’s degree) or 6 hours (master’s degree) to renew. Credit must be "recent" (completed in the past 6 years), junior level or higher, and in education, your subject area, or something for which you’re adding an endorsement (such as ESOL). If you are using the credit option, you’ll need to order a transcript (showing the grades from the courses) from the KU Registrar – find the order form at www.registrar.ku.edu.

By around 2009, most teachers will have been transitioned to a "license" by KSDE. Here is a basic comparison:

If you already hold a 5-year certificate or upgrade your 3-year teaching certificate to the 5-year License with the next renewal, you should not have to complete a "performance assessment."

Local Professional Development Councils (PDCs) will play a large role in the licensure renewal process in the future. Renewal plans, which may include credit hours or professional development points, will have to be approved by a local PDC. Unemployed teachers will get plans approved by their local schools. Although this adds a layer of bureaucracy (and more time) to the process, KSDE would argue that PDC approval will lend greater credibility as well.

If you applied for an initial (first) license after Sept. 1, 2004 and you plan to teach in Kansas or want to keep your Kansas license active, you will need to do the KPA performance assessment. This is a KSDE requirement, not a KU requirement.

Building Administrators, District Administrators, Reading Specialists, School Counselors and School Psychologists who apply for licensure will complete a one-year supervised internship as their performance assessment. This is a significant change, and began for everyone in these administrative areas after September 1, 2004, regardless of when they started in the academic program. Read this link for information on enrolling in the internship. It is critical that you hold the correct Conditional License for both semesters that you are enrolled in this internship.

Let us know if you have questions! We learn from your questions. Contact Alisa Branham, KU Licensure Officer, at abranham@ku.edu. –updated 6/27/08