Become a Teacher
in Kentucky
Certification Roadmap
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Prerequisite Coursework
Teacher Preparation
Certification Reciprocity
Teacher Salary
Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Kentucky Highlights
$48300
Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$50040
Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
145%
Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15
Vacation Weeks Per Year:
To become a certified teacher in Kentucky, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are Kentucky's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education: Must have a major in English, Math, Social Studies, or Science. "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.
- Secondary English/Language Arts: Must have major in English. "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.
- Secondary Mathematics: Must have major in Math. "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.
- Secondary History/Social Science: Must have major in Social Studies. "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.
- Secondary Science: Must have major in Science. "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.
Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in Kentucky is coming soon!
Certification Reciprocity
Kentucky will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine |
| Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire |
| New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina |
| North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Kentucky provides differential pay for teachers teaching in high needs schools and teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Kentucky has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Kentucky makes $48,300
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Kentucky makes $50,040
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Kentucky makes 145% of the salary of the average worker in Kentucky
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Kentucky receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
