KY Teaching License

Certification Process

Candidates completing all requirements for teaching certificate, endorsement or rank change will submit an official form/request to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). Please complete a CA-1 form.

Select the green log-in on the left. It will take you to the login page for the KECS System. If you do not have a registered user account with a valid email, you will need to register in KECS. 

Select: “Initial KY Certification (CA-1)”

  • Out of State license – select “I have never held an out of state license” at the bottom of the form.
  • Degrees – please note that you will need to submit an official transcript with all of the completed coursework. You will fill out this section once you have requested your transcripts. To request UofL transcripts (make sure degree is posted) - https://louisville.edu/registrar/online-services/test_official-transcripts. You should request that your UofL electronic transcript be sent directly to the Education Professional Standards Board through the National Student Clearinghouse directly to: KDELIcensure@education.ky.gov.
  • Also note that if you attended another college or university, you will have to make arrangements to have an official transcript of this course work sent to the Education Professional Standards Board!
  • Assessments – make sure that your PRAXIS scores have been sent to EPSB. They should be included in this section if EPSB has the scores on file. The certification officer at UofL will have to verify this section!
  • University Recommendation – The certification officer at UofL will have to complete this section.
  • Character and Fitness – you will complete this section as indicated.

You will submit the application and your application will be added automatically to the queue for UofL. However you may want to send an email to tiffany.monyhan@louisville.edu to notify her that you submitted an application! Once the recommendation is complete, you will be notified to pay the fee. Please allow at least 10 business days for a response from the UofL certification officer. If further information/documentation is needed to complete the recommendation, Ms. Monyhan will contact you. 

15-Hour Pay Increases

Candidates who are employed as a teacher by Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) (or another district that offers this benefit) may apply for a pay increase if they are working toward a Rank II or Rank I program and have completed 15 graduate credit hours toward that program. Please see specific JCPS requirements below.

  1. Candidates must have an official, signed program sheet on file at UofL for the Master’s degree or Rank I program they are pursuing.
  2. Candidates working toward a Rank I program must have completed 15 new graduate credit hours since completing the Master’s degree.
  3. Candidates employed on a temporary provisional license are not eligible.

To apply for a 15-hour (towards rank II or rank I) pay increase, please submit the 15-Hour form to the Education Advising and Student Services Office. (Please do not submit this request until the grades for all 15 hours have posted)

Once the 15 hours is confirmed, it will be verified to the school district and an e-mail notification will be sent to the applicant. Please be aware that not all school districts issue 15-hour pay increases. If you are unsure, please contact the Human Resources Office of your district.

PRAXIS Testing Requirements for Certification

For the PRAXIS tests required for Kentucky teaching licenses and endorsements, please go to http://www.ets.org/praxis/ky/requirements. Study guides are available for each test. Find our PRAXIS information session schedule for additional assistance in preparing for PRAXIS exams.

Please contact Betty Hampton, 502-852-0411 or betty.hampton@louisville.edu if you have questions about the content, accuracy or currency of any information on this page.