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How to become a teacher in Kentucky
Steps drawn from the state's data
- Apply to Kentucky Department of Education - Office of Educator Licensure and Certification for an initial credential.
- Career changers can use one of 10 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.
Teacher preparation providers in Kentucky
| Provider | Program types | Enrollment | Completers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Lloyd College | Traditional | 28 | 17 |
| Asbury University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 178 | 43 |
| Bellarmine University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 119 | 41 |
| Berea College | Traditional | 47 | 13 |
| Boyce College | Traditional | 53 | 8 |
| Brescia University | Traditional | 34 | 13 |
| Campbellsville Unversity | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 415 | 142 |
| CKEC Teacher Certification Institute | Alternative, not IHE-based | 12 | 8 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 559 | 212 |
| Georgetown College | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 485 | 272 |
| IteachKENTUCKY | Alternative, not IHE-based | 4 | 0 |
| Kentucky Christian University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 20 | 9 |
| Kentucky State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 94 | 15 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Traditional | 71 | 10 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | Traditional | 99 | 26 |
| Midway University | Traditional | 47 | 21 |
| Morehead State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 405 | 159 |
| Murray State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 597 | 231 |
| Nelson County Schools New Teacher Instit | Alternative, not IHE-based | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Kentucky University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 696 | 136 |
| Spalding University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 63 | 21 |
| Teach for America-Appalachia (KY) | Alternative, not IHE-based | 29 | 6 |
| Thomas More University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 69 | 40 |
| Transylvania University | Traditional | 21 | 8 |
| Union College KY | Traditional | 12 | 12 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 402 | 164 |
| University of Louisville | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 398 | 157 |
| University of Pikeville | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 38 | 20 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 2,741 | 1,084 |
| Western Governors University-KY | Traditional | 62 | 14 |
| Western Kentucky University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 1,136 | 279 |
About teacher preparation in Kentucky
The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is responsible for establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining and maintaining educator certification; accrediting educator preparation providers and approving educator preparation programs at colleges, universities, local school districts, and private contractors; selecting assessments for teachers and administrators; administering Kentucky's National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification; and processing complaints of educator misconduct pursuant to KRS 161.120.
The EPSB is composed of seventeen members. The secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet and the president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, or their designees, serve as ex officio voting members. The other fifteen members representing various groups within the education community are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The EPSB is administratively supported by the Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness (OELE). The OELE offices are located at 300 Sower Blvd. in Frankfort, KY.