Licensure Office
Students desiring to become teachers have two basic routes available to them. To become an Early Childhood Unified (Birth to Age 8) or Elementary Education (K-6) teacher, a candidate will need to complete a traditional program that involves a semester of student teaching after all of the major and pedagogical courses are completed. For teaching at the middle or high school levels, the traditional program can also be completed or the Transition to Teaching (T2T) path. The Transition to Teaching program requires that a person have a bachelor's degree or higher in a content are and are employed to teach in that area. They then take the education courses online while teaching.
Traditional Programs
Important Resources
The Undergraduate Handbook and Professional Teacher Education Program Policies provide specific information regarding requirements of the program.
Admission to Teacher Education
IMPORTANT: Candidates applying to the Teacher Education program must complete a Background Check. Candidates applying for student teaching must complete a Background Check if they have not previously completed one. Verification of a currently valid Kansas Emergency Substitute License will be accepted in place of the Background Check.
Admission to Student Teaching
Student teaching is usually done the last semester before graduation. Requirements to be met for admission to student teaching are:
Initial Licensure Requirements
Once a program has been completed, then a candidate can make application to the Kansas State Department of Education for their teaching license. The following must be met:
- Completion of an approved teacher education program with all course and program requirements including a passing score on the Fort Hays State University Performance Assessment (FPA)
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree program
- Approval from the department chair or designated advisor in the area of teaching
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and a 2.75 GPA in the teaching field
- Meet cutoff score of 160 on the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test
- Pass subject area assessment for each endorsement area desired
- KBI/FBI fingerprint check for criminal history records
- Completion of KSDE Form 1 "Application for Kansas Initial License" submitted online at https://online.ksde.org/authenticationpublic/, along with an application fee
Testing Requirements
The Reading, Writing and Math sections of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) are required for admission to the Teacher Education program if the individual score on the ACT corresponding section is less than 22. If a person has a bachelor's degree or higher, they are exempt from the PPST. The test can be taken as a paper and pencil test on a national test date or computer based through the Kelly Center on campus. To schedule an appointment with the Kelly Center, call 785-628-4401 or register for a test online at www.ets.org and look for PRAXIS I tests.
A subject area assessment is required for each teaching endorsement as well as one Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test. To register for these tests and to get additional information regarding test dates and locations, go to www.ets.org and look for PRAXIS II tests.
Passing the PLT Test
Provided below are some resources to assist in passing the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test.
Contact
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Mrs. Kerry Schuckman
Licensure Officer
Rarick Hall 220B
785-628-4542kschuckm@fhsu.edu
Personal Profile
B.S. in Business Administration-Marketing,
Kansas State University, 1982
Worked for various marketing and marketing research firms in Dallas and Kansas City before moving to Hays.
Employed in FHSU College of Education and Technology since 1990 -- Licensure Officer since 1994.
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