I am currently certified. How does all of this affect me?

You may not be affected until you are issued a new license when you apply for your first renewal after July 1, 2003. Eventually, renewal options may change for you and the way you earn points for renewal will change. If you want to add new teaching endorsements or become a school specialist or school leader, you will be completing programs established under the new standards, and content assessments will be required.

What happens to my current five-year certificate?

The first time you renew after July 1, 2003, you will be issued a piece of paper called a license:

• Same subject endorsements
• Same grade levels
• Same school specialist and administrative endorsements if applicable

Do I have to have professional development points to renew my five-year certificate?

Yes, all renewals of a professional license will be based on professional development points verified by a local professional development council (PDC).
KS Reg 91-1-205(3)(C)
With the exception of the following situations:

• You have completed 8 hours in an approved program or have completed an approved program for an additional endorsement or license
• You have completed all the assessments for National Board Certification or have been granted National Board Certification
• You are renewing on experience from a graduate degree earned prior to 7/1/2003

How do I renew a professional license in Kansas?

There are three ways to renew:

• National Board Certification

• Completed all parts of and granted national certification

• Professional Development Points

• 120 points with Advanced Degree
• 160 points for undergraduate, with 80 points (4 semester hours) from college hours

• College Credit

• 8 credit hours

Can the PDC limit the number of points for semester credit hours?

No; one semester hour of college credit shall count as 20 professional development points.

Is there a maximum number of points allowed at the different levels each year?

No; not for purposes of renewing a license.

How old can professional development points be?

The individual must verify professional development points earned during the life of the license that is being renewed. Therefore, any points awarded for activities OR for semester credit hours must have been earned during the life of the current professional license period.

***However, knowledge points that are used as the baseline to verify application or impact may have been earned during previous licensure periods. The application or impact points must be earned during the licensure period being renewed.

If a music teacher works at the KU Band Camp during the summer, can he/she earn points from his/her district?

Yes, if it is part of an approved professional development plan for that individual.

How often does the PDC have to meet to review and verify points?

The regulations do not address this specifically. The district PDC for USD 385 meets monthly, usually on the first Monday of each month.

What is an in-service transcript? Do I have one?

It is a record of an educator's professional development that is signed by the individual, the PDC chairperson, and a PDC representative prior to being submitted to the Kansas State Department of Education for purposes of licensure renewal. If you have submitted points for professional development, you have a transcript at Central Office.

Are there guidelines that a PDC should apply to determine whether college credit is appropriate for renewal of an individual license?

The PDC should keep in mind that an individual must complete professional development activities in any of the following areas: content, professional (pedagogy) and service to the profession. Generally, if an individual completes coursework related to content, the content should be related to the endorsements/licenses the individual holds OR that would be applicable to any educator, no matter what their endorsement/licensure area. The PDC has flexibility in making a determination of "appropriate credit" when considering individual situations and requests.