Restricted License Program
For Career Changers
Restricted Licensure
The Restricted License Program is for career-changers who are interested in earning their first teaching license in Kansas as a PK-12, middle/secondary teacher, school counselor, or library media specialist after completing a degree in a field other than education. This program is intended to address teacher shortages and make licensure more accessible for those wanting to become educators. A degree earned two or more years ago with a major in the subject desired to teach (or the equivalent content coursework in a different subject) is needed. This performance-based program is built upon the conceptual framework of ESU's nationally accredited teacher education program.
The Restricted License Program is not available to anyone who has completed an approved teacher education program from another institution in Kansas, another state or country, or already hold a teaching license in any state or country. Please direct questions to the Kansas State Department of Education at 785-296-2288 regarding how a Kansas license may be achieved with your earned degree and institution verification.
What you can do with this licensure
In this program, you will be able to complete teacher licensure requirements while employed as a teacher, school counselor, or school librarian. Meet a few recent students and find out what they were doing before and after.
Admission requirements
In order to be admitted into the Restricted Licensure program, you must take a Praxis test. The Praxis tests measure the academic skills and subject-specific content knowledge needed for teaching. The Praxis tests are taken by individuals entering the teaching profession as part of the certification process required by many states and professional licensing organizations. Once you are admitted into the Restricted Licensure program, you will be sent specific dates for the following events: orientation in late July; fall seminar in September and spring seminar in February.
There are four points to the restricted licensure program: admission, admission to the required internship, program continuance and program completion. This program requires 21 credit hours to complete. Learn more about the courses and programs of study.
Why ESU?
As the institution best known for its teacher preparation programs, if you're looking for a career change to get into teaching, Emporia State University is the natural choice. With your ESU instructor serving as a mentor, you also will have an in-school mentor teacher, you are getting valuable teaching experience and guidance as you start your career in the classroom.
Take action after eligibility is determined
Save yourself time and see if you are eligible for a restricted license! Contact restrictedlicense@emporia.edu.
Scholarships
Look through ESU's scholarship library to see what may be available to help you get into the classroom.
how to contact us
Mailing Address
Office of Field Placement & Licensure
Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Circle
Campus Box 4036
Emporia, KS 66801
Physical Address
Office of Field Placement & Licensure
1701 Morse Road
Visser Hall, 2nd Floor
Main Office, Rm 208