In a response to the state’s teacher shortage, legislation was passed in 2022 to create an expedited certification program for a person to teach at any grade level after completing the cooperative program.
Option 9 is a newer alternative route to certification created by legislature that allows a person to complete a bachelor’s degree and initial teacher certification in a three-year period while working in a non-teaching position in a school district. This is the only alternative route that does not require a bachelor’s degree for admission.
Option 9 candidates must be employed by a district in a classified position while completing the Option 9 program. Candidates will receive initial teacher certification upon completion of their bachelor’s degree and the assessment requirements.
The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) has recentely approved these additional Option 9 programs:
• Boone County Schools and Eastern Kentucky University
• Dioceses of Covington and Northern Kentucky University
• Fort Thomas Independent Schools and Northern Kentucky University
• Gallatin County Schools and Northern Kentucky University
• Grant County Schools and Northern Kentucky University
• Ashland Independent Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Gallatin County Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Garrard County Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Logan County Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Mercer County Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Murray Independent Schools and University of the Cumberlands
• Pendleton County Schools and University of the Cumberlands, and
• Powell County Schools and University of the Cumberlands
Kentucky Department of Education