Eligibility

Directors of Special Education must hold certification from the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) for this position. The professional certificate requires completion of an EPSB approved preparation program and completion of the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) (6990). If a candidate has already successfully completed the SLLA for another administrative certificate they are not required to take it again.

If a qualified applicant for Director of Special Education is not available, the superintendent may request a two (2) year probationary certificate for Director of Special Education.

Applying for the Professional Certificate for Director of Special Education

STEP 1: Log into the KECS Portal.
STEP 2: Follow the prompts in the application wizard to apply for Adding new KY Certification/Initial Certification (CA-1).
STEP 3: Provide official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
STEP 4: Pass the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) (6990). If a candidate has already successfully completed the SLLA for another administrative certificate they are not required to take it again.
STEP 5: Verify completion of the preparation program for Director of Special Education from the preparing college or university.
STEP 6: Complete the Character and Fitness review.
STEP 7: Make the appropriate payment for certification fees through the KECS online payment service. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.
STEP 8: Submit the application.

Renewal of a Professional Certificate for Director of Special Education

The first renewal requires completion of the Level II preparation program approved by the EPSB. Each five (5) year renewal thereafter requires the applicant to:

STEP 1: Log into the KECS Portal
STEP 2: Follow the prompts in the application wizard to apply for Renew Certificate(s) (CA-2).
STEP 3: Provide one of the following:

• Two (2) years of experience as a Director or Special Education.
• Three (3) semester hours of additional graduate credit related to the position of Director of Special Education; OR
• Forty-two (42) hours of approved Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) training.

STEP 4: Complete the Character and Fitness review.
STEP 5: Make the appropriate payment for certification fees through the KECS online payment service. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.
STEP 6: Submit the application.

Applying for the Probationary Certificate for Director of Special Education

If a qualified applicant for Director of Special Education is not available as attested by the local school superintendent, the superintendent may request a two (2) year probationary certificate for a candidate who has:

• A valid Kentucky classroom teaching certificate.
• Rank II.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience teaching exceptional children.
• Completed a course in special and regular education case law.
• Been admitted to the preparation program for the professional certificate for Advanced Educational Leader- Director of Special Education.

STEP 1: The district will start the Director of Special Education (2 years) (CA-28) application in the KECS Portal.
STEP 2: Verify enrollment in the preparation program for Director of Special Education from the preparing college or university.
STEP 3: Applicant will complete the Character and Fitness review.
STEP 4: Submit the application.

The probationary certificate cannot be renewed. The applicant shall complete the total curriculum for the professional certificate for Director of Special Education by September 1 of the year of expiration.

Submitting Official Transcripts

Transcripts are only considered official if submitted one of the following ways:

• Electronic transcripts sent DIRECTLY from the institution’s third-party transcript provider to KDELicensure@education.ky.gov. Electronic transcripts are not accepted if printed by or forwarded by the applicant.
• Sent by mail from the institution on official transcript paper to:

KDE Certification
300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601

Official transcripts that are mailed or dropped off at the office will NOT be returned to the applicant.