Kentucky: school, college and career rules
Kentucky requires 22 credits plus civics, financial literacy and technology competency for a diploma, bars local graduation tests tied to state assessment scores, presumes newcomers who enroll within 12 months are nonresidents, and lets high school students earn KEES scholarship money each year.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
704 KAR 3:305 (as amended effective 6 July 2026): every public school student needs at least 22 credits, made up of 10 foundational credits and 12 personalized credits aligned to the student's individual learning plan. KAR
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| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English/language arts | 2 foundational credits (English I and II) + 2 personalized credits |
| Mathematics | 2 foundational credits (Algebra I and geometry) + 2 personalized credits |
| Science | 2 foundational credits with lab-based investigation + 1 personalized credit |
| Social studies | 2 foundational credits + 1 personalized credit |
| Health | 0.5 credit |
| Physical education | 0.5 credit |
| Visual and performing arts | 1 credit (or a standards-based specialized arts course) |
| Academic and career interest learning experiences | 6 credits, at least 4 based on the individual learning plan |
22 credits: 10 foundational and 12 personalized.
State tests for the diploma
Students must also show performance-based competency in technology, meet the civics requirement (KRS 158.141) and meet the financial literacy requirement (KRS 158.1411). A local board may not make a minimum score on a state assessment a graduation requirement. KAR
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Also good to know
- The individual learning plan starts within the first 90 days of grade 6 and focuses on career exploration and the education it needs.
KAR
704 KAR 3:305, Minimum requirements for high school graduation (effective 2026-07-06)Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Credits can come from standards-based courses, dual credit, internships, cooperative learning and other supervised experiences.
KAR
704 KAR 3:305, Minimum requirements for high school graduation (effective 2026-07-06)Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
State test: Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA)
Kentucky Summative Assessment and the grade 11 college admissions exam. Kentucky has tested all public school students every year since 1990, with results feeding the school accountability system; testing starts in grade 3 and takes under 1% of instructional time. education.ky.gov returns 'service unavailable' to India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-08-16 (20260816011003).KDE
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Summative Assessment | Reading, mathematics, science, social studies and writing | Grades 3–8, 10 and 11 |
| College admissions exam | Required for all students | Grade 11 |
Source: education.ky.gov returns 'service unavailable' to India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-08-16 (20260816011003).KDE
What the scores are used for
- Students with significant cognitive disabilities take the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment in the same grades.
KDE
Assessments: state assessments, grades and subjectsKentucky Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
education.ky.gov returns 'service unavailable' to India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-08-16 (20260816011003).
View source - The KSA is given in the last 14 instructional days of each district's calendar.
KDE
Assessments: state assessments, grades and subjectsKentucky Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
education.ky.gov returns 'service unavailable' to India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-08-16 (20260816011003).
View source
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- University of KentuckyUniversity system · Kentucky's public university in Lexington, founded in 1865 to advance the Commonwealth through education, research, healthcare and service. Kentucky's public universities each have their own board rather than one system.
- Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)Community colleges · 16 colleges that share centralized services such as financial aid, technology and human resources.
Sources: uky.edu's own about pages time out or 404 from India; this is the university's communications office page.University of Kentucky
KCTCS
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Every school in Kentucky, public and private, with cost and completion: 87 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 6 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- 13 KAR 2:045: residency for tuition means being domiciled in Kentucky, a true, fixed and permanent home. A person is presumed a nonresident if they moved to Kentucky mainly to enroll, or moved here and within 12 months enrolled more than half time.
KAR
13 KAR 2:045, Determination of residency status for admission and tuition assessment purposesKentucky Legislative Research Commission (Council on Postsecondary Education regulation)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Graduates of an out-of-state high school within the last five years, and students whose admission records show an out-of-state address, are also presumed nonresidents; the presumption is overcome only by a preponderance of evidence of Kentucky domicile.
KAR
13 KAR 2:045, Determination of residency status for admission and tuition assessment purposesKentucky Legislative Research Commission (Council on Postsecondary Education regulation)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- A dependent student's domicile is that of either parent; if parents live apart, it is Kentucky when either parent is domiciled in Kentucky.
KAR
13 KAR 2:045, Determination of residency status for admission and tuition assessment purposesKentucky Legislative Research Commission (Council on Postsecondary Education regulation)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
High school students in the KEES curriculum earn a base award for every year they finish with at least a 2.5 GPA (higher GPA, larger award), plus a supplemental award based on their highest ACT score (15 or more). KHEAA reviews the base amounts each year; an award already earned is never reduced. kheaa.com times out from India; KEES is read from the statute KHEAA administers. The statute's 1998-99 dollar table is not quoted because KHEAA adjusts the amounts by regulation.KRS
Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Kentucky license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Kentucky board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions | Uniform Bar Exam (MBE, MEE and MPT). MPRE required (passing score 80). NextGen UBE from July 2027. NCBEKentucky: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.) FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Kentucky Board of Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Kentucky Board of Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Nurse Licensure Compact member since Jan. 19, 2018 NCSBNContact Kentucky Board of NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
Engineering, teaching, real estate, cosmetology and the trades have their own boards: all professional licenses · trades and apprenticeships.
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
Kentucky state government careers
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
- Search current openings for executive branch jobs and apply online through the Personnel Cabinet's careers site.
- The executive branch has about 30,000 employees, and more than 800 job classifications do not require a degree.
Source: KY Personnel
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Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Kentucky has a State Apprenticeship Agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Kentucky State Apprenticeship Agency (Education and Labor Cabinet)Kentucky is a State Apprenticeship Agency state: the state agency registers and oversees programs for federal purposes.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: Apprenticeship.gov
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Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Kentucky: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Kentucky Board of Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- 704 KAR 3:305, Minimum requirements for high school graduation (effective 2026-07-06) · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations) checked 2026-10-22
- Assessments: state assessments, grades and subjects · Kentucky Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- University of Kentucky: Marketing and Strategic Communication (about the University) · University of Kentucky checked 2026-10-22
- About Us: Kentucky Community and Technical College System · Kentucky Community and Technical College System checked 2026-10-22
- 13 KAR 2:045, Determination of residency status for admission and tuition assessment purposes · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Council on Postsecondary Education regulation) checked 2026-10-22
- KRS 164.7879, Calculation of educational excellence scholarship awards · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) checked 2026-10-22
- Personnel Cabinet: Join the Team and Careers · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet checked 2026-10-22
- State Offices: Office of Apprenticeship and State Apprenticeship Agency contacts by state · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21