The Kansas State Board of Education is preparing to approve regulations for implementing a new state law allowing people with relevant experience but no education degree to obtain teaching licenses.

Legislators approved the measure as a way to increase the available pool of teachers in science, math, engineering and technology in secondary schools.

The board has already given the regulations preliminary approval. Final approval at a meeting Wednesday is the last step before the law takes effect July 1.

The regulations would allow applicants without education degrees to receive Kansas teaching licenses if they have at least a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of related work experience in the designated subjects. Applicants could also qualify with an industry-recognized certificate in a technical profession and five years of related work experience.