How to Become a Teacher in Tennessee

How to Become a Teacher in TN

If you are considering a teacher's license in the state of Tennessee, there are several requirements you must meet before you can apply. A combination of education, clinical practice, and testing is required to gain licensure in Tennessee. The type of license you are applying for will determine what level of education you will need and what type of testing the state requires.

There are many different types of teaching licenses in Tennessee. Most teaching licenses require at least a bachelor's degree and/or completion of a Tennessee Board of Education-approved educator preparation program. However, some licenses can be obtained before program completion. Almost all Tennessee teaching licenses require assessments. Tennessee offers the following teaching licenses:

• Practitioner License - the entry-level license for an educator in Tennessee. There are three types of practitioner licenses: the practitioner teacher license, the practitioner occupational license, and the practitioner school services personnel license.
• Professional License - a step up from the practitioner license. There are three types of professional licenses: the professional teacher license, the professional occupational license, and the professional school services personnel license.
• Postsecondary Educators License - issued to full-time or part-time college educators who wish to teach high-school level subjects and meet the minimum requirements set forth by the Tennessee Board of Education.
• Instructional Leader Licenses - issued to educators who plan to seek employment as a principal, assistant principal, or supervisor. The entry-level license is called the Instructional Leader License - Aspiring (ILL-A), the interim license is Instructional Leader License (ILL), and the professional level license is the Instructional Leader License - Professional (ILL-P).
• JROTC License - for individuals who are either retired military or actively serving in the military and wish to serve as Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps teachers.
• Adjunct License - issued to individuals who meet the requirements set forth by the Tennessee Board of Education and who seek to teach classes in a subject area where teachers are in critical shortage. An adjunct license allows you to teach up to 3 hours of courses per school day.

In addition to the licenses described above, you may apply for a temporary teaching permit or an educational assistant position. Temporary teaching permits are only awarded when a school cannot locate a licensed teacher to fill an open position. The state does not give temporary licenses for physical education courses or courses that require an end-of-course examination. To apply as an educational assistant, you will need to have a high school diploma, GED, or HiSet and will need to prove proficiency in reading and writing.

Tennessee Teacher Certification Programs

Becoming a teacher in Tennessee requires enrollment in an educator preparation program. Educator preparation programs in Tennessee are required to provide clinical experience to all education students. This clinical experience consists of a mixture of field experience and student teaching, internships, or job-embedded opportunities. To complete an educator preparation program, you must have completed field experiences with at least one year of clinical practice in the appropriate licensure and endorsement area. Before participating in clinical practice, you will receive training on professional education standards.

Students are assigned an educator who will provide guidance, evaluation, and instruction for the duration of the program. Several approved program providers in Tennessee meet these requirements, but its flagship university offers quite a few undergraduate and graduate programs in education.

The University of Tennessee boasts regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). They offer Bachelor of Science degrees with elementary education concentrations in English as a Second Language, Interventionist Special Education, Middle Grades Math, Middle Grades Science, and World Language Education and English as a Second Language as well as a Five-Year Internship Specialization and VolsTeach Secondary STEM Concentrations in Middle Grades Math and Middle Grades Science.

The University of Tennessee also offers several graduate programs in education. They provide educational specialist degrees in Administration and School Psychology; master's degrees in Instructional Technology, Educational Administration, and Educational Psychology; and PhDs in Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Leadership Studies in Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Research, and Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.

Tennessee Teaching Requirements

As stated before, most Tennessee educator licenses will require either a degree and completion of or enrollment in a board-approved educator preparation program. Educational requirements differ with the type of license you are pursuing. Basic education requirements for each type are listed below.

• An Entry-Level Practitioner Teacher License requires a bachelor's degree, completion of a board-approved educator preparation program, and a passing score on all required assessments.
• The Practitioner Occupational License requires at least a high school diploma, enrollment in a board-approved educator preparation program with job-embedded clinical practice, recommendation by the educator preparation provider, a current industry certification for the area of endorsement, and at least five years of relevant work experience that was completed within the last ten years.
• The Practitioner School Services Personnel License is available for speech-language pathologists, school audiologists, school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, and school educational interpreters. Requirements for each area of concentration vary, but you will need passing scores on all required assessments. Other requirements may include a bachelor or advanced degree in the chosen field of study from an approved program, possession of a valid certificate or license issued by the appropriate accrediting organization, completion or enrollment in an approved educator preparation program, completion of required coursework, and recommendation by the educator preparation provider. Additionally, application for a school counselor practitioner license requires a supervision agreement between the educator preparation provider and the local education agency.
• The Practitioner License for Postsecondary Educators requires at least two years of experience as a full-time college professor at a regionally accredited postsecondary school, three years of qualifying teacher evaluations at the proficient or better level, and passing scores on all required assessments. Documentation of experience and assessment scores cannot be older than five years.
• The JROTC License requires submission of official transcripts of all degrees and credits earned from United States colleges and universities, preparation certification from the military branch approving teacher placement, a valid JROTC training certificate, and proof of the intention of employment by a Tennessee local education agency. No additional endorsements may be added to this license and only designated JROTC courses may be taught.
• The state issues Adjunct Licenses at the teachers or occupational level. An Adjunct Teachers License requires a bachelor's degree or higher in the area of study to be taught, a minimum of 5 years of work experience, completion of a board-approved adjunct licensure program, and recommendation by the adjunct licensure program. An Adjunct Occupational License requires an industry license or certification for the occupational area to be taught, a minimum of 5 years work experience, completion of a board-approved adjunct licensure program, and recommendation by the adjunct licensure program.
• An applicant for an Instructional Leader License must hold an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college, have three years of educator experience, have completed a board-approved instructional leader preparation program, be recommended by the program provider, and submit passing scores on all required assessments. An Instructional Leader License - Aspiring does not need to hold a degree, but they must be enrolled in a board-approved program, have three years of educator experience, and have a recommendation from their program provider.

Tennessee Teacher Testing Requirements

All prospective Tennessee teachers are required to take both a pedagogical assessment and a specialty area assessment. The pedagogical portion can be satisfied by taking either the edTPA or the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT Praxis test) assessment. Specialty area assessments are taken for initial licensure with a specialty area endorsement or to add endorsements to an existing license. The specialty area assessment portion of the Tennessee teacher testing requirements can be satisfied by taking the appropriate subject assessment from the Praxis Series of exams.

If seeking a license in Middle-Grade Mathematics 6-8 or Secondary Mathematics 6-12, you may take the National Evaluation Series assessment in place of the Praxis Subject Assessment you initially planned to take. Likewise, if you need a Pre-K-12 or 6-12 World Languages endorsement, you may choose to take the Alta Language Services Speaking and Listening assessment instead of the Praxis specialty area assessment (such as the Spanish Praxis and French: World Language Praxis exam).

edTPA

The edTPA is a performance-based assessment developed by Stanford University. It covers multiple subjects and is used to measure your knowledge and skills in curriculum planning, student instruction, and student learning assessments. The table below lists the subject areas available on this test along with endorsement areas and passing scores for each.

Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)

The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) is an alternative to the edTPA. The Educational Testing Service developed the Praxis test, a suite of exams that assesses the knowledge and skills of educators at specific grade levels. The following table lists the assessment titles, codes, and Praxis passing scores for individual sections of the PLT.

Praxis Subject Assessments

Also developed by the Educational Testing Service, the Praxis Subject Assessments or Praxis II exams are intended to measure your knowledge and skills in a particular subject area. Endorsement areas, Praxis assessment titles and code, and required Praxis scores are listed below.

National Evaluation Series

The National Evaluation Series focuses on mathematics and is recommended for teachers wishing to teach math at grade levels ranging from 6-12. If you are seeking licensure in this area, you may choose to take the National Evaluation Series instead of the Praxis Subject Assessments (or Praxis 2). The following table lists the endorsement areas, assessment titles and codes, and passing scores for each assessment section.

Alta Language Services Speaking and Listening Assessment

The Alta Language Services Speaking and Listening Assessment covers the skills and knowledge needed for teaching a foreign language. This test will assess your ability to both read and write in your chosen language. Below are the endorsements areas, assessment titles, and passing scores for the Alta Assessments.

Additional Tennessee Teacher Certification Requirements

As a prospective teacher in Tennessee, you will submit fingerprints and undergo criminal history records check by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Before employment, you will receive training on the Tennessee teacher code of ethics. In addition, all potential employees take a loyalty oath to support the constitutions of the United States and Tennessee. Anyone who refuses to take the oath will not be considered for a teaching position.

Tennessee Teacher Application Process

The Tennessee Department of Education website provides applications for a Tennessee teaching license. You will need to create a TNCompass registered account where you can apply for a license, check your licensure status, and request renewals and advancements. Applicants upload all applications and documents to this portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. If you are denied licensure by the Tennessee Board of Education, you have the right to appeal. Upon denial, you will receive written notice of action and your rights to request a hearing. You may also receive a proposed consent order which must be submitted along with your request for a hearing.

Alternative Teacher Certification in Tennessee

There are only two license types with alternate routes for Tennessee teacher licenses - the alternate route for entry-level practitioner license and the alternate routes for practitioner School Services Personnel license as a School Counselor.

The alternate route for an entry-level practitioner license requires a bachelor's degree, a recommendation from the educator program provider, and passing scores on all required assessments. However, instead of completing the program, you are only required to be enrolled. The program must be board-approved and include job-embedded clinical practice.

Alternate routes for a practitioner School Services Personnel license as a School Counselor requires that you be recommended by your educator preparation program provider and that you submit passing scores for all required assessments. Additional requirements include one of the following:

1. Holding an advanced degree in school counseling and completing a board-approved school counseling educator preparation program, or
2. Holding a bachelor's degree or higher, being enrolled in a school counseling educator preparation program with job-embedded clinical practice, and completing all coursework required of the program, or
3. Holding an advanced degree in a counseling field, being enrolled in a school counseling educator preparation program, completing at least 24 hours of school counseling coursework, and submitting the required supervision agreement between the local education agency and the program provider, or
4. Holding an advanced degree in social work or school psychology, being enrolled in a school counseling educator preparation program, and submitting the required supervision agreement between the local education agency and the program provider.

Certification in Tennessee for Out-of-State Educators

The state of Tennessee provides for teacher licensure reciprocity for states that participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement. To seek licensure in Tennessee, candidates must attend educator preparation programs offered by colleges that are regionally accredited and approved in their respective states.

Out-of-state educators who wish to obtain an entry-level teacher practitioner license must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college and be recommended by their educator preparation program provider. If you have completed a state-approved educator preparation program and your state is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, you will need to either hold a valid out-of-state teaching license or submit passing scores for all required assessments. If you are currently enrolled in an educator preparation program, your program must include job-embedded clinical practice, your state must have a partnership with a Tennessee local education agency, and you must submit passing scores on all required assessments.

Prospective out-of-state educators seeking a practitioner occupational teacher license must have a high school diploma or higher, must hold an active industry certification from the area of endorsement, and must be recommended by an approved educator preparation provider. You must also have completed an educator preparation program and submit passing scores on all required assessments or hold a valid initial-level license.

Out-of-state educators applying for a Practitioner School Services Personnel License as a School Counselor must hold an advanced degree in school counseling and either have completed an educator preparation program and submitted passing scores on all required assessments or hold a valid initial level school counselor license.

Out-of-state candidates who are seeking an Instructional Leader License - Aspiring must have at least 3 years of educator experience, have completed a state-approved instructional leader preparation program resulting in a valid license comparable to the Tennessee ILL, or a recommendation from the out-of-state instructional leader preparation program.

Tennessee Educator Professional Development and Advancement

The Tennessee Board of Education uses teacher evaluation scores as an instrument to determine teacher compensation, promotion, and tenure status. It is not the only factor influencing these decisions, but it is an important one. Teachers undergo evaluations annually, and final ratings are based on student growth, student achievement, and qualitative data.

In addition, teachers may acquire Professional Development Points (PDP). These points are used to keep a teacher's license current, renew a teaching license, or advance to a professional license. Educators earn these through professional learning, continuing education, college coursework, National Board Certification, or by achieving a high-ranking evaluation.

Tennessee teachers may also advance by adding endorsements to their TN educator licenses. A combination of endorsements and experience may open up new teaching opportunities, help boost your salary, and help you become a more effective educator.

Tennessee Teacher Employment Outlook and Salary

There are 999,701 students in the state of Tennessee across 1,819 schools located in 147 school districts. There are 67,148 teachers in Tennessee to teach those students, which equates to a ratio of roughly 14:1.

According to Salary.com, salaries for a teacher in Tennessee range from $41,089.00 to $70,275.00, with an average salary of $54,251.00. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2020 that elementary school teachers in TN make a median salary of $53,430. Middle school and high school teachers in the state make a median annual wage of $53,720 and $54,700, respectively.

Currently, there are over 1,200 vacant teaching positions in the state waiting to be filled. The Tennessee Department of Education uses a hiring platform called TN Teacher Jobs Connection to connect prospective educators with school districts across the state. You can find the link on the Tennessee Department of Education website under the heading For Educators.

Full-time educators in Tennessee receive a comprehensive benefits plan with paid holidays, health insurance, disability, pharmacy benefits, and annual and sick leave. Retirement is available through the state's retirement plan, Retire Ready TN, with benefits provided by the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. The plan offers retirement readiness education, 401(K), a 529 College Savings Program, and the opportunity to invest in a 457 deferred compensation plan. Retired teachers with Medicare can receive the Tennessee Plan supplemental medical insurance and there is a State Employees Wellness Program, the ParTNers Health and Wellness Center, and a State Employee Discount Program. Tennessee teachers also have access to interest-free loans for master's or doctoral degrees and there is a Higher Education Fee Waivers Discount for the children of full-time state employees.

Expert Contributor

Amy Mayers

Amy Mayers, M.Ed. has taught middle school math for over 7 years. She is a Texas certified teacher for grades 4-12 in mathematics and has passed the TExES Math 4-8 and the TExES Math 7-12. Amy graduated with a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Houston and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas.

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