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Teacher Education

Teacher Licensure

About Licensure Requirements

Teaching license application for an initial Tennessee teaching license, an ILL or ILLB or an additional endorsement that requires coursework must be submitted by the University where the coursework/program was completed.

The Tennessee Department of Education will accept applications directly from candidates for endorsements added by Praxis exam only and applications to have a graduate degree added to your license. (You do not need to go through Tennessee Tech to add an endorsement by test only or to add a degree to an existing license.)

Licensure Options & Information

  • Your Licensure Contact

    Ethan Grissom, Certification Analyst
    Office of Teacher Education
    Tennessee Tech University
    Campus Box 5092
    Cookeville, TN 38505

    P: 931-372-3097
    E: egrissom@tntech.edu
    F: 931-372-6286

  • Application Process

    Please contact Mr. Ethan Grissom for a license application.

    Ethan Grissom, Certification Analyst

    P: 931-372-3097
    E: egrissom@tntech.edu 
    F: 931-372-6286

     

  • Transcript Analysis and Important Links

    In order to register for classes, students must have a signed program of study on file in the Tennessee Tech Office of Teacher Education (OTE) office.  Students should submit the Program of Study/Transcript Analysis Request form below to receive a program of study.  Allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks for your request to be processed.

    LINKS

    Program of Study / Transcript Analysis Request

    NOTE: The Program of Study/Transcript Analysis Request Form is used for all of Tennessee Tech Post-Baccalaureate Licensure, Additional Endorsement programs, and the Job-Embedded Occupational License program.

    Tennessee Department of Education

    Tennessee Department of Education Licensing

    Praxis Requirements of Tennessee Endorsements

  • Initial Practitioner Teaching License

    The application paperwork for an Initial Practitioner Teaching License must be submitted by your university.

    Tennessee Tech OTE processes licensure applications for students completing licensure programs at Tennessee Tech.

    NOTE: Student teachers or students completing Residency I and II should NOT complete this form until instructed to do so. You will receive information about completing this form during your residency/student teaching seminars.

    Test Scores

    An official copy of your Praxis scores and your edTPA score must be on file at Tennessee Tech University and showing in TN Compass before initial license application paperwork is submitted.


    Already have a bachelor's degree and want an Initial Teaching License?

    Tennessee Tech's post-baccalaureate program is designed for individuals who already hold a Bachelor’s degree, but not a teaching license.  

  • Post-Baccalaureate Licensure

    Below are the post-baccalaureate licensure programs available at Tennessee Tech.

    Masters plus Initial Licensure Programs
    Students completing a Masters plus Initial Licensure program receive an initial Tennessee Teaching license in the program endorsement area and a Master’s degree.
    • Computer Science (K-12)
    • Early Childhood Education (Grades PreK-3)
    • Elementary Education (Grades K-5)
    • Middle School Math (Grades 6-8)
    • Physical Education (Grades K-12)
    • Library Information Specialist (Grades Prek-12)
    • Special Education  - Early Childhood (Grades PreK-3)
    • Special Education  - Interventionist K-8 (Grades K-8)
    • Special Education  - Interventionist 6-12 (Grades 6-12)
    • Special Education - Comprehensive (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education Biology (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Chemistry (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Earth Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Economics (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education English (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Geography (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Government/Political Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education History (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Math (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Physics (Grades 6-12)
    Licensure only (no degree attached) 
    Students completing an Initial Licensure program receive an initial Tennessee Teaching license, no degree is included in these programs.  However, students have the option to work with their adviser and combine their initial license programs with a Masters or EdS degree. 
    • Agriculture Education (Grades 6-12)
    • Family and Consumer Science Education  (Grades 6-12)
    • Visual Arts (Grades K-12)
    • English as a Second Language (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education French (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education German (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Spanish (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Speech/Theater

    Benchmark Checklist:

    Graduate Benchmarks for Student Teaching


    Quick Facts about the Post-baccalaureate Program

    • May be completed as a full time or part time student.
    • Upon completion of all program requirements students are recommended for a Tennessee Practitioner Teaching License.
    • Students must hold a BS or BA degree from a regionally accredited university to be eligible for the post-baccalaureate licensure program.

    Getting Started

    An individual interested in pursuing a post-baccalaureate program should complete the Program of Study Request/Transcript Analysis Request and submit official copies of all previous course work to Tennessee Tech OTE.

    Allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks for your request to be processed.
    (Please note you must submit an official copy of all transcripts to the Office of Teacher Education for the analysis process, EVEN IF you have already submitted transcripts to the Admissions Office or the Graduate Office at Tennessee Tech.)

    Students in the post-baccalaureate program must be admitted to Graduate Studies and the Teacher Education Program.



    The Post-baccalaureate program requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall or a 3.00 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.  Candidates who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements for admission may request an appeal. 

    • Candidates will receive a link to the appeal form once their program of study/transcript analysis request form has been processed/reviewed.
    • If you choose to submit an appeal, a committee will review your appeal request. Be sure to include a detailed explanation and all relevant information on the appeal request form.
    • After the committee reviews your request you will be notified of the decision via email.
    • Candidates should expect to receive a decision within approximately 3 weeks after the form is submitted.

  • Administrator Licensure 

    Tennessee Tech offers a MA and Ed.S. program for Instructional Leadership.  Both programs include the requirements for the ILL/ILLB license. 

    Instructional Leadership Program Information

    The ILL/ILLB application must be submitted by a university. Tennessee Tech OTE processes this paperwork for students completing the Instructional Leadership License (ILL or ILLB) program at Tennessee Tech.

    The application process should be started and completed during the last semester in the program.


     Forms and Praxis Scores

    An official copy of your Praxis scores must be on file at Tennessee Tech University and showing in TN Compass before your application paperwork is submitted.

    Applications cannot be processed until all grades and degrees are posted.

    NOTICE:
    In 2011, the Beginning Administrator’s License (BAL) was replaced by the Instructional Leadership License (ILL or ILL-B).

  • Occupational Licensure

    TTU offers a Job-Embedded Occupational License Program for individuals who have the appropriate industry experience/certification and have been or will be hired as the teacher of record in a school system in which TTU holds a partnership. Please confirm with Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu that your district holds a partnership.

    The Job-Embedded Occupational License Program may be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.  Many of the required courses in the program are online, but some courses have in-person components that require students to come to the Cookeville main campus. 


     Candidate Requirements for Occupational Licensure

    The process of beginning and completing the Job-Embedded Occupational Licensure Program is broken down into five separate benchmarks, each including its own set of requirements to complete. 

    Benchmark 1: Submit Occupational License Applications

    We recommend working on Benchmarks 1 & 2 simultaneously and beginning Benchmark 3 as soon as a T number has been assigned. 

    1. Create a TN Compass account and submit an Occupational License application. You MUST select "Tennessee Technological University" as your university of choice. (It is important that you login regularly to check the status of your application)
    2. Create a free TK20 account and submit a Teaching License application. You can find information on creating a free account here.  Please follow the instructions under "2+2, Occupational, Job-Embedded, & Counseling Program Applicants".

    Benchmark 2: Admission to TTU

    1. Email an "Intent to Hire" letter stating that the candidate has been or will be hired as the teacher of record, by a school district in which TTU holds a partnership, and in an occupational teaching area to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu
    2. Send all official high school and/or college transcripts to Mr. Ethan Grissomor by snail mail at the attention of Dr. Amanda Roberts. You can find our mailing address here. OTE will forward transcripts to the Admissions Office for a candidate's university admission application. If a candidate sends transcripts directly to the Admissions Office or Graduate Studies, they will be required to send additional copies to OTE for licensure.
    3. Submit an online admission application to TTU and obtain full admission status (keep application deadlines in mind). You can submit an undergraduate application here. Please designate your desired program as the following: undergraduate, teacher certificate, non-degree. Candidates will be given a student ID number, a T number, upon admission. 
     

    If you have previously earned a bachelors degree and are interested in applying occupational coursework towards a graduate degree, please contact Elora Davis prior to submitting the graduate admission application.


    Benchmark 3: Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP)

    1. Submit an online admission application to the TEP.
    2. Submit the Interview Request form and complete the TEP interview process. The interview will take place in-person, at the Cookeville main campus. *Note: Interviews are temporarily being conducted virtually due to the current pandemic. 
    3. Complete orientation with the Occupational Licensure advisor, Elora Davis, upon completing TEP interview.

     Benchmark 4: Prior to Beginning Coursework

    1. Complete the Personal Affirmation Statement in TN Compass. The Personal Affirmation Statement is not available until a candidate has been fully admitted into the TEP and recommended for licensure by TTU. 
    2. Purchase a TK20 account to submit course and program requirements. 
    3. Complete and submit a signed Program of Study (PoS) to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu
    4. Complete and submit the Guidelines and Expectations for Job-Embedded Candidates form to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu.

     

    Candidates will not be able to register until the signed PoS has been received. The Guidelines and Expectations form must be turned in by the end of the first semester or a candidate will not be able to register for a second semester.


     Benchmark 5: Complete Occupational Coursework & Program Requirements 

    Candidates must begin coursework the following semester after admission. Candidates must also plan to take one to two courses each semester until all occupational coursework has been completed. If a candidate has any lapse in enrollment, excluding summer semesters, they will be required to reapply for admission to the university. 

    The Occupational Licensure program is viewed in year increments in which candidates are expected to complete specific requirements. Candidates are expected to successfully complete 14 hours of Occupational Licensure coursework, complete 30 total hours of supplemental experience hours, pass the Praxis 5624: PLT 7-12 exam, and complete a minimum of one year teaching experience. ALL requirements must be completed by the candidate's license expiration date. 

    Occupational Licensure Benchmark Tracking Form

    For a complete breakdown of program requirements for admission and completion, please view the benchmark tracking form. If you have any questions concerning the Job-Embedded Occupational Licensure program, please contact Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu or (931) 372-3860.

  • Job-Embedded

    Practitioner Licensure with Job Embedded Experience

    The transitional license program was discontinued by the Tennessee Department of Education in September 2015.

    Candidates who previously would have been on a transitional license may be eligible for a Practitioner license with a job embedded experience.

    Candidates who wish to enroll in Tennessee Tech’s program for a Practitioner license with a job embedded experience must meet the following initial requirements to be considered for the program:

    • Provide an "intent to hire" letter from a school system that TTU has a partnership with.
    • Present acceptable evidence of content knowledge, either a passing score on the content Praxis II exam(s) or an earned bachelor’s degree in your endorsement area from an accredited university.
    • A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.
    • Enroll and be accepted to the College of Graduate Studies at TTU.

    Tennessee Tech offers the following Job-embedded Practitioner License Areas as Masters plus licensure programs: 

    • Early Childhood Education (Grades PreK-3)
    • Elementary Education (Grades K-5)
    • Middle School Math (Grades 6-8)
    • Physical Education (Grades K-12)
    • Special Education - Early Childhood (Grades PreK-3)
    • Special Education - Interventionist K-8 (Grades K-8)
    • Special Education - Interventionist 6-12 (Grades 6-12)
    • Special Education - Comprehensive (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education Biology (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Chemistry (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Earth Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Economics (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education English (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Geography (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Government/Political Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education History (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Math (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Physics (Grades 6-12)
    • Agriculture Education (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education French (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education German (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Spanish (Grades 6-12)

     

    Tennessee Tech offers the following Job-embedded Practitioner License Areas as licensure only.  

    • Family and Consumer Science Education (Grades 6-12)
    • Visual Arts (Grades K-12)
    • English as a Second Language (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education Speech/Theater

    Practitioner License

    The Practitioner License is valid for three (3) years.  Please note that candidates who begin the program mid-year, will not have the full three year term of the license.  Candidates on a job-embedded license must satisfactorily complete all of the following prior to the expiration date of the license:

    • all of required coursework
    • have passing scores on the required Praxis II exam(s)
    • complete edTPA with the minimum required score and
    • have at least one full year of experience as the teacher of record

    Tennessee Tech University’s program for a Practitioner license with a job embedded experience in Physical Education (EXPW) and Special Education (SPED) are primarily online.

    All other endorsement programs are offered at the Cookeville, Tennessee campus and have limited to no online course options.

  • Adding a Degree or Endorsement

    Adding a Degree or Endorsement

    Candidates should submit advanced degree applications directly to the Tennessee Department of Education in TN Compass.

    Students should request an "Official Transcript" be sent from the Tennessee Tech University Records Office directly to: 

    TN Department of Teacher Licensure
    12th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
    710 James Robertson Parkway
    Nashville, TN 37243.

    Adding an Endorsement to Your Current Teaching License

    Many endorsements require additional coursework when adding an endorsement to an active teaching license. To request a program of study for an additional endorsement, complete a Program of Study/Transcript Analysis Request.

    Tennessee Tech offers additional endorsement programs in the following areas:

    • Early Childhood Education (Grades PreK-3)
    • Elementary Education (Grades K-5)
    • Middle School Math (Grades 6-8)
    • Middle School Science (Grades 6-8)
    • Physical Education (Grades K-12)
    • Special Education - Early Childhood (Grades PreK-3)
    • Special Education - Interventionist K-8 (Grades K-8)
    • Special Education - Interventionist 6-12 (Grades 6-12)
    • Special Education - Comprehensive (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education Biology (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Chemistry (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Earth Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Economics (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education English (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Geography (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Government/Political Science (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education History (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Math (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Physics (Grades 6-12)
    • Agriculture Education (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education French (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education German (Grades 6-12)
    • Secondary Education Spanish (Grades 6-12)
    • Family and Consumer Science Education (Grades 6-12)
    • Visual Arts (Grades K-12)
    • English as a Second Language (Grades K-12)
    • Secondary Education Speech/Theater
    • Reading Specialist
    • Library Information Specialist (Grades Prek-12)
    • Computer Science (Grades K-12)

    Candidates may submit the information for endorsements being added by test only directly to the Tennessee Department of Education.

    Additional information is available on the Tennessee Department of Education website.

    Students who have completed coursework to add an endorsement must submit their application paperwork through the university where the coursework/additional endorsement program was completed.  

    Contact Amanda Roberts for assistance in beginning the application to have an additional endorsement completed at Tennessee Tech added to your teaching license. 


    Required Forms and Application Process for Additional Endorsement

    An official copy of your Praxis scores must be on file at Tennessee Tech and showing in TN Compass before your application paperwork is submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education.

    Applications cannot be processed until all grades are posted. Once the semester ends, students should allow a minimum of 4 weeks for applications to be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education.

    Applications not waiting for grades to be posted or the end of the semester should allow a minimum of 2 weeks for applications to be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education.

  • Tennessee Department of Education Licensure Processing

    For information about standard processing times for applications and information regarding printing a copy of your license visit:

    Tennessee Department of Education / Licensing
    The Department of Education no longer prints and mails teaching licenses.

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