The SBE requires teaching candidates to earn
a license to teach in a Tennessee classroom.
An EPP submits a licensure application to the
Tennessee Department of Education on behalf
of each completer who meets the requirements
of the program. The purpose of educator
licensure is to ensure that individuals who
teach in Tennessee classrooms meet certain
standards.41 In July 2014, the SBE adopted
a new teacher licensure policy that changed
requirements for initial teaching licenses as well
as renewal of teaching licenses.42 This policy
supplements other state policies regarding the
requirements to teach in Tennessee, including
assessments that teacher candidates must take
and pass. The following section describes
these policies in detail.
Requirements to Teach in Tennessee
The SBE requires individuals to earn a license to
teach in a Tennessee classroom. The practitioner
license, valid for three years, is the first license
issued to a teacher in Tennessee. The license can
be renewed once. SBE policy requires teachers
to meet four criteria to earn this license:
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
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