Tennessee Educator Preparation Programs

Jade Diaz

May 20, 2025

2429

Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program

Single Endorsements:

General Education: Elementary Education K-5; English/Language Arts 6-8; English 6-12; Mathematics 6-8; Mathematics 6-10; Mathematics 6-12; Science 6-8; Biology 6-12; Chemistry 6-12; Physics 6-12; Earth Science 6-12; Social Studies 6-8; History 6-12; Government 6-12; Geography 6-12; Economics 6-12; Psychology 9-12; Sociology 9-12

Relay’s Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to seek Tennessee teacher licensure while teaching in a Tennessee school.

The Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program is offered as a non-degree program (18 credits/4 terms) or through enrollment in a corresponding Master of Arts in Teaching program:

All single endorsements in elementary or secondary general education are offered through enrollment in a corresponding MAT program (32 credits/6 terms).

Students complete aligned coursework and an internship of one (1) full school year as a resident teacher under the supervision of a school-based clinical mentor (at least 100 days of which must include direct teaching experiences) in a Tennessee school while holding a Practitioner License. Students’ teaching assignments must match their endorsement area. Qualifying clinical experience typically occurs during the first year of enrollment. Clinical experiences are supervised by Relay faculty and a school-based clinical mentor. Academic plans detailing specific course requirements may be accessed on the Academic Plans site. Students are provided with a detailed course schedule at orientation.

Successful program completers who meet all necessary requirements may apply to renew their Practitioner Teacher License or advance to a Professional License. A complete list of requirements for program admission, completion, and licensure can be found in the Transition Points Guide for the Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program.

Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program

Single Endorsements:

General Education: Elementary Education K-5; English/Language Arts 6-8; English 6-12; Mathematics 6-8; Mathematics 6-10; Mathematics 6-12; Science 6-8; Biology 6-12; Chemistry 6-12; Physics 6-12; Earth Science 6-12; Social Studies 6-8; History 6-12; Government 6-12; Geography 6-12; Economics 6-12; Psychology 9-12; Sociology 9-12
Special Education: Integrated Early Childhood Education Pre-K-3; Special Education Interventionist K-8; Special Education Interventionist 6-12
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education: English as a Second Language Pre-K-12

Dual Endorsement Options:

Any of the general education endorsements above with English as a Second Language Pre-K-12
Any of the general education endorsements above in grades K-5, 6-8, 6-10, or 6-12 with Special Education Interventionist K-8
Any of the general education endorsements above in grades 6-8, 6-12, 6-10, or 9-12 with Special Education Interventionist 6-12

Relay’s Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to seek Tennessee teacher licensure while teaching in a Tennessee school.

The Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program is offered as a non-degree program (18 credits/4 terms) or through enrollment in a corresponding Master of Arts in Teaching program:

All single endorsements in elementary or secondary general education are offered through enrollment in a corresponding MAT program (32 credits/6 terms).

Students complete aligned coursework and at least one (1) full school year of qualifying clinical experience as a teacher of record in a Tennessee school while holding a Practitioner’s License. Students’ teaching assignments must match their endorsement area. Qualifying clinical experience typically occurs during the first year of enrollment. Clinical experiences are supervised by Relay faculty and a school-based clinical mentor. Academic plans detailing specific course requirements may be accessed on the Academic Plans site. Students are provided with a detailed course schedule at orientation.

Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program

Single and Dual Endorsements:

Special Education: Integrated Early Childhood Education Pre-K-3; Special Education Interventionist K-8; Special Education Interventionist 6-12
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education: English as a Second Language Pre-K-12

Relay’s Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to seek Tennessee teacher licensure while teaching in a Tennessee school.

The Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program is offered as a degree program (38-39 credits/6 terms) or through enrollment in a corresponding Master of Arts in Teaching program:

All endorsements in special education are offered through enrollment in a corresponding MAT program (39 credits/6 terms).
All endorsements in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education are offered through enrollment in a corresponding MAT program (38 credits/6 terms).

Students complete aligned coursework and at least one (1) full school year of qualifying clinical experience as a teacher of record in a Tennessee school while holding Practitioner’s License. Students’ teaching assignments must match their endorsement area. Qualifying clinical experience typically occurs during the second year of enrollment. Clinical experiences are supervised by Relay faculty and a school-based clinical mentor. Academic plans detailing specific course requirements may be accessed on the Academic Plans site. Students are provided with a detailed course schedule at orientation.

Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program

Additional Endorsements: Special Education Interventionist K-8; Special Education Interventionist 6-12; English as a Second Language Pre-K-12

The Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program is intended for students who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and a valid teaching certificate or license upon enrollment and wish to add an additional endorsement in special education or English as a second language.

Educators who wish to pursue the Special Education Interventionist K-8 or Special Education Interventionist 6-12 additional endorsement will enroll in the Advanced Certificate in Special Education (21 credits/4 terms). This pathway allows special education candidates to teach in a special education classroom with a provisional endorsement, valid for 3 years, while pursuing the relevant endorsement.

Educators who wish to pursue an additional endorsement in English as a Second Language Pre-K-12 will enroll in a 12-credit-hour program of study.

Academic plans detailing specific course requirements may be accessed on the Academichttp://sites.google.com/relay.edu/academicplans/home Plans site. Students are provided with a detailed course schedule at orientation.

Successful program completers who meet all necessary requirements for the endorsement may apply to add the applicable endorsement to their existing license. A complete list of requirements for program admission, completion, and certification can be found in the Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program Transition Points Guide.