Instructional Leaders
Instructional Leader licenses allow educators to serve in administrative positions in Tennessee schools. Educators must visit TNCompass to take action on a current license. For educators who have obtained an out-of-state administrative license and/or completed an out-of-state instructional leadership program, please visit Out-of-State Educators (tn.gov) for information about licensure requirements.
The ILL is a renewable license that is valid for 3 years. The ILL allows an educator to serve as an administrator (principal, assistant principal, or instructional supervisor). Educators seeking the ILL must meet the following requirements:
- Hold an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
- Have at least three (3) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the Department;
- Have completed a State Board-approved instructional leader preparation program;
- Be recommended by the State Board-approved instructional leader preparation provider;
- Complete the Tennessee Literacy Success Act requirement; and
- Submit qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.
Applications for educators completing a program in Tennessee are submitted through TNCompass by an educator preparation provider on behalf of the candidate. Once an application is submitted, educators will receive an email advising them to complete their personal affirmation statement in TNCompass. The application will not be processed until the personal affirmation is completed.
The ILL-A is a non-renewable license that is valid for three (3) years. The ILL-A allows an educator to serve as an assistant principal while enrolled in an approved instructional leader preparation program. Educators seeking the ILL-A must meet the following requirements:
Have at least three (3) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the department;
Be enrolled in a State Board-approved instructional leader preparation program;
Be recommended by the State Board-approved instructional leader preparation provider;
Completed the Tennessee Literacy Success Act requirement;
Ensure that the Department has official transcripts that verify the degree earned with a conferral date earned through a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The transcript must be submitted by the institution of higher learning to Educator.Licensure@tn.gov through an approved clearinghouse (preferred) or mailed to 710 James Robertson Parkway, 9th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243. For more information, review the Academic Transcripts Operating Procedures.
Applications for educators completing a program in Tennessee are submitted through TNCompass by an educator preparation provider on behalf of the candidate. Once an application is submitted, educators will receive an email advising them to complete their personal affirmation statement in TNCompass. The application will not be processed until the personal affirmation is completed.
Educator licenses must be renewed on or before the date of expiration. The Licensure Renewal Application Checklist provides detailed instructions for renewing a license.
To renew an ILL or ILL-P while serving in a TASL mandated position, an educator must:
- currently serve in an administrator position (i.e., assistant principal, principal, or instructional supervisor) in an approved Tennessee public school system or Category 1, Category 2, or Category 3 approved non-public school.
- have been evaluated as an administrator for the previous two years under the Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards (TILS);
- have completed the required Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) credit hours required for each two year cycle (July 1-June 30); and
- Complete Tennessee Literacy Success Act requirements
Educators who are not serving in a TASL mandated position (e.g., teachers, non-instructional school district central office personnel, etc.) whose ILL or ILL-P is expiring must complete a Department- approved training in order to qualify for renewal. Currently, the only approved trainings are the Early Reading and Secondary Literacy trainings offered by the Department to meet TN Literacy Success Act requirements.
Instructional Leadership License (ILL) to Instructional Leadership License—Professional (ILL-P)
Educators currently holding the ILL may seek advancement to the Instructional Leader License - Professional (ILL-P) through one of the following advancement pathways:
a) Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) Pathway - Educators seeking advancement through the TASL pathway shall meet the following requirements:
1. Be recommended by the TASL director;
2. Successfully complete the Beginning Principals’ Academy or the Beginning Supervisors’ Academy; and
3. Be recommended by the educator’s director of schools verifying the educator has a minimum of two (2) years of successful experience as a principal, assistant principal, or an instructional supervisor as demonstrated by an overall evaluation rating of at expectations or higher on a state-approved administrator evaluation model during the most recent validity period of the ILL.
b) Individual Professional Learning Plan (IPLP) Pathway - Educators seeking advancement through the IPLP pathway shall meet the following requirements:
1. Be recommended by the TASL director;
2. Successfully complete an Individual Professional Learning Plan in coordination with an approved instructional leader preparation program; and
3. Be recommended by the educator’s director of schools verifying the educator has a minimum of two (2) years of successful experience as a principal, assistant principal, or an instructional supervisor as demonstrated by an overall evaluation rating of at expectations or higher on a state-approved administrator evaluation model during the most recent validity period of the ILL.
The department shares licensure reminders and updates with educators via email. Educators are advised to maintain current professional and personal email addresses in TNCompass to ensure access to licensure related communications.
To change a name:
- Log into TNCompass.
- Select “My Educator Profile” in the Application Quick Links section.
- Select “Transactions” and select “Name Change” to start a new transaction.
- Read related information, complete the name change form, and add appropriate attachments.
- Review for accuracy, read submission confirmation and submit.
- Select “Personal Affirmation” in the Submission Notes section. Complete the Name Change Transaction – Personal Affirmation.
- Confirm accuracy of submission and submit. Confirm personal affirmation and click submit again.
The following forms of legal documentation will be accepted for name changes:
- U.S. issued driver’s license;
- U.S. issued passport;
- U.S. issued social security card; or
- U.S. issued official court documents (e.g., marriage license, divorce decree, other official court document).
If an educator would like to change a middle name to a maiden name, it must appear that way on the legal documentation.
To change an address:
- Log into TNCompass.
- Select “Edit Account Information”.
- Edit the appropriate information.
- Confirm accuracy and click “Save” in the upper right corner.
Educators are advised to maintain current professional and personal email addresses in TNCompass to ensure access to licensure related communications from the department. To add/edit an email address:
- Log into TNCompass.
- Select “Edit Account Information”.
- Edit the appropriate information.
- Confirm accuracy and click “Save” in the upper right corner.