Alternative Licensure Type II

To qualify for an Alternative Type II License, candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and met content in one of the following ways:

1. Acceptable major in the endorsement area OR
2. Document that they have at least 24 semester hours in the teaching content area OR
3. Verify that they have passed the required PRAXIS II content exam(s) for the endorsement areas sought.

Once the candidate has met one of the three ways above, additional course work in the academic major WILL NOT be required.

Teachers holding Alternative Type II licenses must demonstrate satisfactory annual progress toward completion of all licensure requirements. Teachers may teach on an Alternative Type II license no more than three years. This three-year limit MAY NOT be exceeded by switching between alternative licensure Types I and II OR by changing teaching positions OR school systems.

When applying for initial issuance of a Type II Alternative License, the school system must submit to The Office of Teacher Licensing an application including:

1. Verification by the institution of higher education OR school system that content knowledge requirements have been met;

2. A statement signed by a Tennessee director of schools stating intent to employ the candidate as directed by the Alternative Type II application;

3. Official copies of the candidate’s college transcripts.

Click to obtain renewal guidelines of the Alternative Type II license.

Out-of-State and On-line Alternative Licensure

The Department of Education will determine approval of out-of-state and on-line alternative licensure programs after reviewing and evaluating all requested materials. All candidates seeking alternative licensure through an out-of-state or on-line program must:

1. Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

2. Meet the teaching content area knowledge requirements through one of the following:

a. Have an acceptable major in the endorsement area;

b. Have at least 24 semester hours in the teaching content area; or

c. Pass the PRAXIS II exam(s) in the content area for the endorsement sought.

3. Have a verifiable affiliation with an out-of-state or on-line institution of higher education that is,

a. Regionally accredited and

b. State approved for teacher education, by at least one state other than  Tennessee, for the licensure endorsement program(s) and appropriate grade level range for the Tennessee endorsement(s) sought; and

c. Have obtained an "intent to hire" statement, including a commitment to provide mentoring, from a Tennessee school system that submits completed applications for the alternative license, with supporting documentation, to the Tennessee State Department of Education Office of Teacher Licensing.

Eligible candidates seeking alternative licensure through an out-of-state or on-line program are issued an Alternative License Type II. A teacher may not teach on an alternative license for more than three years and may not extend the period of alternative licensure by transferring among licensure types, teaching positions or employers.

Renewal of Out-of-State and On-Line Alternative License. 

To renew an Alternative Type II License, the school system must provide a recommendation in accordance with local evaluation procedures and submit verification of the teacher's adequate progress in completion of:

1. The requirements of an out-of-state or on-line state approved alternative licensure program or alternative route program, or
2. The eleven Tennessee Professional Education Core competencies; and
3. Taken all the Praxis II examinations, except the PLT, for the endorsement(s) sought.

RESOURCE INFORMATION

Alternative Licensure Frequently Asked Questions

Alternative Licensure Policy

Cooperating Tennessee School Systems

Affiliated Tennessee University/Colleges

Acceptable Majors

Appendix - A Revised (8-2007)

Alternative Type II application

An application packet that is missing any one of these items will be returned to the school system with instructions as to which items are missing. This will delay the application process.