Adding an Additional Degree/Endorsement to a
Tennessee Teaching License

Adding an Additional Degree

An individual who holds an additional degree from a regionally accredited institution shall be granted the degree for salary purposes if the degree indicates by the nature of the courses that public education was the primary aim.

Click here to download application to add an additional degree(s) to an existing Tennessee teaching license or call (615) 532-4885 to request the form be mailed to you.

1. Complete the personal information..
2. Answer all the questions at Please Read Carefully Before Signing section, sign and date.
3. Check block Amendment to Add Additional Degree to Teaching License and check the Additional Degree desired.
4. Mail the completed application and official transcript(s) reflecting the degree and conferral date of the degree (photocopies are not accepted) to the address provided on the application.

Adding an Additional Endorsement

Effective May 1, 2001, Tennessee adopted a new policy for adding an additional endorsement(s) to an existing teacher license. The new policy limits the number of hours required for obtaining additional endorsment(s).

Applicants seeking additional endorsement(s) must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams developed and administered by Educational Testing Service. (Click to look at a complete listing of specific Praxis Series Exams required in Tennessee.) Upon completion of all requirements, the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university shall send a recommendation to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing for issuance of the additional endorsement(s).

There are some areas of endorsement which may only be obtained by meeting state minimum requirements. These areas are:

1. Bible
2. Co-op Coordinator
3. Driver Education
4. Superintendent
5. Supervisor of Attendance

Some of these areas are only available as additional endorsements to an existing Tennessee teacher license. Others require prerequisites such as certain degrees and experience. For specific information and exact requirements for these areas, please contact the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing at (615) 532-4885.

All areas of endorsement other than the ones listed above can only be obtained by completing an additional endorsement program through a college/university. If a Tennessee institution offers the initial licensure program, they have the option to offer the add-on endorsement. Contact the Dean of Education of the institution for requirement definition.

Click here to download application to add an additional endorsement(s) to an existing Tennessee teaching license or call (615) 532-4885 to request an application be mailed to you.

1. Complete the personal information.
2. Answer all the questions at Please Read Carefully Before Signing section, sign and date.
3. Check block Amendment to Add Endorsement Area(s) to Teaching License.
4. The Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university will complete the second page of the application attesting to the completion of all institution requirements for adding the additional endorsement(s).
5. Mail the completed application and official transcript(s) reflecting the courses required for the additional endorsement(s) to the address provided on the application. (A signature of the Dean of Education and Certification Officer is required for adding an additional endorsement). The Institutional Score Report is required unless scores are sent directly from Educational Testing Services to the Tennessee State Department of Education.