Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

Beginning Level Administrator Licenses

The Beginning Administrator License (BAL) is the administrator license issued to an individual who prior to September 15, 2009 has completed or was enrolled in an approved graduate program in school administration at a college/university with acceptable accreditation, has at least one year of successful teaching experience, and completed all requirements for the license prior to September 1, 2011.

The Instructional Leadership License (ILL) is the administrator license issued to an individual who after September 15, 2009 is enrolled in and completes an approved graduate program in school leadership at a college/university with acceptable accreditation, holds a valid Tennessee teacher license, and has a minimum of three years of successful education work experience.

Download the Application for Administrator License or call (615) 532-4885 to request an application be mailed to you. If you completed a program through an out-of-state college/university, download the Application for Out-of State license.

To complete the application for the Beginning Administrator License or the Instructional Leadership License – Beginning or Aspiring, or for renewal of these licenses (see appropriate renewal option on page 2 of the application):

1. Complete top part of Page 1 regarding personal information.
2. Answer all the questions at Please Read Carefully Before Signing section; sign and date where indicated.
3. Under the Transaction Requested, check option for Initial Teaching License and circle Beginning Administrator or Instructional Leader. (For license renewal only, check administrator license)
4. On Page 2 of the application, Option 1 must be completed by the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university attesting to completion of the approved program and Praxis Exams for the Beginning Administrator License or the Instructional Leadership License - Beginning. For the Instructional Leadership License – Aspiring, signatures of Dean and Certification Officer attesting to enrollment in the approved program along with signatures of Director of Schools and TASL Director attesting to employment in an assistant principal position must be provided. (For license renewal only, complete appropriate renewal option, obtain signatures, and complete attachment page as applicable to renewal option)
5. The successful completion of the Praxis Exams Specialty Test is required for the Beginning Administrator License or the Instructional Leadership License - Beginning. (Click for a list of Praxis Series Exams required in Tennessee.) The test scores must be submitted directly to the Office of Teacher Licensing from ETS or the designated institution score report may be submitted by the recommending college/university.
6. Mail the completed application, Praxis Score Reports, and official transcript(s) reflecting the courses required for the Beginning Administrator License or the Instructional Leadership License - Beginning to the address provided on page 1 of the application. (The signature of the Dean of Education and Certification Officer for the college/university is required on the application form.)

Mailing Address: Office of Teacher Licensing
Tennessee Department of Education
4th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0377

For further information about administrator licensure renewal, advancement, professional development, and evaluation requirements, see the following documents and web pages:

Implementation Questions and Answers (refer to Tennessee Electronic Learning Center)

Licensure Transition Plan Guidelines (refer to Tennessee Electronic Learning Center)

Tennessee Electronic Learning Center – Instructional Leadership

Tennessee Learning Centered Leadership Policy and TILS

Office of Instructional Leadership - TASL

List of Approved Tennessee Leadership Preparation Programs

 

Restriction on Out of State Administrator Licensing Programs

The following text was approved for the "Tennessee Learning Centered Leadership" Policy at the October 29, 2010 State Board of Education meeting:

 " Effective July 1, 2011, no credential shall be issued that allows a person to be employed in a Tennessee public school as an administrator if that person was trained in another state or received training from any type of program not expressly approved by the State Board of Education of Tennessee.

   Those holding or earning administrator credentials from another state issued after July 1, 2011 may be granted  a Tennessee administrator credential if the person seeking the credential has demonstrated at least three years of successful school leadership within the last ten years, OR are recommended directly from a Tennessee Institution of Higher Education (IHE) with an approved leadership program.

   Other states may make application to the State Board of Education (TN) for recognition of their credential in Tennessee.  States making application must show significant alignment to the State Board of Education's 'Learning-Centered Leadership Policy'. 

    Candidates enrolled in an out-of-state program to prepare for administrator licensure in Tennessee prior to January 1, 2011 have until July 1, 2012 to complete the program and apply for a Tennessee 'ILL-B'

Having been approved unanimously by the SBE, this policy change takes effect immediately.

NOTE to Tennessee LEA's: please notify all of your educator's that this policy change has taken place.  It is particularly important to make this clear to any candidates currently enrolled in "out-of-state"/online preparation programs in school administration.

Point of clarification:  Non-licensure candidates completing advanced degrees in school administration for salary supplement purposes (only) can still use regionally accredited out-of-state/online programs for that purpose.  (After July 12, 2012, they cannot have the license, but they can be credited with the degree.)

 

Professional Level Administrator Licenses

Educators employed as administrators in Tennessee public and accredited non-public schools can advance from the Beginning Administrator License (BAL) and Instructional Leadership License – Beginning (ILL-B), as well as from the Professional Administrator (PAL) and Instructional Leadership License – Professional (ILL-P). Administrators employed in Tennessee public schools must also keep up-to-date with the state mandated Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) requirements.

To complete the application for renewal or advancement of the Beginning Administrator License, the Professional Administrator License, or the Instructional Leadership License (Beginning, Professional, or Exemplary) download the Application for Administrator License Renewal or Advancement, or call (615) 532-4885 to request an application be mailed to you

1. Complete the top part of Page 1 regarding personal information.
2. Answer all the questions at Please Read Carefully Before Signing section; sign and date where indicated.
3. Under the Transaction Requested, check option for Renewal of License or the appropriate Advancement option (For renewal only, check administrator license)
4. On Page 2 of the application, check the appropriate Renewal or Advancement Option and obtain the signature of the Director of Schools.
   Attach the required Page 3 renewal or advancement verifications and obtain the applicable signatures of the Director of Schools and/or Dean of Education or Certification Officer (see required attachments at the bottom of Page 2).
5. Mail the completed Renewal or Advancement application along with Attachments to the Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) in the Office of Instructional Leadership at the Tennessee Department of Education for verification and signature by the TASL Director. The TASL Director will submit the completed application to the Office of Teacher Licensing.

NOTE: Administrator License advancement recommendations and applications cannot be completed and submitted until after March 1st of the school year when advancement requirements are completed.

Mailing Address: TASL
Office of Instructional Leadership
Tennessee Department of Education
5th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0375

For further information about administrator licensure renewal, advancement, professional development, and evaluation requirements, see the following documents and web pages:

Implementation Questions and Answers (refer to Tennessee Electronic Learning Center)

Licensure Transition Plan Guidelines (refer to Tennessee Electronic Learning Center)

Tennessee Electronic Learning Center – Instructional Leadership

Tennessee Learning Centered Leadership Policy and TILS

Office of Instructional Leadership - TASL