Earning a Tennessee Teacher License
by Attending a College/University outside Tennessee

If you completed teacher licensure requirements in another state, you must submit an out-of-state teacher license application packet in order to apply for a Tennessee teacher license.

Download application for an Out-of-State Teacher License or call (615) 532-4885 to request the form be mailed to you. The application form also includes a list of regulations and guidelines regarding issuance of the license.

Please follow the steps as outlined on the application form:

• Complete Part I regarding personal information, including legal questions, and sign application.
• Part II refers to the Praxis Series Exams (formerly known as the National Teachers Exams or NTE).
  

If you were fully certified/licensed in another state before July 1, 1984 you MAY be exempt from the Praxis exams requirement for your initial license provided a comparable teaching endorsement area is offered in Tennessee. Please attach a copy of your out-of-state license showing the issue date. If you are unable to locate a copy of your license showing the issue date prior to July 1, 1984, you may download a verification form to send to the state department of education in that state.

If you hold a current VALID license from another state, please enclose a copy. You MAY be exempt from testing.

If you do not meet the exemption criterion, you may be required to take tests for Tennessee. Acceptable score reports must be submitted directly from the college/university (Designated Institution Score Report) or directly from ETS. Click for a complete listing of specific Praxis exams required in Tennessee.

Testing requirements are subject to change. (Testing exam changes take effect on September 1st each year) Please call the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing (615) 532-4885 prior to signing up for any of the Praxis exams.

To request an official copy of Praxis score(s) reports contact:

• The Praxis Series
• Educational Testing Service
• P.O. Box 6051
• Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6051
• (609) 771-7395
• www.ets.org/praxis

• Part III indicates whether you have one or more years of acceptable teaching experience in another state. If you do have experience, you must document it on an experience verification form. THIS FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY AN OFFICIAL FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM(S) WHERE YOU TAUGHT. The form(s) should be returned to you and attached to your application. Click to obtain information on what constitutes acceptable experience in Tennessee.
• Part IV requests official transcripts from college/university and a recommendation from the college or university with an approved teacher preparation program. All applicants must provide official transcripts from all institutions attended.  Please ask your college/university to send a transcript to you for inclusion with your application.  Unsolicited transcripts received by this office are returned.
• Part V requests the signature of the Certification Officer or the Dean of Education at the institution where you completed your teacher preparation program. The authorized official should return the completed form to you..

Note: Please attach all required documentation listed above and submit in a single packet to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing. All incomplete packets will be returned to the applicant with instructions as to which items are missing. This will result in delaying the issuance of your Tennessee teaching license.