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.

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, an administrator must:

  • currently serve in 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 or currently completing the required Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) credit hours required for each two year cycle (July 1-June 30);
  • submit an administrator license renewal application and TASL hours in TNCompass for approval by the department’s office of educator effectiveness.

Educators not employed in an administrator position (e.g., teachers, non-instructional school district central office personnel, etc.) whose ILL, ILL-P, or Professional Administrator License (PAL) credential is eligible for renewal must submit an application for renewal to the office of educator licensure. Please note that all renewal applicants must possess another active Tennessee educator license at the time of application submission.

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.

Educators with the Beginning Administrator License (BAL) must convert to an Instructional Leader License (ILL). Educators who meet the requirements for advancing to the ILL-P must process their advancement through TNCompass. Educators who hold an expired BAL must complete the BAL to ILL conversion unless they meet the requirements for advancement to an ILL-P. To convert a BAL, an educator must:

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:

  1. Log into TNCompass.
  2. Select “My Educator Profile” in the Application Quick Links section.
  3. Select “Transactions” and select “Name Change” to start a new transaction.
  4. Read related information, complete the name change form, and add appropriate attachments.
  5. Review for accuracy, read submission confirmation and submit.
  6. Select “Personal Affirmation” in the Submission Notes section. Complete the Name Change Transaction – Personal Affirmation.
  7. 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:

  1. Log into TNCompass.
  2. Select “Edit Account Information”.
  3. Edit the appropriate information.
  4. 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:

  1. Log into TNCompass.
  2. Select “Edit Account Information”.
  3. Edit the appropriate information.
  4. Confirm accuracy and click “Save” in the upper right corner.