FAQ for Administrators

To earn PDPs, an activity must be related to improving educator effectiveness by:

1. developing content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, or pedagogical content knowledge;
   2. enhancing educator effectiveness (e.g., world language courses for those working with students for whom English is a second language, or coursework that supports understanding and use of data); or
   3. developing competency in student social and emotional health and well-being.

The following table provides information about how PDPs may be earned and identifies acceptable PDP options, number of PDPs awarded, and required documentation.

To be valid for renewal or advancement of a Tennessee license, PDPs must be earned during the validity period of the license. For example, if a license is valid from Sept. 1, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2021, only PDPs earned during that time can be used to renew or advance the educator license. If an educator submits PDPs earned prior to the validity period of the license, the district must deny the PDPs in TNCompass.

Yes, educators can receive PDPs for attending learning activities for which they receive compensation as long as the activities are related to improving educator effectiveness (see question 1).

Suicide prevention” should be removed from the question since we now can award PDPs for those trainings.

Yes. If the topic of the in-service activity is related to improving educator effectiveness, the in-service hours may be used for PDPs.

However, such activities may qualify for PDPs for school services personnel (e.g., school counselor, school social worker, school psychologist) if the approving administrator determines that participation will enhance educator effectiveness based on current job duties.

No. Time spent presenting at a conference, at school or district in-services, or other learning events cannot be used to earn PDPs.

Yes. Educators can receive PDPs for micro-credentials as long as the PDPs are earned through a state- approved micro-credentials provider (i.e., Digital Promise, Teaching Matters). Micro-credentials documentation must be issued by the state-approved micro-credentials provider.

The type of documentation required varies by the type of activity used to accrue PDPs (see table in question 1). Districts can choose whether to track PDP documentation locally or to have educators upload all PDP documentation in TNCompass. By approving PDPs, district administrators are indicating that official documentation has been submitted and retained locally or in TNCompass.

Educators may submit their PDPs in TNCompass. Instructions are located here. PDPs can be entered into TNCompass at any time, but must be submitted prior to the expiration date of the license.

PDPs earned from evaluation scores will be issued automatically in TNCompass once the level of overall effectiveness (LOE) for the educator is finalized in TNCompass. For the purpose of advancement or renewal, educators should not rely on evaluation scores for PDPs in the last year of the validity period of a license because the LOE will likely not be finalized before the end of August. Note that all licenses are set to expire on Aug. 31 of the expiration year.

District staff designated to approve PDPs have a PDP Work Queue in TNCompass. Once an educator submits PDPs in his/her account, authorized district personnel must approve or deny the PDPs through TNCompass. Instructions on how to do this can be found in the TNCompass Licensure Administrator Guide, found on the TNCompass homepage.

To advance to a professional license, educators must have

• three years of acceptable experience, and
• one of the following:
  • a recommendation of the director of schools or
  • 30 PDPs earned during the validity period of the license.

Educators may apply to advance the license as soon as requirements are met.

To renew a professional license, educators must submit 60 PDPs during the validity period of the license.

Individuals not staffed in a Tennessee public school at the point of advancement or renewal must submit PDPs and corresponding documentation in TNCompass. The department will evaluate the documentation and issue PDPs based on policy requirements. District administrators may provide opportunities to accrue PDPs by allowing those individuals to attend school or district professional learning activities, as appropriate.

Administrators in a TASL-mandated positions or serving as directors of schools may use this experience in lieu of submitting PDPs to renew the professional teaching or school services personnel license. When submitting the application in TNCompass, educators should indicate in the Submission Notes section that they are serving in a TASL-mandated position.

Educators with an active administrator license who are not in a TASL-mandated position must submit 60 PDPs to renew the professional teaching or school service personnel license.

For more information or with questions, contact Educator.Licensure@tn.gov or call (615) 532-4885.