Teacher Education and Clinical Practice

Practitioner Occupational License 

Individuals applying for the Practitioner Occupational Teacher License must meet the following criteria:

• Be formally admitted to or have completed a state-approved educator preparation program
• Be recommended by the state-approved educator preparation program
• Be a high school graduate or have college credit
• Meet industry certification requirements
• Meet the Occupational Endorsement Aligned Requirements

In addition to meeting the above criteria, candidates must create a TN Compass account and submit the following documents to the Tennessee Department of Education:

• Verification of work experience form
• Occupational qualification sheet
• An Official transcript -Academic transcripts are considered official, acceptable documentation for licensure transactions when received by the Department in the following circumstances: • Uploaded directly to TNCompass by a TN State Board-approved EPP • Submitted by the issuing institution through an electronic clearinghouse to Licensure@tn.gov • Mailed in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution to the Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation, Andrew Johnson Tower, 9th Floor, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Please allow additional time for mailed transcripts to be scanned and uploaded into TNCompass
• Industry certification (if required

Program of Study

The program of study requires 12 hours at either the undergraduate or graduate level. 

Occupational Scholarships

The Occupational Educator Scholarship (OES) program was established to provide financial assistance for eligible individuals to obtain a CTE-occupational endorsement, covering tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by other financial aid.

State Board Rule 0520-02-05 provides specific information concerning the scholarship. However, applicants are eligible if they:

• are a Tennessee resident for one year immediately preceding the date of application for the
• are admitted to an educator preparation provider.
• agree to teach occupational career and technical education courses in a Tennessee public school for a minimum of three (3) consecutive academic years.
• agree to repay the scholarship to the state of Tennessee according to a repayment schedule if the three (3) consecutive academic years of teaching requirement is not fulfilled; and
• complete the Occupational Educator Scholarship application.

PLEASE NOTE: A new application is created for each semester.  Please contact Ms. Lanier or Mr. Ron Blaylock at ron.blaylock@tn.gov for the application.

Add-on endorsement for Occupational Teachers

Educators who hold current, valid, and active Occupational Licenses can add Academic Licenses by meeting the following requirements:

• Have completed an educator preparation program;
• Pass the required Praxis specialty area content assessments for the desired academic endorsement (see the State Board’s Professional Assessments Policyfor assessment requirements); and
• Meet TN Literacy Success Actrequirements as evidenced by completion of a qualifying training or assessment, if applicable

Occupational teachers applying for academic licensure through this pathway should submit an Out-of-State Educator transaction in TNCompass with a submission note clarifying they are applying for occupational licensure.

Important Websites

For information on fee payments, visit the University & Student Business Service.

To find classes, please follow the instructions provided by the Registrar's Office under "Class Offerings." (Class schedules are available online, usually one month before registration opens.)

For information on how to register for courses, please view the Registration Quick Guide. (Before registering for courses, you must call 901-678-2377 so the "Alternate PIN" can be cleared by an advisor.)