Occupational Education Licenses

An Apprentice Occupational Education License may be issued to individuals who meet requirements in the areas:

•Health Science

OR

•Trade and Industry

Click for a listing of Occupational Education License endorsement areas currently available in Tennessee.

The Health Science educator must document three years of full-time successful employment within the past five years in a state approved health care facility: (ex: hospital, nursing home, rehab center, dental or medical office, home health, day surgery center etc.). He/she must also have an associate or higher degree and hold current licensure or certification in an allied health occupation, or current licensure as a registered nurse in Tennessee.

The Trade and Industry educator must document a minimum of five years of appropriate and current work experience during the past eight years in the field for which application is made. He/she must also be a high school graduate or the equivalent as determined by the General Education Development (GED) test.

The Cosmetology educator must also hold current licensure to instruct in Tennessee as issued by the respective state licensing board in addition to the other requirements for Trade and Industry educators.

Click to download the application for the Apprentice Occupational Education License or call (615) 532-4885 to request the forms be mailed to you. Qualifications including experience and educational preparation shall be reviewed by the staff of the Office of Teacher Licensing. Once an application has been reviewed and approved, the Apprentice Occupational Education License will be issued. Click to download the guidelines for applying for the Apprentice Occupational Education License

Note: The Apprentice Occupational Education License is only valid for three years of teaching in a Tennessee public or state accredited private school.

Advancing to the Professional Occupational Education License, valid for a ten year period, requires an evaluation of the candidate's knowledge and skills by an approved university to determine what specific coursework will be required for advancement. Click to download the requirements for advancing and teacher evaluations form. .This evaluation must be scheduled by the applicant as soon as the Apprentice Occupational Education License is received in order to complete the required coursework within the three year period that the license is valid. Click to download the advancement application . Upon completion of all requirements the educator must submit the completed advancement application, and the teacher evaluations form to the Office of Teacher Licensing. 

Deactivation of Occupational Endorsements

An educator with a Professional Occupational Teacher License who is employed in Tennessee becomes eligible to deactivate an endorsement that appears on the Professional Occupational license when the educator notifies the Office of Teaching Licensing of the desire to deactivate the endorsement. Guidelines for deactivating the endorsement are as follows:

1. The educator must make the request on the Office of Teaching Licensing Occupational Professional Endorsement Deactivation form that must be notarized.
2. The educator must hold a valid Professional Occupational Teacher License.
3. The educator's endorsement will ONLY be deactivated and NOT removed from the license.
4. The educator must NOT have taught using the endorsement for a minimum of five years.
5. Proof of not using the endorsement in five years must be presented by the LEA in a notarized letter accompanying the deactivation form.
6. The educator can download Deactivation Endorsement formor call (615) 532-4885 to request the form be mailed.

An educator with a Professional Occupational License may reactivate an endorsement that has been deactivated.  Guidelines for reactivating the endorsement are as follows:

1. The educator must make the request on the Office of Teaching Licensing Occupational Professional reactivation form that must be notarized.
2. The educator must hold a valid Professional Occupational Teacher License.
3. The Trade and Industry educator must document a minimum of 240 hours work hours during the past eight years in the area in which the endorsement reactivation is requested.
4. Current and valid Industry Certification, where required, must be presented with the reactivation application.
5. The educator can download Reactivation Endorsement form or call (615) 532-4885 to request the form be mailed.