Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

To qualify for a Transitional License, candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and met content in one of the following ways:

1. Acceptable major in the endorsement area OR
2. Document that they have at least 24 semester hours in the teaching content area OR
3. Verify that they have passed the required PRAXIS II content exam(s) for the endorsement areas sought.

Once the candidate has met one of the three ways above, additional course work in the academic major IS NOT required.

Teachers holding Transitional Licenses must demonstrate satisfactory annual progress toward completion of all licensure requirements. Teachers may teach on a Transitional License no more than three years.

When applying for initial issuance of a Transitional License, the school system must submit to The Office of Teacher Licensing an application including:

1. Verification by the institution of higher education OR school system that content knowledge requirements have been met;
2. A statement signed by a Tennessee director of schools stating intent to employ the candidate as directed by the Transitional License application;
3. Official copies of the candidate’s college transcripts.

Renewal of the Transitional License

Prior to first renewal of the Transitional License, the teacher must have successfully completed the orientation component of the Professional Education Core Competencies as defined by the Institution.

Prior to second renewal of the Transitional License, the teacher must have passed all required Praxis II content examinations, except the PLT, for the endorsement(s) sought.

Out-of-State and On-line Transitional Licensure

All candidates seeking Transitional licensure through an out-of-state or on-line program must:

1. Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
2. Meet the teaching content area knowledge requirements through one of the following:
   1. Have an acceptable major in the endorsement area; or
   2. Have at least 24 semester hours in the teaching content area; or
   3. Pass the PRAXIS II exam(s) in the content area for the endorsement sought.
3. Have a verifiable affiliation with an out-of-state or on-line institution of higher education that is,
   1. Regionally accredited and
   2. State approved for teacher education, by at least one state other than  Tennessee, for the licensure endorsement program(s) and appropriate grade level range for the Tennessee endorsement(s) sought; and
   3. Have obtained an "intent to hire" statement, including a commitment to provide mentoring, from a Tennessee school system that submits completed applications for the Transitional License, with supporting documentation, to the Tennessee State Department of Education Office of Teacher Licensing..
   A teacher may not teach on a Transitional License for more than three years

Renewal of Out-of-State and On-Line Transitional License

Prior to first renewal of the Transitional License, the school system must provide a recommendation in accordance with local evaluation procedures and submit verification of the teacher's adequate progress in completion of:

1. The requirements of an out-of-state or on-line state approved alternative licensure program or alternative route program, or
2. The eleven Tennessee Professional Education Core competencies;

Prior to second renewal of the Transitional License, the teacher must pass all required Praxis II content examinations, except the PLT, for the endorsement(s) sought.

Resource Information

1. Transitional Licensure Policy
2. Cooperating Tennessee School Systems
3. Affiliated Tennessee University/Colleges
4. Acceptable Majors
5. Appendix - A Revised (8-2007)
6. Transitional License Application
7. Transitional Licensure Program Providers

An application packet that is missing any one of these items will be returned to the school system with instructions as to which items are missing. This will delay the application process.