Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-02-03-.04

Current through December 10, 2024

Section 0520-02-03-.04 - REQUIREMENTS FOR OCCUPATIONAL TEACHER LICENSES

(1) Prospective educators seeking a practitioner occupational teaching license shall meet the requirements of one (1) of the following pathways:

(a) Pathway 1. The prospective educator:

1. Holds a high school diploma or higher as defined by the Department based on the area in which the educator is seeking licensure and endorsement;

2. Is enrolled in a State Board-approved educator preparation program with a job-embedded clinical practice;

3. Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider;

4. Has a minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last ten (10) years, or three (3) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five (5) years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent education attainment as defined by the Department; and

5. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(b) Pathway 2. The prospective educator:

1. Holds an active Tennessee practitioner teacher license or professional teacher license with an endorsement covering any of the grades six (6) through twelve (12);

2. Has completed a State Board-approved academic educator preparation program or an educator preparation program approved by a state other than Tennessee; and

3. Meets one (1) of the following criteria:

(i) Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable; or

(ii) If the endorsement area does not require an industry certification, has a minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last ten (10) years, or three (3) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five (5) years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent education attainment as defined by the Department.

(c) Pathway 3. The prospective educator:

1. Has a minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last ten (10) years, or three (3) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five (5) years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent education attainment as defined by the Department;

2. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable;

3. Provides proof of pairing with a highly effective mentor teacher; and

4. Has completed coursework in classroom management, pedagogy, serving students with disabilities and English learners, and the teacher code of ethics as set forth in T.C.A. § 49-5-5615, from a State Board-approved educator preparation provider.

(2) Prospective educators from a state other than Tennessee that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement and who are seeking a practitioner occupational teacher license shall meet requirements of one (1) of the following pathways:

(a) Out-of-State Pathway 1. The out-of-state prospective educator:

1. Holds a high school diploma or higher as defined by the Department based on the area in which the educator is seeking licensure and endorsement;

2. Has completed an educator preparation program approved by a state other than Tennessee;

3. Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider;

4. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable; and

5. Submits qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy.

(b) Out-of-State Pathway 2. The out-of-state prospective educator:

1. Holds a high school diploma or higher;

2. Has completed an educator preparation program approved by a state other than Tennessee;

3. Holds a full and valid initial level occupational license from a state other than Tennessee that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement;

4. Is recommended by the approved educator preparation provider; and

5. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(3) Prospective educators from a state other than Tennessee seeking a professional occupational teacher license shall meet the following requirements:

(a) Out-of-State Pathway 3. The out-of-state prospective educator:

1. Holds a high school diploma or higher;

2. Holds a full and valid professional-level occupational license from a state other than Tennessee that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement; and

3. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(4) A practitioner occupational teacher license may be renewed once upon completion of an approved educator preparation program and submission of qualifying scores on all State Board-required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy prior to the end of the validity period of the first (1st) issuance of the practitioner license. An educator issued a practitioner occupational teacher license under Pathway 3 is not required to complete an approved educator preparation program to renew the license.

(5) In order to advance from a practitioner occupational teacher license to a professional occupational teacher license, an educator shall meet one of the following sets of requirements:

(a) Option 1:

1. Complete three (3) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the Department;

2. Complete a State Board-approved educator preparation program;

3. Earn thirty (30) professional development points, a minimum of twenty (20) which shall come from new teacher training provided by the Department as indicated by SBE Educator Licensure Policy 5.502; and

4. Hold an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(b) Option 2:

1. Holds a full and valid professional-level occupational license from a state other than Tennessee that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement or holds a full and valid professional-level academic teaching license in Tennessee; and

2. Holds an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(6) If the requirements for licensure advancement are not met prior to the end of the validity period of the second (2nd) issuance of the practitioner occupational teacher license then the license may continue to be renewed. To renew the practitioner occupational second (2nd) issuance license, an educator shall earn thirty (30) qualifying professional development points as defined in the Educator Licensure Policy 5.502 and hold an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(7) In order to renew the professional occupational teacher license educators must meet the following requirements:

(a) Earn sixty (60) professional development points within the validity period of the license and as defined in the Educator Licensure Policy 5.502 or demonstrate two (2) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the Department within the validity period of the license; and

(b) Provide verification of an active industry certification for the area of endorsement as defined by the Department, if applicable.

(8) If the educator has not met the requirements for renewal at the end of the validity period of the professional license, then the license shall expire. Educators who fail to apply for renewal prior to the expiration of the license shall have a grace period until October 1 following the date of expiration to apply for renewal. Applications for renewal submitted during the grace period shall demonstrate that the educator completed all requirements for license renewal (with the exception of submitting the application) prior to the end of the validity period.

(9) Teachers who hold an active practitioner or professional occupational teacher license and have completed an educator preparation program may add additional occupational endorsements through one (1) of the following pathways:

(a) Hold an active industry certification, as determined by the Department, for the area of endorsement, if applicable; or

(b) If the endorsement area does not require a certification, then have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last ten (10) years, or three (3) years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five (5) years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent education attainment as defined by the Department.

(10) An occupational teacher license may be reactivated by meeting the following requirements:

(a) Hold an active industry certification, as determined by the Department, for the area of endorsement, if applicable; or

(c) Meeting one (1) of the following requirements:

1. Option A (Professional License only): Earning sixty (60) qualifying professional development points as defined in the Educator Licensure Policy 5.502.

2. Option B (Professional License only): Demonstrating two (2) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the Department.

3. Option C: Submit to the Department evidence of completion of an approved educator preparation program (if not already provided) and submit qualifying scores on all State Board-required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy 5.105. An educator issued a practitioner occupational teacher license under Pathway 3 is not required to submit evidence of completion of an approved educator preparation program to reactivate the license.

4. Option D: Present a full and valid professional-level occupational license from a state other than Tennessee that is a partner in the NASDTEC interstate agreement.

5. Option E: Submit to the Department evidence of current National Board Certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-02-03-.04

Repeal and new rules filed December 18, 2014; effective March 18, 2015. A stay of the rules was filed January 28, 2015; new effective date June 1, 2015. Emergency rules filed August 27, 2015; effective through February 23, 2016. Repeal and new rules filed October 27, 2015; effective January 25, 2016. Amendments filed October 7, 2016; effective January 5, 2017. Amendments filed August 16, 2019; effective November 14, 2019. Emergency rules filed July 9, 2021; effective through January 5, 2022. Emergency rules expired effective January 6, 2022, and the rules reverted to their previous statuses. Amendments filed December 2, 2021; effective March 2, 2022. Amendments filed April 24, 2023; effective July 23, 2023. Amendments filed March 25, 2024; effective 6/23/2024.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-1-302, 49-5-108, and 49-5-5603.