Tennessee State Personnel Standards

Tennessee State Personnel Standards

Audiologist

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Discipline Audiologist
License/Certificate Licensed Audiologist
State Department Department of Health, Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences
State Department Hyperlink https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/info/TN/licensure/
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctorate
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? A minimum of 375 clock hours of supervised clinical experience (practicum) with individuals having a variety of disorders of communications, as required by ASHA.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Passage of a national examination as recognized by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or American Academy of Audiology (AAA); Educational Testing Service (ETS) of successful completion of the Praxis examination in Audiology passing score: 170.
Additional requirements specific for schools? Initial teaching license plus endorsement needed to work in schools. School Audiologist PK-12 Endorsement can be added to a current, valid TN teaching license through College/University Recommendation for Endorsement: Applicants seeking additional endorsement(s) through approved college/university programs must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams developed and administered by Educational Testing Service. Upon completion of all additional endorsement program requirements, the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university shall send a recommendation to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing for issuance of the additional endorsement(s). Required Tests: Praxis I® Pre-Professional Skills Tests, and Praxis II Audiology.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist

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Discipline Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Hearing PreK-12 Endorsement
State Department Department of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing/educator-licensure/new-to-education.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - 12th grade
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Institutions of higher education provide candidates with a well-integrated field-based component involving students at a variety of age levels who have a variety of learning abilities, including students with multiple disabilities. To the extent possible, candidates have experience in consultant, itinerant, resource, and self-contained settings. Field experiences provide opportunities for participation in programs using a variety of communication modes. Institutions provide practicum experiences prior to the student teaching or full-year internship experience. The field experiences include opportunities for the candidates to collaborate with other educational professionals.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Praxis exam on Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354), Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (5272), and Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205).
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Alternative: Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or master's level program, can be recommended for initial licensure; they must meet the standards for early development and learning PreK-K and must have completed a student teaching/extended field experience semester or full-year internship involving (1) infant/toddler or pre- kindergarten, and (2) kindergarten placements. Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or master's level program, can begin teaching under an alternative license. They must be supervised by teacher mentors or other professionals who are qualified and experienced in their fields. Tennessee offers an alternative pathway to teacher certification through their Transitional License. To qualify, you must have a bachelor's degree with a major in your endorsement area, or 24 semester hours in the teaching content area, or a passing score on the required Praxis II content exam for the endorsement area. The transitional license allows you to teach for up to three years, giving you enough time to complete additional requirements for a full license. Teach Tennessee is another alternative licensure program. There are two paths to achieving your Tennessee teaching license through the Teach Tennessee program. 1. Governor's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and five years of work experience directly related to the subject you wish to teach. You must also be considered highly qualified, which means having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach or have a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. 2. Commissioner's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must also be highly qualified by having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach, or a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. In addition to these two alternative teacher certifications, Teach for America offers two programs in Tennessee: Teach for America Nashville and Teach for America Memphis. The programs offer assistance to qualified professionals with a bachelor's degree who wish to transition to a new career as a teacher. The program allows participants to teach under a transitional license while they go through an education and training program to qualify for a full teaching license. Another alternative pathway to become a teacher is the Tennessee Troops to Teachers program, which assists eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in "high-need" Tennessee schools.

Early Childhood Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Apprentice Teacher License with Endorsement in Early Childhood Education PreK-3
State Department Department of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/education/educators/licensing.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range 3 yrs - 3rd grade
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Required for All teaching licenses: 1. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood, Passing Score= 155 or; 2. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6, Passing Score= 158 or ; 3. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5-9, Passing Score= 158 or; 4. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12, Passing Score= 155 Required for Early Childhood Education PreK-3 Endorsement: Praxis II Exams: Education of Young Children, Passing Score= 155 and Elementary Education: Content Knowledge, Passing Score= 14 and Teaching Reading: Elementary Education, Passing Score= 162
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Teach for Tennessee Program: There are two paths to achieving your Tennessee teaching license through the Teach Tennessee program. a. Governor's Fellows: A Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and five years of work experience directly related to the subject to be taught. Applicants must be highly qualified by having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject they wish to teach or a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. b. Commissioner's Fellows: A Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must be highly qualified by having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject they wish to teach or a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam.

Early Childhood Special Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Special Educator
License/Certificate Special Education Pre-School/Early Childhood Endorsement
State Department Department of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/education/educators/licensing/educator-licensure.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range 3 yrs - 3rd grade
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (Math, reading, and writing)
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications (5545)
Teaching Reading: Elementary Education (5203)
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Special Instruction is included on a list of services provided in early intervention: entry-level requirements are based on the highest requirements in the State applicable to the profession or discipline in which a person is providing early intervention services and established suitable qualifications for personnel providing early intervention services pursuant to IDEA Part C to eligible children and their families who are served by State, local, or private agencies.
Additional requirements specific for schools? Initial teaching license plus endorsement needed to work in schools. Early Childhood Education PreK-3 Endorsement can be added to a current, valid TN teaching license through College/University Recommendation for Endorsement: Applicants seeking additional endorsement(s) through approved college/university programs must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams developed and administered by Educational Testing Service. Upon completion of all additional endorsement program requirements, the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university shall send a recommendation to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing for issuance of the additional endorsement(s). Required Tests: Praxis I® Pre-Professional Skills Tests, and Praxis II Early Childhood Education PreK-3.
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary 1. Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or master's level program, can be recommended for initial licensure; they must meet the standards for early development and learning PreK-K and must have completed a student teaching/extended field experience semester or full-year internship involving (1) infant/toddler or pre-kindergarten, and (2) kindergarten placements. 2. Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or master's level program, can begin teaching under an alternative license. They must be supervised by teacher mentors or other professionals who are qualified and experienced in their fields. 3. Tennessee offers an alternative pathway to teacher certification through its Transitional License. To qualify, you must have a bachelor's degree with a major in your endorsement area, 24 semester hours in the teaching content area, or a passing score on the required Praxis II content exam for the endorsement area. The transitional license allows you to teach for up to three years, giving you enough time to complete additional requirements for a full license. 4. Teach Tennessee is another alternative licensure program. There are two paths to achieving your Tennessee teaching license through the Teach Tennessee program. a. Governor's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and five years of work experience directly related to the subject you wish to teach. You must also be considered highly qualified, which means having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach or having a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. b. Commissioner's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must also be highly qualified by having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach, or a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. 5. In addition to these two alternative teacher certifications, Teach for America offers two programs in Tennessee: Teach for America Nashville and Teach for America Memphis. The programs offer assistance to qualified professionals with a bachelor's degree who wish to transition to a new career as a teacher. The program allows participants to teach under a transitional license while they go through an education and training program to qualify for a full teaching license. 6. Another alternative pathway to becoming a teacher is the Tennessee Troops to Teachers program, which assists eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in "high-need" Tennessee schools.

Family Therapist

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Discipline Family Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Marital and Family Therapist
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Masters or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or equivalent from an institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or by a comparable accrediting body. The degree may be acceptable in a related subject field, so long as the degree contains the following coursework (all courses must be at least one semester in length): (i) Human Development and Personality - 3 courses (ii) Marriage and Family Studies - 3 courses (iii) Marriage and Family Therapy - 3 courses (iv) Research - 1 course (v) Professional Ethics - 1 course (vi) Assessment and diagnosis of cognitive, affective and behavioral problems and dysfunctions in the DSM IV T.R.(or its successor) nomenclature - 1 course (vii) Supervised practicum/internship of no less than three hundred (300) hours which includes experience in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of cognitive, affective and behavioral problems or dysfunctions in the DSM IV T.R. (or its successor) nomenclature, pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-22-106
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? An applicant shall submit evidence of 1,000 hours of clinical practice and 200 hours of supervision by an approved supervisor over a period of not less than two years.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The exam required for licensure is The Marital and Family Therapy Examination (MFT). The exam is administered by The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).

Nurse

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Discipline Nurse
License/Certificate Registered Nurse (RN)
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Associate's
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The applicant is required to pass a written or computerized adaptive testing examination determined by the board of nurse registration and nursing education (NCLEX).

Occupational Therapist

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Discipline Occupational Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Occupational Therapist
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/ot-board.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? In order to qualify for state licensure as a Registered Occupational Therapist, you must first become nationally certified by taking the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) exam offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and scoring at least in the 70th percentile.

Physical Therapist

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Discipline Physical Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Physical Therapist
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pt-board.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctoral
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The National Physical Therapy Examinations endorsed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy or successor examinations, passing score = 600

Psychologist

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Discipline Psychologist
License/Certificate Licensed Clinical/Counseling Psychologist
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/psychology-board/psych-board/about.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctorate
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must complete a qualifying internship. A qualifying internship must be at least one (1) calendar year in duration and consist of no less than nineteen hundred (1900) hours in psychology at a site where health services are normally provided and which is part of an organized, integrated training program. A qualified internship is an organized, planned, continuous training experience in a professionally recognized program that is well announced, formal in structure, and is designed to provide nineteen hundred (1900) hours of predoctoral training under qualified supervision in professional psychology. A qualified internship shall be titled an "internship" or "residency" program and must be sponsored by an institution or organization which has health service objectives and offers health services that are broader and more extensive than the training objectives and services of the internship program which it sponsors.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), passing score= 500 2. Must also successfully complete the Board's ethics and jurisprudence examination as a prerequisite to licensure, passing score = 90%

School Psychologist

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Discipline School Psychologist
License/Certificate School Psychologist
State Department Department of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing/educator-licensure.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK - 12th grade
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework 1. Understanding of the knowledge base specific to school psychology: (a) history and foundations of school psychology, (b) legal and ethical issues, (c) professional issues and standards, (d) alternative models for the delivery of school psychological services, (e) emerging technologies, and (f) roles and functions of the school psychologist. 2. Understanding of the psychological foundations of behavior based on knowledge of (a) biological bases for behavior, (b) human learning, (c) social and cultural bases for behavior, (d) child and adolescent development, and (e) individual differences. 3. Understanding of the instructional design and organization of schools, community-based resources, and alternative service delivery systems as they apply to all students including the special needs learner. 4. Ability to provide school psychological services within a model which links assessment to intervention services delivered to individuals and groups. 5. Ability to provide individual assessments of ability, achievement, classroom behavior, and personal and social characteristics of individuals. 6. Ability to provide direct and indirect assessments and interventions for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services. 7. Ability to develop and implement individual and group interventions for the educational and mental health needs of children and youth. 8. Ability to develop and implement consultation services to individuals and groups, especially parents and teachers. 9. Ability to use measurement, statistics, research, and program evaluation methodologies in the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services. 10. Ability to develop, implement and evaluate training programs for parents and educators. 11. Ability to provide services that are consistent with provider standards and legal and ethical guidelines of the field of school psychology. 12. Ability to conduct the day-to-day delivery of school psychological services through effective oral and written communication, time management, record keeping, and public and professional relations.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? 1. Programs will provide supervised field experiences in which candidates are evaluated regarding their mastery of skills required by the licensure standards (see curriculum/coursework). 2. An internship will provide the student with a broad range of school psychological experiences including the opportunity to work with diverse client populations, a range of teaching and learning styles, different types of service delivery programs, and varied assessment and intervention methodologies.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Praxis II School Psychologist

Social Worker

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Discipline Social Worker
License/Certificate Licensed Clinical Social Worker
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/sw-board.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? 2,000 clinical contact hours over not less than a two (2) year period.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? National examination by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Additional requirements specific for schools? Initial teaching license plus endorsement needed to work in schools. School Social Worker PreK-12 Endorsement can be added to a current, valid TN teaching license through College/University Recommendation for Endorsement: Applicants seeking additional endorsement(s) through approved college/university programs must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams developed and administered by Educational Testing Service. Upon completion of all additional endorsement program requirements, the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university shall send a recommendation to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing for issuance of the additional endorsement(s). Required Tests: Praxis I® Pre-Professional Skills Tests, and Praxis II School Social Worker PreK-12.

Speech Language Pathologist

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Discipline Speech Language Pathologist
License/Certificate Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
State Department Department of Health
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/cds-board/cds-board/applications.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? A minimum of four hundred (400) clock hours of supervised clinical experience (practicum) with individuals having a variety of communications disorders is required IF the applicant does not possess a current Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in the area of speech-language pathology issued through the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology exam, passing score= 600, or; 2. Written Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (Praxis Test, unable to find passing score) required IF the applicant does not possess a current Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in the area of speech-language pathology issued through the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)
Additional requirements specific for schools? Initial teaching license plus endorsement needed to work in schools. Speech/Language Pathologist PreK-12 Endorsement or Speech/Language Teacher Endorsement can be added to a current, valid TN teaching license through College/University Recommendation for Endorsement: Applicants seeking additional endorsement(s) through approved college/university programs must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams developed and administered by Educational Testing Service. Upon completion of all additional endorsement program requirements, the Dean of Education and Certification Officer of the college/university shall send a recommendation to the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing for issuance of the additional endorsement(s). Required Tests: Praxis I® Pre-Professional Skills Tests, and Praxis II Speech/Language Pathology PreK-12

Vision Specialist

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Discipline Vision Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Vision PreK-12 Endorsement
State Department Department of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing/educator-licensure.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - 12th grade
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Institutions of higher education provide candidates with a well-integrated field-based component involving students at a variety of age levels who have a variety of learning abilities, including students with multiple disabilities. To the extent possible, candidates have experience in consultant, itinerant, resource, and self-contained settings. Field experiences provide opportunities for participation in programs using a variety of communication modes. Institutions provide practicum experiences prior to the student teaching or full-year internship experience. The field experiences include opportunities for the candidates to collaborate with other educational professionals.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Special Education Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5282) and Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5282) and Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary Alternative Route: 1. Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or master's level program, can be recommended for initial licensure; they must meet the standards for early development and learning PreK-K and must have completed a student teaching/extended field experience semester or full-year internship involving (1) infant/toddler or pre-kindergarten, and (2) kindergarten placements. 2. Teacher candidates not previously licensed to teach, but who have completed an early childhood education or child development Bachelor's or Master's level program, can begin teaching under an alternative license. They must be supervised by teacher mentors or other professionals who are qualified and experienced in their fields. 3. Tennessee offers an alternative pathway to teacher certification through their Transitional License. To qualify, you must have a bachelor's degree with a major in your endorsement area, or 24 semester hours in the teaching content area, or a passing score on the required Praxis II content exam for the endorsement area. The transitional license allows you to teach for up to three years, giving you enough time to complete additional requirements for a full license. 4. Teach Tennessee is another alternative licensure program. There are two paths to achieving your Tennessee teaching license through the Teach Tennessee program. a. Governor's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and five years of work experience directly related to the subject you wish to teach. You must also be considered highly qualified, which means having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach or have a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. b. Commissioner's Fellows: Requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must also be highly qualified by having 24 semester hours of college credit in the subject you wish to teach, or a passing score on the Praxis II content knowledge exam. 5. In addition to these two alternative teacher certifications, Teach for America offers two programs in Tennessee: Teach for America Nashville and Teach for America Memphis. The programs offer assistance to qualified professionals with a bachelor's degree who wish to transition to a new career as a teacher. The program allows participants to teach under a transitional license while they go through an education and training program to qualify for a full teaching license. 6. Another alternative pathway to becoming a teacher is the Tennessee Troops to Teachers program, which assists eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in "high-need" Tennessee schools.