Tennessee Teacher Certification Renewal

tennessee

Learn how to renew a Professional Educator Certification or reinstate a Professional Educator Certification in Tennessee


Teaching Certification Renewal

If you teach in Tennessee for three years on your Apprentice Teacher License or Out-of-State Teacher License and receive one positive evaluation from your school district, you will automatically be advanced to a Professional License (under your school principal’s recommendation). If, after five years, you must renew your Apprentice or Out-of-State License, you must have earned 45 renewal points (if you have a bachelor’s degree).

If you have a master’s degree and three years of positive experience/evaluations, no renewal points are required). An explanation of acceptable renewal activities and how points are calculated is available here.

Once you receive your Professional License, it is valid for ten years. During that time, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you must earn 90 renewal points. If you have a master’s degree and five years of positive experience, no renewal points are required. You may renew your Professional License any time after the fifth year it is valid. The expiration date of the renewed license will be ten years in the future from the license’s original expiration date.

Reinstatement of Certification

If you hold a Professional License and allow it to expire, you must contact the Office of Teacher Licensing of the Tennessee Department of Education at 615-532-4885 or Education.Licensing@tn.gov to find out what requirements you must meet to have it reinstated.