Renewal of Teaching Certification

Suppose you teach in Tennessee for 3 years on your Apprentice Teacher License or Out-of-State Teacher License and obtain one positive evaluation from your school district. In that case, you will automatically be advanced to a Professional License (under your school principal’s recommendation). If, after 5 years, you have to renew your Apprentice or Out-of-State License, you have to have obtained 45 renewal points (if you have a bachelor’s degree).

If you have a master’s degree and 3 years of positive experience/evaluations, no renewal points are required). An explanation of appropriate renewal activities and how points are calculated is available here.

Once you obtain your Professional License, it is good for ten years. During that time, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you have to earn 90 renewal points. If you have a master’s degree and 5 years of positive experience, no renewal points are required. You can renew your Professional License any time after the fifth year. The expiration date of the renewed license will be ten years in the future from the license’s original expiration date.

Teaching Certification Reinstatement

Suppose you possess a Professional License and allow it to expire. In that case, you have to contact the Office of Teacher Licensing of the Tennessee Department of Education at 615-532-4885 or [email protected] to find out what conditions you have to meet to have it reinstated.