Tennessee Code § 49-5-403 states that no person shall be employed to teach in any public elementary or high school or receive pay for teaching out of the public funds of any school system until the person has received a license from the commissioner or state board of education. 

Licensure and education rules and policies are set by the State Board of Education in accordance with laws passed by the General Assembly. The Department of Education is responsible for implementing the rules and policies set by the State Board of Education.

It is the responsibility of the individual educator to ensure that their license remains current. All licensure transactions (e.g., application, advancement, renewal, etc.) must be submitted electronically through TN Compass; the Department of Education no longer accepts paper applications for license action. For more information, visit the department’s Educator Licensure page. 

In addition to meeting degree and course requirements and earning the required Praxis scores, certain educators must complete the literacy skills training requirements set forth in the 2021 Tennessee Literacy Success Act.