State hub

How to become a teacher in Tennessee

Name: Tennessee teacher preparation
Creator: PT3
License: https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/by/1-0/

Prep providers

Completers

2,570

Newly licensed

2,619

Colleges (IPEDS)

143

Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with Tennessee Department of Education.

Steps drawn from the state's data

Earn a bachelor's degree. At least one initial credential requires one.
Complete a teacher preparation program. Tennessee has 44 Title II providers.
Complete clinical experience such as student teaching.
Pass the tests the state requires (Title II reports that tests are required, not which ones).
Complete a background check or fingerprinting.
Apply to Tennessee Department of Education for an initial credential, such as JROTC Teaching License; Practitioner Teacher.
Career changers can use one of 1 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.

Tennessee teacher certification Alternative routes

Teacher preparation providers in Tennessee

Provider	Program types	Enrollment	Completers
Aquinas College TN	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	21	7
Arete Memphis Public Montessori Residency	Alternative, not IHE-based	6	4
Austin Peay State University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	204	105
Belmont University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	272	54
Bethel University TN	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	31	13
Bryan College	Traditional	14	9
Carson-Newman University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	184	67
Christian Brothers University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	55	13
Cumberland University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	147	31
East Tennessee State University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	342	155
Freed-Hardeman University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	236	60
Johnson University	Traditional	84	17
King University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	35	16
Knox County Schools	Alternative, not IHE-based	41	14
Lane College	Traditional	3	0
Lee University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	186	18
Lincoln Memorial University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	141	37
Lipscomb University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	496	156
Maryville College TN	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	89	24
Middle Tennessee State University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	573	210
Milligan University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	55	23
Nashville Teacher Residency	Alternative, not IHE-based	27	18
Relay Grad School of Education-Memphis Campus	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	55	31
Relay Grad School of Education-Nashville Campus	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	22	9
Rhodes College	Traditional	20	3
RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS	Alternative, not IHE-based	124	60
South College	Traditional	15	3
Southern Adventist University	Traditional	58	11
Teach for America-Memphis	Alternative, not IHE-based	86	41
Teach Sumner EPP	Alternative, not IHE-based	15	0
Tennessee State University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	24	18
Tennessee Technological University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	815	215
Tennessee Wesleyan University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	68	19
Trevecca Nazarene University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	156	30
Tusculum University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	166	55
Union University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	99	24
University of Memphis	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	676	189
University of Tennessee Chattanooga	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	912	203
University of Tennessee Knoxville	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,041	281
University of Tennessee Martin	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	476	194
University of Tennessee Southern	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	109	15
Vanderbilt University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	236	96
Welch College	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	25	7
Western Governors University-TN	Traditional	16	15