Become a Teacher
in Tennessee

Certification Roadmap

*Click buttons to jump to section Prerequisite CourseworkPrerequisite Coursework Teacher PreparationTeacher Preparation Certification ReciprocityCertification Reciprocity Teacher SalaryTeacher Salary Required TestsRequired Tests Teacher Certification Information & LinksTeacher Certification Information & Links

Tennessee Highlights

$42780 Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$43960 Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
130% Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15 Vacation Weeks Per Year:
3 Years to Tenure:

To become a certified teacher in Tennessee, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.

Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.

Prerequisite CourseworkPrerequisite Coursework

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Tennessee, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.

Teacher PreparationTeacher Preparation

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.

Alternative Certification

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in Tennessee is coming soon!

Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.

Certification ReciprocityCertification Reciprocity

Tennessee will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Tennessee Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California
Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida
Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois
Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan
Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska
Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico
New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio
Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island
South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah
Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia
Wisconsin Wyoming

Teacher SalaryTeacher Salary

  • Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Tennessee provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
  • Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Tennessee has limited to weak induction policies in place
  • Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Tennessee makes $42,780
  • Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Tennessee makes$43,960
  • Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Tennessee makes 130% of the salary of the average worker in Tennessee
  • Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Tennessee receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
  • Number of Years to Tenure: Tennessee requires 3 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure

Required TestsRequired Tests

In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.

Subject Area Competence

Teacher Certification Information & LinksTeacher Certification Information & Links

Tennessee Department of Education

Teacher Certification Map About Logo

Certification Map is a simple guide to receiving teacher certification and clarifies the steps needed to become a teacher in your state.

Become a Teacher!

Certification Map is sponsored by the University of Southern California's Online Master of Arts in Teaching program, the MAT@USC.

Fill out the form below to learn more about the MAT@USC, and how we can help you become a certified teacher in your state.

We promise never to spam you
CertificationMap.com
Copyright © 2009-2010
Blog Feed
Connect with us:

Hacking The Research Paper

Hey teachers–want to teach your students how to develop a well-researched paper in half the time (and pain)? I can help. Research papers can be an unproductive mess for both students and teachers if not approached with the correct educational strategy. The following seven step method will provide an outline on how your [...]