Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0520 - Education
Subtitle 0520-02 - State Board of Education Teacher Regulations
Chapter 0520-02-03 - Educator Licensure
Section 0520-02-03-.01 - GENERAL INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS

(1) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-1-302, the State Board of Education has the authority to adopt policies governing the qualifications, requirements, and standards of, and provide the licenses and certificates for, all public school teachers, principals, assistant principals, supervisors, and directors of schools.

(2) No person shall be employed as a principal, teacher (including school services personnel), or supervisor of any public elementary or high school by any local education agency (LEA), or receive any pay for such services out of the public school funds of the LEA, until the person presents to the director of schools a valid license as prescribed by the State Board.

(3) The Department of Education shall establish and publish all licensure application forms and timelines.

(4) Each educator shall be individually responsible for securing a license, verifying its accuracy, maintaining its validity, registering it with the employing board of education, and meeting the requirements of T.C.A. § 49-5-101.

(5) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-105, the holder of a license who changes or alters the holder's license in any way, or who permits any other person to change or alter the license, commits a Class C misdemeanor and shall have such holder's license revoked.

(6) This rule sets the minimum standards and requirements for licensure to ensure that individuals who serve in Tennessee classrooms and schools are prepared and equipped to serve Tennessee students.