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-.12 - PERMITS

(a) After the director of schools or the director of a public charter school notifies the director's local board of education or the governing body of the director's charter school, as applicable, that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school in which a vacancy exists, the director of schools or the director of a charter school may certify to the Commissioner that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the position in which a vacancy exists.

(b) In accordance with T.C.A. § 49-5-106, upon the Commissioner's receipt of the certification, the Commissioner may grant a temporary permit to teach in the unfilled position to an individual who does not hold an active Tennessee educator license under the conditions set forth in this Rule.

(c) The LEA or charter school shall provide evidence of a targeted recruitment strategy for the vacant position.

(d) The director of schools or charter school leader shall recommend the individual for a teaching permit.

(e) The recommended individual shall hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

(f) If an individual indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application for a permit, the individual shall show cause why the permit should be issued despite the individual's affirmative answers. The permit application of any individual who indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application shall be sent to the State Board for review in accordance with State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 for a determination of whether the permit may be issued by the Commissioner.

(g) If an individual teaching on a permit issued by the Commissioner is reported to the State Board by a director of schools or director of a public charter school as described in State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 and the misconduct, if substantiated, would warrant disciplinary action under State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09, the State Board may direct the Commissioner not to issue a subsequent permit to the individual upon expiration of the individual's current permit pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-106 and State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09.

(h) In reviewing a permit application for approval, the Commissioner may consider, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) The Commissioner may re-issue a temporary permit to teach a course in which an end-of-course examination is required for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years if the individual served on a permit to teach a course in which an end-of-course examination was required in the 2021-22 school year.

(j) Unless otherwise stipulated in paragraph (1)(i) of this Rule, individuals with a teaching permit shall not teach an elementary physical education class required under T.C.A. sect; 49-6-1021(e), a course in which a state-level end-of-course examination is required, in accordance with T.C.A. sect; 49-6-6006, or a special education course in accordance with Federal laws.

(k) Each permit issued by the Commissioner shall be valid only until June 30 following the date of issuance.

(l) An individual may be issued no more than three (3) permits. An individual shall meet the requirements set forth in this Rule for each issuance of a permit.

(m) A local board of education or governing body of a charter school may employ an individual holding a permit, but not holding a valid license, only for such period for which the local board of education or the governing body of the charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school. The permit issued to an unlicensed individual is only valid for the school and LEA identified in the permit application submitted to the Department and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(n) If an individual has had a permit application denied by the Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1)(f) or (1)(g) of this Rule, the individual must indicate such on any future application for an educator license or permit in Tennessee.

(a) After the director of schools or the director of a public charter school notifies the director's local board of education or the governing body of the director's charter school, as applicable, that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school in which a vacancy exists, the director of schools or the director of a public charter school may certify to the Commissioner that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the position in which a vacancy exists.

(b) In accordance with Public Chapter 284 of 2023, upon the Commissioner's receipt of the certification, the Commissioner may grant a clinical practice permit to teach in the unfilled position to an individual who does not hold an active Tennessee educator license under the conditions set forth in this Rule.

(c) A director of schools or a director of a public charter school shall submit a conditional offer of employment made by the respective director of schools or the director of the public charter school for the individual to fill a position for which the LEA or public charter school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school in which a vacancy exists. The conditional offer of employment must include a certification by the director of schools or the director of the public charter school that the director has notified the Commissioner of the LEA's or public charter school's inability to fill the vacancy and its intent to employ the individual pursuant to a clinical practice permit issued pursuant to this Rule.

(d) To be eligible to receive a clinical practice permit, an individual shall be enrolled in a State Board-approved educator preparation program ("EPP"), have completed all EPP coursework except for the clinical practice required pursuant to T.C.A. sect; 49-5-5604 and State Board Rules Chapter 0520-02-04, and submit with the application for a clinical practice permit a letter of recommendation from the EPP in which the individual is enrolled. In accordance with T.C.A. sect; 49-5-5604, courses required as part of the clinical practice shall be considered part of the clinical practice.

(e) If an individual indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application for a clinical practice permit, the individual shall show cause why the permit should be issued despite the individual's affirmative answers. The permit application of any individual who indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application shall be sent to the State Board for review in accordance with State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 for a determination of whether the permit may be issued by the Commissioner.

(f) An individual who teaches under a clinical practice permit issued pursuant to this Rule satisfies the clinical practice required pursuant to T.C.A. sect; 49-5-5604 and State Board Rule 0520-02-04-.10 if:

(g) For the purposes of this Rule "clinical practice" has the same meaning as State Board Rule 0520-04-02-.02(4).

(h) Each clinical practice permit issued by the Commissioner shall be valid only until June 30 following the date of issuance.

(i) An individual may only be issued one (1) clinical practice permit. A clinical practice permit shall not be re-issued by the Commissioner.

(j) The clinical practice permit issued to an unlicensed individual is only valid for the school and LEA identified in the clinical practice permit application submitted to the Department and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(k) If an individual teaching on a clinical practice permit issued by the Commissioner is reported to the State Board by a director of schools or director of a public charter school as described in State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 and the misconduct, if substantiated, would warrant disciplinary action under State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09, the State Board may direct the Commissioner not to issue any subsequent permit to the individual upon expiration of the individual's current clinical practice permit.

(l) If an individual has had a clinical practice permit application denied by the Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (2)(e) of this Rule or if the State Board has directed the Commissioner not to issue the individual any subsequent temporary permits pursuant to paragraph (2)(k) of this Rule, the individual must indicate such on any future application for an educator license or temporary permit in Tennessee.

(a) After the director of schools or the director of a public charter school notifies the director's local board of education or the governing body of the director's charter school, as applicable, that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified occupational teacher with a valid occupational license for the course of study in which a vacancy exists, the director of schools or the director of a charter school may certify to the Commissioner that the LEA or charter school is unable to secure a qualified occupational teacher with a valid occupational license for the position in which a vacancy exists.

(b) In accordance with T.C.A. sect; 49-5-106, upon the Commissioner's receipt of the certification, the Commissioner may grant a temporary occupational permit to teach in the unfilled position to an individual who does not hold an active Tennessee educator license under the conditions set forth in this Rule.

(c) The LEA or charter school shall provide evidence of a targeted recruitment strategy for the vacant position.

(d) The director of schools or charter school leader shall recommend the individual for an occupational teaching permit.

(e) The recommended individual shall hold a minimum of a high school diploma; and either:

(f) If an individual indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application for an occupational permit, the individual shall show cause why the permit should be issued despite the individual's affirmative answers. The permit application of any individual who indicates an affirmative answer on the personal affirmation section of the application shall be sent to the State Board for review in accordance with State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 for a determination of whether the permit may be issued by the Commissioner.

(g) If an individual teaching on an occupational permit issued by the Commissioner is reported to the State Board by a director of schools or director of a public charter school as described in State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09 and the misconduct, if substantiated, would warrant disciplinary action under State Board Rule 0520-02-03-.09, the State Board may direct the Commissioner not to issue any subsequent permit to the individual upon expiration of the individual's current occupational permit.

(h) In reviewing an occupational permit application for approval, the Commissioner may consider, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) An occupational permit issued by the Commissioner shall be valid only until June 30 following the date of issuance.

(j) An individual may only be issued one (1) occupational permit. An occupational permit shall not be re-issued by the Commissioner.

(k) A local board of education or governing body of a charter school may employ an individual holding an occupational permit, but not holding a valid license, only for such period of time for which the local board of education or the governing body of the charter school is unable to secure a qualified occupational teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school. The occupational permit issued to an unlicensed individual is only valid for the school and LEA identified in the permit application submitted to the Department and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(l) If an individual has had an occupational permit application denied by the Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (3)(f) or if the State Board has directed the Commissioner not to issue the individual any subsequent temporary permits pursuant to paragraph (3)(g) of this Rule, the individual must indicate such on any future application for an educator license or temporary permit in Tennessee.