Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0520 - Education
Subtitle 0520-02 - State Board of Education Teacher Regulations
Chapter 0520-02-04 - Educator Preparation
Section 0520-02-04-.13 - Requirements for the Occupational Education License

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 0520-02-04-.13

Current through September 24, 2024

(1) Apprentice Occupational Education License.

(a) Issuance of License.

An apprentice occupational education license may be issued to individuals who meet the following requirements. Qualifications including experience and educational preparation shall be reviewed by the Department of Education staff who shall recommend issuance of the apprentice occupational education license.

1. Health Science
(i) The secondary health science teacher shall have completed one (1) year of successful employment, obtained through full-time or part-time status, within the past five (5) years in a related health occupation prior to teaching.

(ii) Health science teachers must hold an associate or higher degree in a health-related area and hold current licensure registration or certification in an allied health occupation or current licensure as a registered nurse in Tennessee. Teachers must successfully complete a comprehensive test administered or accepted by the Tennessee Health Related Boards.

2. Other Occupational Educator
(i) Effective September 1, 2002, other occupational educators shall hold and maintain a current industry certification, where available, in the specific endorsement area for which they are licensed. This Industry Certification may be acquired prior to Apprentice license, but must be presented at the time the teacher advances from Apprentice to Professional Occupational License.

(ii) Endorsements in Other Occupational Education can be obtained through one (1) of four (4) pathways using work experience, industry certification and postsecondary training. The four (4) possible pathways are:
(I) Credentialed (certificate or diploma) postsecondary training in the endorsed area, or associate degree, or industry certification may substitute for two (2) years of work experience. In addition, applicant must have at least three (3) years of work experience in the endorsed area in the last eight (8) years for a total of five (5) years; or

(II) A combination of an associate degree related to the endorsed area and industry certification may be substituted for four (4) years of work experience. In addition, applicant must have at least one (1) year of work experience in the endorsed area in the last eight (8) years for a total of five (5) years; or

(III) A bachelor's degree or higher degree in the endorsed area may be substituted for partial or full credit of work experience depending on the endorsement and related industry; or

(IV) Five (5) years of full-time work experience accrued in the occupational area of endorsement within the last eight (8) years.

(iii) An other occupational educator shall be a high school graduate or the equivalent, as determined by the General Education Development (GED) test.

(iv) Cosmetology and barbering teachers must hold current licensure issued by the respective state licensing board to instruct in Tennessee.

(b) Validity of License.

The apprentice occupational education license shall be valid for five (5) years; except that when a teacher becomes employed in a Tennessee public school, the license shall be valid until the teacher has been employed three (3) years at the apprentice level.

(c) Renewal of License.
1. The holder of the apprentice occupational education license who was not employed for three (3) or more years in a Tennessee public school during the five (5) year period of license validity may be reissued the license.

2. In order to have the license reissued, the teacher must have obtained or maintained current industry certification in the area of endorsement where available and acceptable as the industry standard.

3. In order to have the license reissued, the teacher must provide verification of the updating of competency in the occupational area including two (2) years of work experience within the past five (5) years or sixty (60) clock hours of participation in professional/technical workshops or a combination.

(2) Professional Occupational Education License.

(a) Issuance of License.

The teacher may advance to the professional occupational education license provided that he/she has completed the following requirements. Prior to the fourth year of teaching, the teacher shall provide to the Department of Education documentation that the following requirements have been met:

1. Attendance during the first year of teaching for a total of five (5) days at new teacher training sponsored by Career & Technical Education Division, Department of Education.

2. Four (4) days release time to observe three (3) experienced teachers within their endorsed teaching area and one (1) experienced teacher outside of their teaching area.

3. Assigned teacher mentor during the first three (3) years of teaching.

4. Complete three (3) years of teaching in an approved school.

5. Receive a positive recommendation from the local education agency based on evaluation under a model approved by the State Board of Education.

6. Complete successfully a teacher education program of eighteen (18) semester hours designed to meet the knowledge and skills for teacher preparation. Candidates must be recommended by an institution of higher education with a preparation program approved according to standards and guidelines established by the State Board of Education. A teacher who meets all the knowledge and skills at the time of employment is exempted from these requirements.

7. Current/valid Industry Certification where required by teacher endorsement area.

(b) Validity of License

The professional occupational education license shall be valid for ten (10) years.

(c) Renewal of License.
1. A professional occupational education license issued on a bachelor's degree or less is renewable upon verification of completion of ninety (90) professional renewal points (six (6) semester hours of appropriate coursework may be substituted for ninety (90) renewal points) within the ten (10) year period prior to the date of the renewal of the license. Professional renewal points are defined in the Professional License Renewal Guide.

2. A professional occupational education license based on a master's degree or above may be renewed with verification of five (5) years endorsed area teaching experience during the period of license validity. In the absence of five (5) years of endorsed area teaching experience, the license is renewable based on verification of completion of ninety (90) professional renewal points (six (6) semester hours of coursework may be substituted for ninety (90) renewal points) within the ten (10) year period prior to the date of the renewal of the license.

3. All teachers that need to earn ninety (90) renewal points and satisfy Career and Technical Education requirements must provide the following documentation:
(i) Verification of four hundred eighty (480) hours of non-teaching work experience in the occupational area of endorsement, or ninety (90) clock hours of participation in professional/technical workshops (six (6) semester hours of appropriate coursework may be substituted for ninety (90) clock hours of professional/technical workshops).

(ii) All applicants for cosmetology, barbering, and health science must also submit proof they hold a current state license to practice that profession.

(iii) Industry Certification for other occupational educators must also be submitted where required by teacher endorsement area.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-1-302 and 49-5-108.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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