TN K-12 Teacher Licensing

The Apprentice Occupational Education License is issued for a five year period. If an educator teaches in a Tennessee public school system for three years on the Apprentice Occupational Education License, and receives a positive local evaluation and verification of meeting all advancement requirements from the local school system, he/she will advance to the Professional Occupational Education License.

If the Apprentice Occupational Education License is not used for three years in a Tennessee public school system, it can be renewed by submitting documentation of the following requirements:

Verification of two years of updated occupational competency earned within the past five years. (Sixty clock hours of attendance at professional or technical workshops may be submitted in lieu of two years of experience).
AND
An official transcript showing completion of one appropriate industrial or professional education course. This course must be from the 18 semester hours required for advancement. If all 18 semesters hours required for advancement have been completed and/or previously used for renewal purposes, current coursework is required. Acceptable coursework for renewal purposes must ld be in professional education, psychology, computer science/computer technology, and foreign language. The expiration date of the new license will be based on the school year in which the course work is completed.

Download the Application for Renewal of Apprentice Occupational Teaching License form or call (615) 532-4885 to request the form be mailed to you. The application form also includes a list of regulations and guidelines regarding renewal.

If an educator did teach three years in a local school system but did not meet advancement requirements, he/she must submit the following requirement to renew the Apprentice Occupational Education License:

An official transcript showing completion of one appropriate industrial or professional education course. This course must be from the 18 semester hours required for advancement. If all 18 semesters hours required for advancement have been completed and/or previously used for renewal purposes, current coursework is required. Acceptable coursework for renewal purposes must be in professional education, psychology, computer science/computer technology, and foreign language. The expiration date of the new license will be based on the school year in which the course work is completed.

Questions regarding this renewal process should be directed to the Occupational Education License Consultant in the Office of Teacher Licensing at (615) 532-4885.