Tennessee Teacher Certification Renewal:
Apprentice or Out-of-State Certification Renewal
If you need to renew your certification and have not received an advanced degree, we hope you either have some time before your certification is no longer valid or you have already begun the process of earning your continuing education credits (or renewal points).
If you currently hold an Apprentice Certification or an Out-of-State Certification, these certificates are valid for a period of 5 years. However, if you work for 3 years under one of these certifications, you will automatically need to be issues a professional Tennessee certification.
If this work experience was in a Tennessee school district, no forms need to be downloaded or filled out.
If you have not worked for more than 3 years under an Apprentice Certification or Out-of-State Certification, you are eligible for renewal. Find more information on this subject.Professional Certification Renewal
The Professional Certification in Tennessee is valid for 10 years. This certification may be renewed depending upon how much work experience you have received over the life of your certification, how many renewal credit you have completed and whether you have completed an advanced degree program.
If you have a Bachelor's degree, you will need 90 renewal points to be completed in order to renew your certification.
If you have a Master's degree or higher and have only worked 5 of the last 10 years as an educator, you will need to complete 90 renewal points to renew your certification.
If you have a Master's degree or higher and have worked 5 or more years of the last 10 as an educator, you will not have to earn any renewal points to renew your certification.
If you experience is within a Tennessee School District, you will not have to verify your experience.
Find more information about Professional Certification Renewal to make sure you have fulfilled all requirements and that requirements have not changed since the making of this website.
Send materials to this address:Have materials sent to this address:Tennessee Department of Education
Office of Teacher Licensing
710 James Robertson Parkway
4th Floor Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, TN 37243-0377
Or contact the Tennessee Department of Education by calling (615) 532-4885
Learn about the requirements of another state by clicking on one of the state certification links to your left.
Request information from schools by clicking on the links or school logos below.
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