This page is designed to be a resource for future and current educators and educational leaders. Use the links below to access information about gaining a license, reactivating, advancing or renewing a current license.
Types of Licenses
There are three license types that allow an educator to teach:
- Academic (often referred to as a Teaching license): allows an educator to teach core content and related arts courses in elementary through high school. There are a variety of endorsements that cover different content areas and grade bands (i.e. Math 6-12 or Elementary Education K-5).
- Occupational (sometimes referred to as a CTE license): allows an educator to teach Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that are related to a specific occupation. There are a variety of endorsements that cover different occupations (i.e. Welding); all Occupational endorsements cover the grade band 6-12.
- JROTC: allows an appropriately ranked military service member teach courses in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. These courses are taught at the high school level (grades 9-12).
In addition to teaching licenses, the TDOE also issues School Service Personnel and Instructional Leader Licenses:
School Service Personnel licenses have endorsements for School Counselors, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, Speech Language Pathologists, School Audiologists, and Educational Interpreters. These educators who provide services to students other than instruction require specialized training that is significantly different from the training for classroom teachers.
Instructional Leader Licenses allow educators to serve in school leader/Administrator positions in Tennessee schools (i.e. Assistant Principal or Principal).
Licensure Renewal and Advancement
- Renew a Practitioner Teacher License
- Renew a Professional Teacher License
- Renew a Practitioner Occupational License
- Renew a Professional Occupational License
- Renew a JROTC License
- Renew a Practitioner School Service License
- Renew a Professional School Service License
- Renew an Instructional Leader License
Student Teaching Placements
For Student Teaching, Field Experience, Internships, or other Clinical Placements
Hamilton County Schools welcomes students to complete placements in our district. If you would like to request a placement, please complete the information on the interest form.
If you are attending a college or university in another state, you will also need to complete a background check pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-5-413 and have the results provided to HCS using the provided code for Identogo. Keep in mind that fingerprinting must be completed within the state of Tennessee. Please see the information and links below for completing the background check process.
