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Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

Educator Preparation Program

Educator Preparation Program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Practitioner License Information

FAQs

What is a job-embedded Practitioner license?

A Practitioner license is issued by the TN Department of Education based on the agreement between Â鶹ÊÓƵ and a partner school system in Tennessee which employs the Practitioner teacher while he/she completes licensure requirements.

How long does a Practitioner license last?

A Practitioner license is a 3-year license; however, a job-embedded Practitioner teacher must be fully admitted to the EPP to continue in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's program the second year. Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Practitioner Program is designed to be completed in two years regardless of the 3-year validity of the license. Upon successfully teaching three years on the Practitioner license and completing all coursework and assessments, the teacher is solely responsible for knowing when the license expires and what is required to renew the Practitioner or advance to the Professional license. Renewal and advancement information is available on the TN Dept of Education website.

What endorsements are available through Â鶹ÊÓƵ's job-embedded Practitioner program?

Secondary Endorsements
  • Biology 6-12
  • Business 6-12
  • Chemistry 6-12
  • Economics 6-12
  • English 6-12
  • English/Lang Arts 6-8
  • English as a Second Language PreK-12
  • French PreK-12
  • Government 6-12
  • History 6-12
  • Music (Instrumental or Vocal/General) K-12
  • Marketing 6-12
  • Mathematics 6-12
  • Mathematics 6-8
  • Physical Education K-12
  • Physics 6-12
  • Science 6-8
  • Social Studies 6-8
  • Spanish PreK-12
  • Theatre K-12
  • Visual Art K-12
Generalist Endorsements
  • Elementary K-5
  • Early Childhood PreK-3
  • Special Education Interventionist K-8, 6-12
  • Special Education Comprehensive K-12

Under which endorsements am I most likely to be hired?

  • Elem. K-5
  • Biology 6-12
  • Chemistry 6-12
  • Physics 6-12
  • Mathematics 6-12 or 6-8
  • Science 6-8
  • Spanish PreK-12
  • Special Educ Compre K-12
  • SPED Interventionist K-8 or 6-12

Am I qualified to be hired on a Practitioner license?

The first requirement is to have completed at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university. Anyone who has passed the Praxis content knowledge test for the intended endorsement and met enrollment requirements at Â鶹ÊÓƵ qualifies to be hired on the Practitioner license. View the process for securing and keeping the job-embedded Practitioner license.

Where can I find out what Praxis II content knowledge test I need to take for my endorsement?

Individuals can find this information at . Always check current testing requirements before registering for a test. It is your responsibility to take the tests required in TN.

How can I prepare for the Praxis II test(s)?

Test prep material is available at . All applicants must pass the Praxis II content test for the intended endorsement prior to beginning coursework.

Do Praxis scores expire?

The State has a 5-year limit on test scores. If your license expires, you must pass current tests if your tests are more than 5 years old in order to reactivate the license.

Do I need to take any more Praxis II tests after I pass my content knowledge test?

Specialty area Praxis tests differ by areas of endorsement. All tests required for each endorsement can be found at . You will be advised when to take other tests based on coursework completed.

When do I apply to Â鶹ÊÓƵ?

If you have passed the Praxis content test for the intended endorsement, you can apply to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's EPP.

Job-embedded Practitioner teachers must begin taking professional education coursework upon being hired, if not before. Some students seeking licensure begin coursework, then seek a teaching position. Some finish all coursework, then seek a teaching position. The more coursework completed, the better prepared the teacher will be. But work schedules often prohibit this type of preparation from happening.

It takes at least a semester to be admitted to the EPP, as dispositional evaluations must be completed by the professors of the first two classes completed. Some students must take 9 hours to meet the GPA requirement. The best scenario is to pass the Praxis II, enroll at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, be fully admitted to the EPP, take at least a few classes, then secure a teaching position and finish coursework.

If a teacher is hired late and begins coursework at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in the spring semester, he/she must work quickly to be admitted to the EPP in early summer when progress emails are sent to the school systems.

How do I actually acquire the Practitioner license?

When a candidate has passed the Praxis, met enrollment requirements at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and secured the blank Intent to Hire form from Â鶹ÊÓƵ's licensing officer the teacher gives the Intent to Hire form to the hiring school system who sends it to the licensing officer. Then, the licensing officer communicates the next steps in the application process to the teacher. The licensing officer uploads the application, official transcripts from every Tennessee college or university attended, and Intent to Hire form into the teacher's TNCompass account. License issuance time varies according to the time of year.

Once I get the Practitioner license, do I have to do anything else?

Yes. You must enroll in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's EDU 623 Mentoring Seminar A the first year on the Practitioner. You must also take coursework as outlined by the program of study and pass any additional Praxis tests when recommended. If you are a late hire and cannot enroll in EDU 623 in the fall semester, you must at least enroll in it in the spring of the first year. You must be fully EPP-admitted to continue in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's program in the second year on the Practitioner license. If these guidelines are not followed, the teacher's EPP status in the TNCompass account may be changed from "Enrolled-on track" to Enrolled-off track" or "No longer affiliated."

How do I qualify to continue in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's program on the Practitioner license?

All Practitioner teachers in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's program must be fully admitted to the EPP to continue in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's program the second year on the license. Requirements for admission to the EPP are given below. If a Practitioner teacher is hired and begins coursework at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in the spring semester, he/she must work quickly to be admitted to the EPP in early summer when progress emails are sent to the school systems.

What are the requirements to be fully admitted to Â鶹ÊÓƵ University's Educator Preparation Program?

  • Pass Praxis II content knowledge test required for the endorsement by the TN Dept. of Ed.
  • G.P.A. of 2.75 or full admission to M.A.Ed. Program through the conditional policy (Writing sample and 3.0 G.P.A. on 9 graduate hours).
  • Two positive reference forms.
  • Three positive dispositional evaluations completed by self and professors of first 2 courses completed.
  • Complete background check and fingerprinting by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (T.B.I.) if not employed by a school system
  • Approvals by both School of Education Faculty and EPP Council

What happens if I am not admitted to Â鶹ÊÓƵ University's Educator Preparation Program?

Unfortunately, you cannot continue in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's licensure program. Your EPP status on your license will be tagged "No longer affiliated."

Why does Â鶹ÊÓƵ University require that Practitioner teachers pass the Praxis II content test in order to begin the program and be fully admitted to the EPP to continue teaching the second year?

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University believes in setting high expectations for our students. These high expectations develop well-rounded, hard-working, and prepared classroom teachers. Professional education coursework will not add to the student's content knowledge; therefore, passing the test enables the teacher to be hired on the job-embedded Practitioner license and increases the likelihood of program completion. Full admission to the EPP in the first year on the Practitioner license far better ensures that a Practitioner teacher will be able to advance to the Professional license after the third year.

What happens if I've taught for two years but still lack coursework or Praxis II tests?

You can teach up to three years on the Practitioner license. All assessments (Praxis and edTPA) and coursework must be completed to renew the Practitioner license for three more years or to advance to the Professional license.

How do I advance from the Practitioner License to the Professional license?

Whether you renew the Practitioner license for three more years or advance to the Professional license is a decision made by your school system and based on various measures of your effectiveness in the classroom. It is solely the teacher's responsibility to know when the license expires and what is required to renew or advance the license prior to the expiration date.

What happens if I complete the MAEd before being hired on the job-embedded Practitioner?

You must reapply to Â鶹ÊÓƵ as a non-degree student to complete mentoring seminars and any other remaining licensure courses. Â鶹ÊÓƵ has a 5-year limit on some professional education courses due to rapid changes in the education world. Therefore, some courses may have to be repeated.

Can I student teach instead of being hired on the job-embedded Practitioner?

No. Â鶹ÊÓƵ's post-baccalaureate licensure program is strictly job-embedded.

If I am interested in knowing more about a Practitioner License who can I contact?

You can contact the Educator Preparation Program Coordinator at 731-661-5391. Links to the online application and supplemental required documents can be emailed to the prospective student. Feel free to visit other Â鶹ÊÓƵ University websites for more information: