{"id":46508,"date":"2024-08-11T11:32:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-11T16:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=46508"},"modified":"2024-12-03T07:46:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T13:46:49","slug":"how-to-become-a-teacher-in-tennessee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-tennessee\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Become a Teacher in Tennessee In 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
Have you been passionate about shaping young minds, fostering growth, and leaving a lasting impact? Or do you love seeing kids learn something new and succeed? Teaching could be the perfect career for you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teaching is a career where you get to directly impact the lives of young people, helping them grow and develop their talents. Every state has its requirements regarding education level, licensing, and experience regarding teachers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There needs to be more quality teachers across the country. The <\/span>National Teacher Shortage Data<\/span><\/a> shows 41 states face shortages in critical subject areas or grade levels.<\/span><\/p>\n Teaching is a rewarding career path, but it’s not always easy. You’ll need to be a clear communicator, have enough knowledge of your subject area, and work under contract.<\/span><\/p>\n For many educators, teaching goes beyond just a job \u2013 it’s a vocation. It’s about inspiring young minds, fostering curiosity, and helping them grow into well-rounded citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n While financial compensation shouldn’t be your primary motivator for becoming an educator, teaching jobs are often very stable, and you can expect long vacations and breaks throughout the year.<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher salaries and benefits can vary greatly depending on location. For example, the average teacher salary in Mississippi is<\/span> $45,574, <\/span><\/a>whereas in Tennessee, it jumps to <\/span>$54,024<\/span><\/a>. With your passion for building relationships with young people, you can make a great educator.<\/span><\/p>\n Each state has a unique set of teaching requirements. These requirements reflect the current educational landscape and the state’s commitment to quality education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A state facing a teacher shortage may be more flexible in its requirements to attract and retain educators. Teaching requirements also vary based on the level you aim to teach\u2014elementary, middle, or high school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Elementary school teachers may need a strong foundation in various subjects like math, reading, science, and social studies to create engaging lessons that introduce young learners to a broad range of topics.<\/span><\/p>\n High school teachers specialize in English, history, biology, chemistry, or mathematics. They may focus more on preparing students for standardized tests or college coursework.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kindergarten educators on the other hand face unique challenges in fostering social and emotional development alongside basic skills like letter recognition and math concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n There are also special areas within teaching,\u00a0 such as special education Art, music, and physical education, that require additional certifications or qualifications.<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0 <\/span>Office of Educator Licensing<\/span><\/a> oversees the certification process in Tennessee. Here is the traditional path to licensure:<\/span><\/p>\n All states require certified teachers to hold a bachelor\u2019s degree. Your bachelor’s degree equips you with in-depth knowledge of your subject area, e.g., history, mathematics, or literature.<\/span><\/p>\n The key learnings and skills from this degree program that will make you\u00a0 qualified for the teaching job include:<\/span><\/p>\n Bachelor’s Degree Programs that can lead you to a career in education include:<\/span><\/p>\n You’ll need to complete an accredited teacher preparation program (TPP). This program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience you need to thrive in today’s classrooms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A teaching preparation program ensures you gain a strong foundation in pedagogy and equips you with the skills to educate students effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n The program curriculum keeps you updated on the latest educational trends and best practices, ensuring you adapt your teaching to meet the evolving needs of students.<\/span><\/p>\n There are plenty of accredited teacher preparation programs across Tennessee.\u00a0 These programs come in various forms, including traditional on-campus and online options.<\/span><\/p>\n Before you lead your class, you’ll spend time as a student teacher.\u00a0 You’ll shadow your mentor teacher, observing their teaching styles and classroom management techniques.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gradually, you’ll take on more responsibility, co-teaching lessons, planning activities, and eventually leading your instruction.<\/span><\/p>\n Tennessee requires aspiring teachers to complete a specific number of student teaching hours. The exact number can vary depending on your program, around 120 to 300 hours. Still, Tennessee does not list a minimum number of hours of student teaching experience as a requirement for licensure.<\/span><\/p>\n An effective student teaching experience program will let you apply what you learned to the actual test and see how effective your lesson plans are with actual students.<\/span><\/p>\n You’ll gain the confidence to stand in front of a classroom and effectively engage students. You’ll get valuable feedback from your mentors and build relationships with other educators and school administrators, potentially opening doors to future job opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n Schools prioritize student safety. Background checks reveal any history of child abuse, neglect, or criminal activity. By passing this check, you demonstrate your commitment to creating a safe learning environment.<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher certification is crucial for anyone aspiring to teach in public schools. While each state sets its requirements, Tennessee has a well-defined process to ensure qualified and prepared educators enter its classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n A master’s degree is not mandatory for obtaining a Tennessee teaching license, but it can boost your career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most states encourage teachers to pursue a master’s within their first five years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A master’s degree requires additional time and financial investment, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit if you want to enhance your knowledge, skills, and career prospects.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the benefits of having a master’s degree:<\/span><\/p>\n You can become an educator even if you don’t have a degree in education. You qualify for a teaching license with a degree from other fields through\u00a0 <\/span>Alternative Teacher Certification <\/span><\/a>programs.<\/span><\/p>\n Alternative certification programs lead to awarding a certificate or master\u2019s degree after completing an approved <\/span>Educator Preparation Program<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even if you choose the non-traditional method of licensure, you must still pass<\/span> the Praxis test.<\/span><\/a> Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) for the grade level you’ll want to teach, and Core Academic Skills for Educators exams, as well as the Praxis Subject Assessments, tests appropriate to the content area and grade you wish to teach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the common Alternative Teaching License it’s\u00a0 in Tennessee are:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n This license is valid for three years and renewables once. To qualify for the license, you must have a bachelor\u2019s degree and enroll in an approved teacher preparation program that participates in the Practitioner Teacher License Program<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n You must have a high school diploma, five years of industry experience, and a recognized industry-related certification or license. You’ll be recommended for licensure by the program you enrolled in.<\/span><\/p>\n Landing your dream teaching job in Tennessee requires a strong foundation in education, certification, and in-classroom experience.<\/span><\/p>\n As a new educator, focus on your classroom experience during your job search. Many school districts will want to hire you because your position will be lower on the pay scale.<\/span><\/p>\n Before applying for different teaching jobs, you must remember to:<\/span><\/p>\n For teaching roles, you can predict the skills you need to include by checking what most schools in Tennessee state require from their teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n You need a highly-targeted CV that gets you noticed by adjusting it to each job ad. Hiring managers won’t be strained by reading a CV that\u2019s too lengthy. Stick to the most relevant skill sets and follow the Tennessee state-approved formatting guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n You can enhance your teaching skills in Tennessee by participating in Professional Development courses for Educators.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also attend subject-specific training sessions to deepen your expertise in the subjects you teach and take up leadership roles within your school or district to gain valuable experience.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Here are some essential teaching skills:<\/span><\/p>\n An easier way to start your job search is by looking for hiring districts. You can also contact the districts you are interested in directly, either through email or phone, and find out if they are hiring.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are interested in specific schools, you can send your resume to them even if they are not hiring. The schools may reach out to you when a teaching vacancy arises in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also join the <\/span>Tennessee Education Job Board<\/span><\/a>, highlight openings for all district positions, and connect job seekers with districts through the <\/span>TN Teacher Jobs Connection<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Networking is an effective tool that can help you find a teaching job. You can network through social media,\u00a0 friends, and by joining professional organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some professional organizations you can join:<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the benefits of networking with other educators through these organizations :<\/span><\/p>\n You pass the test, and finally, you are eligible to start classroom instructions, but before you get there, you’ll need to pass an interview.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few tips and tricks on acing your teacher interview.<\/span><\/p>\n Teachers are in high demand, especially in the States. In February 2024, <\/span><\/p>\n
State Requirements for Teaching In Tennessee State<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Bachelor’s degree:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
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2. Complete an accredited Teacher Preparation Program<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Gain student teaching experience<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Pass a background check<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Get Certified<\/b><\/h3>\n
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6. Consider getting a master’s degree<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Alternative Teacher Certification<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Getting Hired as a Teacher<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Polish your CV<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Upgrade your skillset<\/b><\/h3>\n
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3. Begin your job search<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Join professional organizations<\/b><\/h3>\n
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5. Ace your job teaching interview<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Career Outlook & Salary<\/b><\/h2>\n