CTE Teacher Certification in Tennessee
CTE teacher certification in Tennessee is made available to candidates who have occupational work experience, industry certification and the ability to complete a post-secondary education preparation program during their first three years of teaching.
How to Become Certified to Teach CTE in Tennessee
Tennessee offers two types of teaching licenses for the field of occupational education. Potential career and technology education (CTE) teachers can initially obtain a Practitioner Occupational License and then advance to a Professional Occupational License. Each candidate should meet the industry certification requirements for their specific occupational specialty and have the experience and/or education needed to qualify for endorsements.
<table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td>Practitioner Occupational License: High school diploma, five years of work experience <br/>Professional Occupational License: Approved educator preparation program coursework, five years of work experience and three years of teaching experience</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certification Renewal Period</td><td>Practitioner Occupational License: Three years <br/>Professional Occupational License: Six years</td></tr>
<tr><td>Average Annual Salary (2018)*</td><td>Middle School: $58,780<br/>High School: $54,140</td></tr>
<tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026)*</td><td>4% nationwide</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *US Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---PractitionerOccupationalLicenseEducationalRequirements">Practitioner Occupational License Educational Requirements</h3><p>Candidates for CTE teaching licenses in Tennessee who have industry experience in occupational areas would initially pursue the Practitioner Occupational License. Examples of available endorsement areas include automotive, carpentry, culinary arts, health science, digital arts, and welding.
</p><p>Educators interested in the Practitioner Occupation License must have a minimum of a high school diploma. They also need to be enrolled in an educator preparation program approved by the state. These programs include 18 credit hours of coursework covering such topics as adolescent development, educational psychology, student assessment, classroom management, and instructional technology, and some schools offer this curriculum online.
</p><p>Once coursework is completed, the state-approved occupational educator preparation program must recommend the candidate for licensure. The Practitioner Occupational License is valid for a period of three years and it can be renewed one time.
</p><h3 id="section---ExperienceRequirements">Experience Requirements</h3><p>The experience requirements are different for each occupational area, but generally require a future CTE teacher to have five years of full-time work experience out of the past eight years in their specialty. These requirements can be met through different pathway combinations of work experience, industry certification and postsecondary education. For example, an applicant with an associate degree might only need one year of work experience if they also hold an industry certification.
</p><p>Regardless of experience, CTE teachers must also meet industry certification requirements that are specific to their occupation. Most new CTE educators applying for a Practitioner Occupational License will be given a one-year grace period to achieve the industry certifications needed. Keep in mind that cosmetology and health science teachers will need to be licensed or certified from the start.
</p><h3 id="section---Advancement">Advancement</h3><p>Once a CTE teacher has met the licensure expectations for the Practitioner Occupational License, they can advance to a Professional Occupational License. Teachers will need to have completed three years of teaching experience and the coursework for an approved educator preparation program. Additional requirements applicants need to have completed during the first three years of teaching include documenting professional development points, attending new teacher training, observing experienced teachers, participating in a mentorship, and holding an industry certification that is current. The Professional Occupational License is valid for six years and is renewable.</p>