Requirements For Licenses For Postsecondary Educators

(1) A practitioner license for postsecondary educators (PSE) may be issued to candidates that meet the following requirements: (a) Meet one (1) of the following experience requirements: 1. Have been a full-time college professor or instructor for at least two (2) of the last five (5) years at an eligible postsecondary institution that is accredited by a regional accrediting association, as defined by T.C.A. § 49-4-902; or 2. Have been a part-time college professor or instructor, teaching at least one (1) course per semester, for at least three (3) of the last five (5) years at an eligible postsecondary institution that is accredited by a regional accrediting association, as defined by T.C.A. § 49-4-902. (b) Submit at least three (3) years of qualifying teaching evaluations that rate the applicant as proficient or better in the subject area in which the applicant is seeking licensure from the postsecondary institution at which the applicant taught, where evaluations are EDUCATOR LICENSURE CHAPTER 0520-02-03 defined as an assessment of the educator’s performance in the subject area, which may include a formal rating system or, if the institution does not use a rating system, may be a letter from the dean, department chair, or other direct supervisor regarding the educator’s performance; and (c) Submit qualifying scores on all required assessments as defined in the Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy. (2) The PSE license shall only be issued for teaching assignments in grades nine through twelve (9-12). (3) The initial issuance of a PSE license shall bear an endorsement to teach only in the subject area in which the person taught at the eligible postsecondary institution. Additional endorsements may be issued on subsequent issuances of the PSE license in accordance with Endorsements Rule 0520-02-03-.11. (4) In order to advance from a PSE practitioner license to a PSE professional license, an educator shall meet the following requirements: (a) Have three (3) years of qualifying experience as an educator as defined by the Department; and (b) Earn thirty (30) professional development points as indicated by SBE Educator Licensure Policy 5.502. (5) If the requirements for advancement to the PSE professional license are not met prior to the end of the validity period of the PSE practitioner license, the PSE practitioner license may be renewed. To renew the practitioner license, an educator shall earn thirty (30) qualifying professional development points as defined in Educator Licensure Policy 5.502. (6) If the requirements for renewal are not met prior to the end of the validity period, then the license shall expire. Educators who fail to apply for renewal prior to the expiration of the license shall have a grace period until October 1 following the date of expiration to apply for renewal. Applications for renewal submitted during the grace period shall demonstrate that the educator completed all requirements for license renewal (except for submission of the application) prior to the end of the validity period. (7) In order to reactivate the PSE professional license, an educator shall submit qualifying scores on all State Board-required assessments. (8) In order to renew the PSE professional license, educators must earn sixty (60) qualifying professional development points.