2025-2026 UT PLAYS Initial Licensure and Additional Endorsements Apps are OPEN!

General Information

UT-PLAYS Program Information

UT-PLAYS is a non-credit bearing program leading to Special Education Comprehensive K-12, Interventionist K-8, Interventionist 6-12, Mathematics 6-8 or Mathematics 6-12 licensure/endorsements. All UT-PLAYS programs are fully online and asynchronous.

Program Eligibility

UT-PLAYS additional endorsements programs are open to any Tennessee educator who (a) holds an active academic teaching license in the state of TN and (b) is currently employed by a TN school system. Unfortunately, school services personnel and occupational licenses are not eligible for our add-on endorsement program. The cost of the program is $1250 for a year subscription.

UT-PLAYS initial licensure programs are open to individuals with a desire to become a K-12 educator who have a 4-year degree. Individuals who wish to participate in the Grow Your Own Apprenticeship program will also need the support of a partnering school district and qualifying employment. The cost of the program is $2500 for a year subscription.

UT-PLAYS has designed our programs with working educators in mind. All learning will take place online, asynchronously via Canvas Catalog at a time that works for you. Each program is comprised of:

Initial Licensure Program Requirements (for all Apprenticeship and Job-Embedded Participants)

8 asynchronous learning modules
Each module takes approximately 20 - 80 hours to complete.
Competency-based activities throughout the course.

Special Education Program Requirements

8 asynchronous learning modules
Each module takes approximately 10-15 hours to complete and may be stopped and started at any time. Total time to complete the Comprehensive K-12 or Interventionist K-8/6-12 program is approximately 100 clock hours. Our dual enrollment program takes approximately 145 clock hours to complete.
Brief assessments of learning following each lesson with instant feedback and opportunity to retake quizzes, if necessary, to earn a passing score of 90% or better and advance to the next module.
Competency-based experience activities at the end of each module.

Mathematics Program Requirements

5 asynchronous learning modules
Each module takes approximately 10-20 hours to complete and may be stopped and started at any time. Total time to complete the Math 6-8/Math 6-12 program is approximately 80 clock hours. The Algebra 1 Employment Standard (optional) is an additional 20 hours.
Brief assessments of learning following each lesson with instant feedback and opportunity to retake quizzes, if necessary, to earn a passing score of 80% or better and advance to the next module.
Competency-based activities throughout the course.

Competency-Based Activities

Participants in our programs will complete focused activities throughout their time in our program. The activities are designed to target important knowledge and skills required of educators while accommodating busy teacher schedules. Some examples of activities include: attending an IEP meeting, adapting a lesson plan, conducting Q&A with a special education teacher, completing a Mathematics Autobiography, and administering a classroom survey of interest.

Program Differentiation

Teachers who enroll in one of programs and who hold an active license may be eligible for program differentiation with one or more learning modules waived. More information is available from the Program Facilitators.

Timeline

While participants are welcome to work through each module at their own pace, all program requirements for the course should be completed prior to the end of the subscription time. To help you stay on pace, each program has a recommended timeline that is available to participants upon registration.

Professional Development Points

UT-PLAYS is non-credit bearing. Participants will earn TDOE approved PDPs (6) upon successful completion of each learning module.

Program Enrollment

Additional Endorsements are currently accepting applications and enrollments.

Program Options

To learn more about each of our programs, please click on the link for each program below.

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