Interventionist K-8/6-12 Programs 

UT - Personal Learning at Your Speed (PLAYS) - Special Education Interventionist K-8 and/or 6-12 Programs aim to address the shortage of highly qualified special education teachers in Tennessee by providing an accessible program by which current teachers can concurrently become fluent in special education content and pedagogy and add the Interventionist K-8 (144) and/or 6-12 (145) endorsement(s) to their current Tennessee educator’s license. 

If you would like to teach in an Interventionist setting now, UT-PLAYS Special Education provides an opportunity to receive a Provisional Special Education Endorsement in either Interventionist K-8 (190) or 6-12 (191) while you complete the program. 

Program Timeline

Coursework can be completed in approximately 100 clock-hours. On your own time and at your own pace. 

Course Materials

All course materials will be provided to candidates with a subscription. The subscription covers the cost of 1 Praxis exam.  All others are the responsibility of the teacher candidate.

Endorsement Options

In TN, we have two different interventionist licenses- Interventionist K-8 (144) and Interventionist 6-12 (145). The Interventionist licenses allow educators to teach in special education positions working with students in either grades K-8 and/or 6-12 with "high-incidence" disabilities. High incidence is a general term used to describe disabilities that occur in relatively higher numbers within a general population. Some examples of high-incidence disabilities include:

• Specific Learning Disability

• Emotional Disturbance 

• Other Health Impairment 

Provisional Licenses

All program participants will receive Endorsement Code(s) 144 (K-8) and/or 145 (6-12) upon completion of our program and passing the required license exams. However, SOME participants may be interested in first applying for Provisional Special Education Endorsement for Interventionist K-8 (190) or 6-12 (191). A provisional endorsement allows participants to be able to teach in a special education position WHILE they are still completing our program. For more information about provisional special education endorsements, please refer to page 25 of the TN Department of Education Educator Licensure Operating Procedures for Districts by clicking on the following link: TN DOE Educator Licensure Operating Procedures for Districts  

High-Incidence Disabilities

AT UT-PLAYS, we are committed to postsecondary success for ALL students. We stand firmly behind TDOE's stance of "All means ALL."  This means all students are general education students first. All students can have access to and make progress in the general education curriculum. With high expectations for learning, proper supports, and appropriate accommodations, ALL students can succeed in the general curriculum. By actively participating in the UT-PLAYS Special Education Interventionist 6-12 program, you will learn about evidence-based-, research-based-, and high-leverage practices for teaching and assessing students with mild to moderate disabilities. You will learn how to properly support access to the general curriculum. Additionally, you will learn about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004  and how this law applies to teaching students with moderate to severe disabilities, including writing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and the concepts of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). You will also learn all about the Response to Intervention (RTI) process in TN. 

License Exam Requirements

Currently, TDOE requires the following two Praxis Exams to meet license requirements for Interventionist 6-12 and/or Interventionist K-8 Special Education:

• Praxis 5543 Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications AND

• Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary 

Please note, licensing requirements are subject to change and you should always consult the TN Praxis website for the most up to date information. If you have questions regarding Praxis requirements related to any tests you have taken in the past, please reach out to Educator Licensure.