Requirements for ECE Teacher Certification in Tennessee
Tennessee children, as in all states, need solid Early Childhood Education. After all, preschool provides a foundation for all later growth and learning. Studies have shown the dramatic efficacy of pre-k instruction and developmental nurture. From a purely pragmatic standpoint, when states invest in their youngest children, they reap great rewards.
James Heckman, a Nobel-prize winning economist, has shown that economic development is not a trickle down from adults to children, but the reverse. When states make an investment in their children, the kids repay the adults with a seven to ten percent rate of return.
Tennessee has been mulling a new educational center that would teach Early Childhood Educators. Added to this, in 2018 the national legislature agreed to provide over five billion dollars in block grants to states. This money is earmarked for Early Childhood Education and Development. If Tennessee commits to this new learning center and then its cities begin applying for federal block grants, Tennessee will soon reap great rewards, as will state teachers.
Tennessee Steps to Follow for Teachers
The first step to becoming a Tennessee Early Childhood Educator is to discover whether or not that field is your passion. Tennessee preschoolers and elementary students deserve teachers who are 100% committed to teaching and helping them develop into the best people they can be. If you are unsure, you might consider becoming a paraprofessional for a year, or working in a preschool. Once you determine that Early Childhood Education is the career for you, you should enroll in a state-approved teacher-preparation program, pass the necessary tests, and start your life's work. Here are the specific steps to become and Early Childhood Educator in Tennessee.
Step 1. Earn Your Degree
A bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education is the first, and most strenuous, step toward becoming a Tennessee teacher. You need to find a program that is approved by the state and which is fully accredited. Luckily, most education programs touting a teacher-prep track are fully accredited and approved.
During your time in school, you will need to complete a student teaching experience. This will allow you to work with a mentor on how you manage a classroom, deliver curriculum, and generally operate as an educational professional. This is more than a course, this is on-the-job training that will be enormously helpful on your path to the classroom.
Step 2. Pass Your Exams
To become a fully-licensed Early Childhood Education teacher, you need to pass three PRAXIS exams. You don't need to take all three at once, but you will need satisfactory scores to qualify for a full-time position. These tests include:
Education of Young Children – Qualifying Score 160
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge – Qualifying Score 163
Teaching Reading: Elementary Education – Qualifying Score 162
Step 3. Standards and Qualifications
To fully qualify all of your materials, you must submit to a state and federal background, have your official transcripts sent directly from your school or other valid source, and submit a letter of recommendation from your school.
If you have any serious infractions on your record, including severe traffic infractions such as a DUI, you should account for these on your application. If you have fulfilled all of the court's requirements, including payment of all fines, then you can assert as much. If you still have court documents verifying your statements, you should include copies.
Once you’ve received your licensure, you will need to maintain it. This will require the completion of 45 ‘renewal points’ for every five years you hold the license. You can fulfill this requirement with college courses or other professional activities. However, keep in mind that if you earn enough college credit to earn your master’s and have your employing school complete a performance evaluation, you will be exempted from this ongoing requirement and open future teaching opportunities for yourself.
Popular Career Choices
Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Why Teach?
Teachers form the backbone of our society. On top of the proverbial 3-Rs, they nurture and educate our young children as to the best ways to conduct themselves in our society. Teachers wear multiple hats on any given day. They are tasked with being a teacher, social worker, administrator, counselor, disciplinarian, and friend, just to name a few.
However, though teaching is one of the toughest jobs in our culture, it is also one of the most rewarding. When you see a youngster's eyes light up when they finally understand multiplication, or when a little one cackles with delight when they finish their first puzzle, you can share in that moment. There is no paycheck large enough to match that. That is why teaching is such an esteemed and sought after profession.
Accredited Tennessee Programs
Practitioner License: This will be your first Tennessee license. The Practitioner-level licensure is a three-year credential that you may renew one time. You can add endorsements to this license.
Professional License: Once you have performed admirably at the Practitioner level, you can apply for a Professional license. This is a six-year licensure that you may renew for the remainder of your career. Like the Practitioner license, you may continue to add endorsements to this license.
Accredited Early Childhood Educator Teacher Preparation Programs
Achieving a degree from an accredited Early Childhood Educator Preparation Program is a vital first step towards a fulfilling career in education. Your degree will form the foundation from which you launch off, and you will surely recall bits of wisdom from your professors throughout your time in the field. Tennessee has countless educator-preparation programs. Here is a brief list:
Austin Peay State University
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
Curriculum and Instruction; Master’s
Reading Teacher Education; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Belmont University
Degrees Offered:
Early Childhood Education; Bachelor’s
Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Master’s
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Vanderbilt University
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
Curriculum and Instruction; Master’s
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness; Master’s
Educational Leadership and Administration; Master’s & Dr.
Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
Reading Teacher Education; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Dr.
ESL Teaching; Master’s
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s & Post-grad Certificate
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Elementary Education and Teaching; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
ESL Teaching; Post-grad Certificate
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
University of Memphis
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s, Dr., & Post-grad Certificate
Curriculum and Instruction; Master’s & Dr.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism; Post-grad Certificate
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
ESL Teacher; Post-grad Certificate
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Degrees Offered for Early Childhood Education:
Associate (A.A.S.)
Technical Certificate
Associate of Science in Teaching K-5
Associate of Science in Teaching Pre K-3
TN eCampus Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees
Associate of Science in Teaching
University Parallel, Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals Preparation
University Parallel Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees
Accreditation By:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Specialization Additional Certifications
Special Education: To attain this endorsement, you will need to complete additional coursework and pass the corresponding Praxis examination. There are many sub-endorsements that fall under the rubric of SPED. Here are a few you can choose from:
SPED Comprehensive K-12
SPED Hearing K-12
SPED Interventionists 6-12
SPED Modified K-12
SPED Preschool Early Childhood Education PreK-3
SPED Speech Language Pathologist PreK-12
English as a Second Language :
This endorsement requires additional coursework and another Praxis examination. It will help you teach Tennessee's newest residents as they learn to adapt to their new home.
Gifted and Talented Education :
Even the brightest students need additional support to make sure they are adequately stimulated and engaged. You'll need to take more tests and then pass the requisite Praxis examination to attain this endorsement.
Tennessee teachers mostly pick this path. Public institutions use even more opportunities in addition to supply a high academic requirement for their students. To show in a public university you will absolutely require to finish the route to licensure as advised by the state. As quickly as you begin showing, you will have the state's support as well as for that reason delight in a rewarding, enjoyable task.
These settings are as particular as the families you'll function with. Some will desire a treatment service provider who can aid their children find out to review earlier, understand a global language, or establish a structure in the arts. Remember that you might still require to carpool the youngsters to tasks, nevertheless the experience is bound to be as memorable as it is pleasing.
You will absolutely have even more control over the educational program you educate, your work setup is bound to be much more intimate, as well as your program sizes see it to be smaller sized. This government program has been going solid thinking that it was established in 1965. Low-income families have gotten a remarkable boost by having the capability to start their youngsters off in such a sensational program.
These programs are possibly the least formal as well as likewise arranged of them all. They are regularly geared towards jobs such as showing off activities, arts, or fundamental daycare. Nevertheless, you can find a whole lot regarding kids while operating in such a program. Community-based programs could be a great location to start your handling of kids.
You may furthermore find stand-alone schools that are devoted to a specific spiritual teaching or suggestion system. If you mean to advance your very own education while revealing soldier's children, then you should examine mentors on armed forces bases. You will definitely call for a Tennessee (or various other state) coach credential, but after that you will certainly prepare to use.
With a financial investment of over $85 million yearly, Tennessee was placed as having a top notch pre-K program in 2012 by the National Institute for Early Education And Learning As Well As Learning Research.
The Tennessee Division of Education and learning and discovering (TDOE) site has info concerning just how to acquire certification. The Work Environment of Instructor Licensing in the state of Tennessee takes care of requirements for teacher licensing, consisting of applications for new licenses and an on-line system for administrators and also instructors to update their licenses. You can come to be a certified instructor if you: There is no fee to obtain a certificate in Tennessee.
You have to finish a program at an accepted teacher prep work establishment, take the Practice collection examinations, along with be recommended for licensure by the Dean of Education And Learning And Also Understanding and the Qualification Office of your college or college. Get in touch with your chosen establishment's human sources workplace or the TDOE's human sources department if you have inquiries worrying about the certification/licensure procedure.
The teacher licensure programs are given at both undergraduate as well as also graduate levels for those that want to show in prekindergarten, kindergarten as well as major qualities. The graduate programs include the master's and also doctorate in very early young people education as well as understanding (birth through age 8). utilizes a bachelor's degree in very early childhood years education and learning as well as knowing (pre-K through 3) as well as a master's degree in elementary education as well as knowing.
If you are looking for qualified teachers in Tennessee then you can find it very easy with the many qualified candidates available for teacher jobs in the state. Whether you are an experienced teacher or someone that has been teaching for some time, you can find qualified teachers and new career opportunities for a good salary in Tennessee.
For one thing, you do not have to be licensed to teach in Tennessee. You can work as a substitute if you are certified but that does not mean that you will get any better compensation than a licensed teacher. The compensation is usually the same and that is why it is important to check to see if you can get a job as a substitute before you have taken a certified teacher exam. If you are certified to teach elementary or middle school, you can work as a substitute teacher in a local elementary, middle, or secondary school in the state.
If you are a registered nurse and are qualified to teach in the state of Tennessee, you can work in a hospital or health care facility or for an accredited school. You can also find employment as a substitute teacher in a community college or vocational school.
If you do not have any background in teaching in the state of Tennessee, you will find it a lot easier to find employment as a substitute teacher in a public school. The requirements are basically the same and your pay will be just like a licensed teacher.
Once you have had your teacher certification test and passed it, you will qualify for jobs in Tennessee that require teacher licensing. These jobs are usually much higher paying because you are in a more specialized field. For instance, if you are a special education teacher, a nursing assistant, or someone who specializes in teaching science, math, or English, you will find that you can find jobs in a variety of settings and that you can easily find a job teaching preschool or kindergarten. You will have to make sure that you have a working knowledge of the subject matter in order to teach in the state and that you know how to give students directions so that they can achieve a successful outcome.
As soon as you have completed the licensing and teacher certification tests you will qualify for a teaching job in Tennessee you can find many jobs that you are qualified for. You can become a preschool teacher or even the director of a preschool. There are a number of schools that have been known to hire teachers that are qualified and have not had a teaching license for years because they are not interested in teaching as part of their program.
Once you have the certification you will have it and you will have the job and the opportunity to show that you are the right person for the job. Now you need to take the next step to become a teacher. One way that you can start looking for a job as a teacher in Tennessee is by checking online for openings and posting on the websites of schools that hire teachers. By doing this you can have the job lined up within a day or two and you will be teaching sooner than you would have thought possible.
In many cases you can get a job teaching in the state of Tennessee in as little as a week. The pay is usually good and you will find that you are not only getting a great pay and job security, but you also have the opportunity to meet children who are learning from the best teacher available.
Career Options and Salary Info for Teachers
Public Schools -
Tennessee educators by and large choose this route. Public schools offer more opportunities and provide a high educational standard for their students. To teach in a public school you will need to complete the route to licensure as prescribed by the state. Once you begin teaching, you will have the state's support and thus enjoy a fruitful, rewarding career.
Private Childcare -
Families often like to hire independent childcare professionals to take care of their little ones. These positions are as individual as the families you'll work with. Some will want a care provider who can help their kids learn to read earlier, master a foreign language, or establish a foundation in the arts. Keep in mind that you may still need to carpool the kids to activities, but the experience is bound to be as memorable as it is rewarding.
Private Schools -
While it may be not as financially rewarding as public schools, teaching in a private school has many other rewards. You will have more control over the curriculum you teach, your work environment is bound to be more intimate, and your class sizes are sure to be smaller.
Head Start Programs -
This federal program has been going strong since it was instituted in 1965. Low-income families have received a tremendous boost by being able to start their youngsters off in such a phenomenal program. Not all Head Start programs insist on a state teaching credential, but you will be well served by at least carrying a degree from a state-approved teacher-prep program.
Community-Based Programs -
These programs are perhaps the least formal and structured of them all. They are often geared towards activities such as sports, arts, or simple daycare. However, you can learn a lot about children while working in such a program. Community-based programs might be a great place to begin your work with children.
Faith-Based Programs -
If you wish to include your faith in your career, then you should seek out a church, synagogue, or temple that includes Early Childhood Education. You might also find stand-alone schools that are dedicated to a specific religious doctrine or belief system.
Military Programs -
If you want to advance your own education while teaching soldier's children, then you should investigate teaching on military bases. You will need a Tennessee (or other state) teaching credential, but then you will be ready to apply. You might work on bases stateside, or you might make a career that spans the globe, including Germany, Japan, and even Hawaii.
Early Childhood Education Teaching Salaries in Tennessee
Public Schools -
Teaching little ones is a lot of fun. Whether you work in a public school or a specialty preschool, such as Montessori, you will facilitate the growth and development of students in a profound way. In fact, studies show that a solid preschool experience has a lasting impact throughout the entire course of a person's education.
Elementary School Teacher -
This occupation will find you in an inclusive classroom where you are tasked with teaching students all subject areas. For this reason, you will need to pass a comprehensive set of Praxis examinations to ensure that you have mastery over Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.
Professor of Education -
Though some move into post-secondary education after a long tenure in the classroom, others move directly from their undergraduate program into a master's, then doctoral degrees. You will want to achieve a doctoral degree to teach in college so that you are assured the better teaching positions and have a shot at tenure.
School Principal -
Tennessee requires that you complete an Instructional Leader Preparation Program. You can attain an initial, 3-year license if you are enrolled in such a program.
Special Education Teacher -
Your special classroom will facilitate learning for a wide range of differently-abled students. Whether your students have profound cognitive impairments, dyslexia, or are hearing/visually impaired, you will make a dramatic impact on their lives.
ESL Teacher -
Tennessee provides educational opportunities for students who are new to our English-dominated society. You'll need a special endorsement for this occupation, but the extra work is worth it.
School Psychologist -
With a minimum of a master's degree, you can counsel students through difficulties with learning, their peers, and even family issues. Schools are wise to include school counselors in their programs, since developmental difficulties are both common and disruptive to the overall goals of education.