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Points To Remember

Accuracy

Keeping a license valid and accurate is the responsibility of the educator. When you receive email notification that your license has been issued, review your license information carefully. If your records are not exactly as you believe they should be, please contact the Office of Educator Licensing immediately. When contacting the office please provide full name, license number and a brief description of discrepancy. If it is correct, you may print a copy of the license from the public search option in our online license application . We suggest that you give a copy to the personnel office of the school system where you are employed.

 

Application Processing Time- Approximate 2 - 4 weeks

All applications submitted are processed/reviewed in the order in which they are received. All efforts are made to complete all submissions in a timely manner. Regardless of the date an application is reviewed, the date it was received is used for any license action. You may log in to your license record to see if your application has been received by accessing our educator licensure information page. See instructions below:

  • Unless you already know your license number we suggest first using the public search option to locate your license number, doing this by only entering your first and last name as listed on the application. Click on your name, your license information will be revealed. If you already hold a license you may use the Educator Log in option. Thank you for your patience.
  • Basic license status definitions:
      • Pending Review - application has been received, entered into database, given to licensing specialist for review. Application will stay in this status until reviewed and eligibility determined.
      • Requirements not met - application has been reviewed and deficiencies determined. Educator will receive correspondence from licensing specialist defining deficiency. Please provide email address on application or update on the Educator Licensure Information page.
      • Active status - application reviewed with no deficiencies, license was issued. Educator will receive email notification when license is issued.

 

Don't Forget To Renew...

All licenses must be renewed, even if they are not actively being used. You may now make renewal requests online using our Online Licensing Application.

Download Licensure Forms

All applications for licensure transactions are available for download from this web site.  Be sure to submit the most current forms to ensure meeting current requirements. Check Licensure Forms for specific applications needed.

Endorsements & Advanced Degrees

No endorsement or advanced degree for salary credit will be added to a license without an application requesting the change initiated by the license holder. Once an endorsement is added to a teacher license, it cannot be removed at the teacher's request. Also, no additional information can be added to an inactive license, this includes addtional degrees.

Highly Qualified Status

The Office of Educator Licensing is not responsible for determining an educator's "Highly Qualified Status". Tennessee educators must contact the personnel office of the local school system where they are employed or the CORE centers of the Tennessee Department of Education in the area of their region of the state. Check Highly Qualified Plan download pdf file for additional information.

Printing of Licenses

In an effort to deliver improved customer service and reduced costs, the Office of Educator Licensing stopped printing paper licenses for educators on July 1, 2012. This change will not impact the way an educator applies for licensing or the way LEAs verify licenses.

Educators should be sure to provide a current email address either on the application submitted or update their personal information on the Educator Licensure Information site. While educators will no longer receive a paper copy of their license, they will receive email notification and instructions on how to retrieve their license information when the transaction is completed. (Important to provide current email address) In addition, educators who wish to obtain a printer friendly version of their license they may use the public search option of the Educator Licensure Information page.

Currently Central Office Personnel should continue to use ELI 1.0 to verify the educator is properly licensed. All licensed educators will be able to access their license and license number via the Educator Licensure Information page. See instructions below:

  • Unless you already know your license number we suggest first using the public search option to locate your license number, do this by only entering your first and last name as listed on the application. Click on your name, your license information will be revealed. If you already hold a license and know your license number you may use the Educator Log in option.

Please direct any questions, comments or concerns to Education.Licensing@tn.gov

Voice Mail

The Office of Educator Licensing does not provide voice mail on its telephone system. Telephone calls must be made to the office from 7:00am until 4:30pm CST on Monday through Friday

Office of Educator Licensing Business Hours

Monday through Friday 7:00am to 4:30pm CST