Tennessee Teacher Reciprocity Agreements
Tennessee grants full reciprocity to out-of-state teachers holding a valid professional-level license, issuing a Tennessee Professional 6-Year License as of July 2021. Teachers with an initial-level license or a completed educator preparation program qualify for a three-year Practitioner License instead. Both pathways require an application through the state’s TNCompass system.
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Tennessee accepts teaching credentials from other states through two main pathways, and which one applies depends on the type of license you currently hold. Out-of-state educators with a full professional license get a streamlined route to a long-term Tennessee credential. Those earlier in their careers, or still finishing an educator preparation program, go through the state’s Practitioner License process instead. If you’re not yet certified anywhere and this isn’t the right starting point, see our full Tennessee teaching certification overview. Here’s how each pathway works, what Tennessee requires from applicants, and which states participate in the reciprocity agreement that makes this possible.
Use the links below to jump to license types, application steps, and the full list of reciprocity states.
- How teacher reciprocity works in Tennessee
- Qualify for the Professional 6-Year License
- Practitioner License pathways for out-of-state teachers
- Apply for a Tennessee license through TNCompass
- Check if your state has a reciprocity agreement with Tennessee
How Teacher Reciprocity Works in Tennessee
Tennessee participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement, which sets a shared framework for accepting out-of-state teaching credentials. Tennessee also recognizes educator preparation programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the organization formed when the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education merged with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. Reciprocity under NASDTEC doesn’t mean an automatic, identical license transfer. It means Tennessee has a defined pathway for your credential type, so you don’t have to start a new educator preparation program from scratch, but you’ll still need to meet Tennessee’s specific documentation and assessment requirements for that pathway.
The Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation reviews every out-of-state application individually. For questions specific to your credential, contact the Office of Teacher Licensing at (615) 532-4885 or reach the licensure team directly at [email protected].
Qualify for the Professional 6-Year License
Since July 1, 2021, Tennessee has issued a Professional 6-Year License to any educator who holds a full, valid, continuously renewable professional-level license from another state, provided that license is equivalent to Tennessee’s own professional-level license. This includes professional teacher licenses, professional occupational teacher licenses, and professional school services personnel licenses. It’s the most direct reciprocity route the state offers: if your out-of-state license is already at the professional tier, you’re not funneled through the entry-level Practitioner License first. You’ll still need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and official transcripts submitted directly by your school.
Practitioner License Pathways for Out-of-State Educators
Educators who don’t yet hold a professional-level out-of-state license apply for Tennessee’s Practitioner License, an initial credential valid for three years. Tennessee offers three distinct routes into this license, depending on your current situation. All three require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a recommendation from your out-of-state educator preparation provider submitted on the Out-of-State Educator Preparation Verification form, and transcripts sent directly by your school. Applicants must also meet Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) requirements where applicable.
Out-of-State Initial-Level License Holders
If you hold an initial-level teaching license from another state, you qualify for a Tennessee Practitioner License by holding a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and submitting that active initial-level license. Tennessee doesn’t require you to resubmit assessment scores at this stage. However, you’ll need to pass the required content assessments under Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy 5.105, or submit evidence of an active professional-level license from your home state, before you can renew or advance your Tennessee license.
Completed an Out-of-State Educator Preparation Program
If you finished a teacher preparation program outside Tennessee but haven’t held a license yet, you can qualify through a recommendation from that out-of-state educator preparation provider (EPP). This route also requires qualifying scores on all required assessments under Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy 5.105.
Enrolled in an Out-of-State Job-Embedded Partnership Program
Educators currently enrolled in an out-of-state preparation program that has a formal partnership agreement with a Tennessee school district can qualify through this pathway. The program must meet the conditions in State Board Rule 0520-02-04. Applicants verify content knowledge through the required content assessments and, before renewing or advancing the license, must submit a qualifying pedagogical assessment score, either the ETS Principles of Learning and Teaching or SCALE/Pearson edTPA.
Apply for a Tennessee License Through TNCompass
Every out-of-state licensure application in Tennessee runs through TNCompass, the state’s online licensure system. You’ll need a registered TNCompass account before starting any out-of-state educator transaction. The Department of Education publishes step-by-step Licensure Guidance Documents for each pathway, and your official transcripts must come directly from your degree-granting institution to [email protected] through an approved clearinghouse or by mail to 710 James Robertson Parkway, 9th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.
States With Reciprocity Agreements With Tennessee
The following states are members of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement and have reciprocity arrangements with Tennessee. Being a member state doesn’t guarantee an identical license transfer. It means your credential fits into one of the pathways above, and the specific license type you hold determines which one applies.
| NASDTEC Member State |
|---|
| Alabama |
| Arizona |
| Arkansas |
| California |
| Colorado |
| Connecticut |
| Delaware |
| Florida |
| Georgia |
| Hawaii |
| Idaho |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Kansas |
| Kentucky |
| Louisiana |
| Maine |
| Maryland |
| Massachusetts |
| Michigan |
| Mississippi |
| Missouri |
| Montana |
| Nebraska |
| Nevada |
| New Hampshire |
| New Jersey |
| New Mexico |
| New York |
| North Carolina |
| North Dakota |
| Ohio |
| Oklahoma |
| Oregon |
| Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island |
| South Carolina |
| South Dakota |
| Texas |
| Utah |
| Vermont |
| Virginia |
| Washington |
| West Virginia |
| Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to retake certification exams to teach in Tennessee?
It depends on your current license. If you hold a full professional-level license from another state that’s equivalent to Tennessee’s, you generally move directly into the Professional 6-Year License without new assessments. If you hold an initial-level license or are coming from an educator preparation program, you’ll need to pass Tennessee’s required content assessments under Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy 5.105, unless you can show an active professional-level license from your home state instead. Candidates in the job-embedded partnership pathway also need a qualifying pedagogical assessment score, either the ETS Principles of Learning and Teaching or SCALE/Pearson edTPA, before renewing or advancing their license.
What’s the difference between the Practitioner License and the Professional 6-Year License?
The Practitioner License is an entry-level credential valid for three years, designed for teachers who haven’t yet reached the professional tier in their home state or who are still finishing an educator preparation program. The Professional 6-Year License goes to educators who already hold a full, valid, continuously renewable professional-level license elsewhere, and it doesn’t require starting over at the entry level.
Does Tennessee have reciprocity with every state?
Tennessee has reciprocity agreements with the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement member states listed above. Membership means your credential fits into one of Tennessee’s licensure pathways, but the exact process still depends on the specific license type you hold and whether your educator preparation program meets Tennessee’s requirements.
Where do I submit my application and transcripts?
Applications go through your TNCompass account. Official transcripts must come directly from your degree-granting institution, either electronically to [email protected] through an approved clearinghouse, or by mail to the Tennessee Department of Education at 710 James Robertson Parkway, 9th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.
- Your license tier determines your pathway — a full professional-level out-of-state license leads to the Professional 6-Year License, while earlier-career credentials go through the three-year Practitioner License.
- The Professional 6-Year License took effect July 1, 2021 — it’s the newest and most direct reciprocity route Tennessee offers for fully licensed out-of-state teachers.
- There are three Practitioner License routes — for out-of-state initial-license holders, EPP graduates with a program recommendation, and candidates in a job-embedded partnership program with a Tennessee district.
- Everything runs through TNCompass — you need a registered account before starting any out-of-state licensure transaction, and transcripts must come from an approved clearinghouse or by mail.
Select your state below to find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
