Step 1: Fill out the Teacher Education Application
Step 2: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting Process
Step 3: Admission Board Review
Step 4: Admission Decision and Verification
Detailed instructions for each step are below.
Admission Step Details
Step 1:The Teacher Education Application
The Tennessee Department of Education requires anyone seeking a teaching license to apply to and be accepted into an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP).
The University of Tennessee’s Teacher Education Program is an approved EPP. Completing the Teacher Education application and receiving admission to the program fulfills this requirement for the licensure process.
The Teacher Education Program application is required to pursue teacher licensure through the University of Tennessee. The information below provides an overview of application requirements, required forms, and the admission process.
The Teacher Education program application runs three times a year: fall, spring, and summer.
The expected application dates are below.
Fall: September-October
Spring: January-March
Summer: May-June
Fall 2026 Application: Open August 31–October 9
Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs)
Becoming an educator involves more than meeting academic requirements. Successful teachers demonstrate professionalism, responsibility, communication skills, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to supporting students.
At UT, these qualities are called Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs).
All candidates in teacher licensure programs are expected to demonstrate and maintain the Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs) expected of professional educators.
ProCADs are evaluated throughout the educator preparation program. Candidates are expected to continue developing these professional qualities as they progress through the program. Concerns related to ProCADs may affect continued participation in a teacher licensure program, regardless of academic performance.
Preparing for the Application Questions
As part of the Teacher Education Application, candidates will respond to three short-response questions. These questions provide an opportunity to share experiences, interests, goals, and reasons for pursuing a career in education.
Candidates should be prepared to answer:
- Why do you think you could become a successful teacher or educator?
- Why have you chosen this particular field or program area of teaching or education?
- What experiences have you had working with children and/or youth?
There is no single “correct” response to these questions. The goal is to provide thoughtful, specific answers that help reviewers understand the candidate as a future educator.
Tips for Writing Strong Responses
Candidates do not need to be experienced essay writers to submit strong responses. Before beginning, consider the following:
- Answer the entire question. Read each question carefully and make sure the response addresses everything being asked.
- Be specific. Instead of only stating an interest in teaching, explain what experiences, people, goals, or observations helped develop that interest.
- Use examples. Experiences may come from schools, employment, volunteering, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, childcare, camps, community organizations, or other settings involving children or youth.
- Explain the impact. When describing an experience, include what was learned and how it influenced the decision to become an educator.
- Show interest and determination. Explain why teaching matters personally and what motivates the commitment to completing the Teacher Education Program.
- Connect experiences to the future. Consider how past experiences may help with becoming an effective teacher and supporting future students.
- Write in complete sentences. Responses should be organized, professional, and easy for the reader to follow.
- Proofread before submitting. Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Reading a response aloud can help identify sentences that need improvement.
Take time with each response. The application is an opportunity to reflect on the decision to enter education and demonstrate readiness to grow into the responsibilities of a professional educator.
Undergraduate Teacher Education Applicants
The ProCADs questionnaire is included in the official Teacher Education Application.
Step 2: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting
A fingerprint-based background check is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program. This requirement is based on Tennessee law and is necessary for participation in educator preparation programs and school-based experiences.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-5-5610 requires applicants to teacher preparation programs to authorize a criminal history records check, allow the required records to be released to the educator preparation program, and submit fingerprints for a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation criminal history records check.
The complete CEHHS Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting Policy provides additional information about this requirement.
Start this process at least four (4) weeks prior to the application deadline to prevent delays.
Steps to complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting.
- Complete the Background Check Authorization Form
- Complete and upload the VECHS Form. This is included in the Background Check Authorization Form
- Complete the fingerprinting scan. Instructions are sent after the Background Check Authorization form is verified complete.
Start this process at least four weeks before the application deadline. Applications cannot be reviewed until background clearance is received.
Out-of-state applicants who are not currently enrolled at UT should contact [email protected] before beginning the process.
Step 3: Admission Board Review
Once all required application materials have been received, the application will be sent to the appropriate program admission board for review.
The admission board will review the completed application, including the candidate’s qualifications, experiences, and responses to the application questions. Some program areas may also require an interview as part of the review process. Candidates who need to complete an interview will be contacted with additional information and scheduling instructions.
This is an opportunity for the program to learn more about each candidate’s interest in education, preparation for the program, and potential for success as a future educator.
After the review is complete, an admission decision will be sent to the candidate’s UTK email account by the Office of Professional Licensure & School-Based Experiences.
Step 4: Admission Decision and Verification
Candidates recommended for admission will receive an official admission letter through their UTK email account.
The admission email will include instructions for completing the required Admission Verification Form. This form confirms the candidate’s decision to accept admission to the Teacher Education Program and must be completed before moving forward with the next steps of the program.
Admission is not complete until the Admission Verification Form has been submitted. Candidates should carefully review the admission email, complete the form by the provided deadline, and keep the admission letter for their records.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program is an important milestone in the journey toward becoming a licensed educator. Candidates are encouraged to continue checking their UTK email and following all program requirements as they prepare for the next stage of teacher education.