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Job-Embedded Practitioner Licensure Program

Step 1: Fill out the Job-Embedded Practitioner Licensure application

Step 2: Fill out the UTK Graduate School Application

Step 3: Complete a background check

Step 4: Submit content knowledge documentation

Step 5: Admission Board Review

Step 6: Admission decision and verification

Step 7: Issuing the Practitioner’s License  

Detailed instructions for each step are below. 

Admission Step Details

Step 1: Fill out the Job-Embedded Practitioner Licensure application

The Job-Embedded Practitioner (JEP) Program provides a pathway to teacher licensure for individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming a licensed teacher. The program combines graduate-level coursework with full-time teaching experience and can lead to a master’s degree in Teacher Education.

A key part of the Job-Embedded pathway is working as the Teacher of Record in a qualifying teaching position. Coursework may begin before a teaching position is secured; however, completion of the program requires at least one full academic year (10 months) of full-time teaching while enrolled in the program.

The program is designed to accommodate working professionals. Coursework is:

  • 100% online
  • Scheduled with a full-time teaching schedule in mind
  • Typically completed in approximately two years

The Tennessee Department of Education requires individuals seeking a teaching license to be accepted into an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The University of Tennessee Teacher Education Program is an approved EPP, and admission to the JEP Program fulfills this educator preparation admission requirement.

Admission Requirements

  • Completed bachelor’s degree
  • Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above. All who are interested in becoming a teacher are encouraged to apply. 
  • Have a major listed on official transcripts in the content area you want to teach or submit passing licensure exam scores

Program Areas

Program Areas of the Job-Embedded Program are offered in the following subjects and grade levels:

  • Agriculture Education, 6-12
  • Art, K-12
  • American Sign Language PreK-12
  • Deaf Education PreK-12
  • Elementary Education, K-5
  • English, 6-12
  • English as a Second Language, PreK-12
  • School Librarian, Library Information Specialist, PreK-12
  • Mathematics, 6-12
  • Middle Grades Mathematics, 6-8 or 6-10
  • Middle Grades Science, 6-8
  • Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science), 6-12
  • Social Science Education (History, Geography, Government, Economics), 6-12
  • Social Science Education (Psychology & Sociology), 9-12
  • Special Education: Interventionist K-8; Interventionist, 6-12, Comprehensive K-12
  • World Language (Spanish, French, Latin, German, Russian), 6-12
  • *School Counselor, PreK-12 (Please contact [email protected] for application and program requirements)

If you have obtained a  teaching license and are looking to add an endorsement, please contact [email protected].

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.

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Step 2: Fill out the UTK Graduate School Application. 

Admission to the JEP Program and admission to the UT Graduate School are separate processes. Both applications are required.

Complete the UT Graduate School Application for the appropriate online graduate program.

For the JEP Program, the Graduate School application should be submitted as a Distance Education application within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.

For individuals who already hold a master’s degree, the Job-Embedded pathway may be completed while pursuing a Specialist in Education (EdS) degree rather than earning a second master’s degree.

The EdS option is offered 100% online, with coursework scheduled to accommodate working professionals. An EdS is an advanced graduate degree beyond the master’s level and may also qualify for increased compensation in some school districts.

The appropriate graduate program depends on the degree being pursued:

  • Teacher Education MS: Practitioner (Online) – for applicants pursuing a master’s degree
  • Teacher Education EdS: Practitioner (Online) – for applicants who already hold a master’s degree and plan to pursue a Specialist in Education degree

Degree and licensure requirements vary by program area, so reviewing the available program options and admission requirements is recommended before applying.

A specialization should not be selected for either program.

Programs with Different Application Procedures

Agriculture Education and School Librarian applicants follow different application procedures.

Agriculture Education application questions may be directed to Program Coordinator Tyler Granberry at [email protected]. 

School Librarian (Library Information Specialist) application questions may be directed to Program Coordinator Scot Smith at [email protected].

Transcripts

Official transcripts for all previously earned degrees must be submitted according to the instructions provided in the Graduate School application.

Official transcripts must be issued by the college or university where the degree was earned and sent directly to the University of Tennessee Graduate School.

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address:
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Office of Graduate Admissions
201 Student Services Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-0221

Degrees earned outside the United States require a course-by-course credential evaluation of the degree and transcripts from an approved credential evaluation service.

Approved services include organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).

Examples of credential evaluation services include:

Current Tennessee requirements should be confirmed before selecting and paying for a credential evaluation service.

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Step 3: Complete a background check

A background clearance is required as part of the Job-Embedded Practitioner (JEP) admission and licensure process. The steps for completing this requirement depend on whether a qualifying teaching position has already been secured.

Candidates should review the CEHHS Background Check Policy and follow the option below that best matches their current employment status.

Option 1: A Qualifying Teaching Position Has Been Secured

Candidates who have secured a qualifying teaching position may use documentation from the employing school or school district to help satisfy the background clearance requirement.

The school or district may submit an Intent to Hire letter confirming the candidate’s employment and required information.

To request the Intent to Hire template or ask questions about the required documentation, contact [email protected].

If you already have a teaching position start with this option before completing a separate UT background check.

Option 2: A Qualifying Teaching Position Has Not Yet Been Secured

Candidates do not need to wait until they are hired to continue working toward completion of the JEP application.

Applicants who have not yet secured a qualifying teaching position must:

Completing the background clearance requirement allows the application to continue through the admission process while the candidate searches for a qualifying teaching position.

Important: A qualifying teaching position is still required to participate in and complete the Job-Embedded Practitioner pathway. Completing a background check does not replace the program’s clinical experience requirement.

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Step 4: Submit content knowledge documentation

Content knowledge must be demonstrated for admission to the JEP Program and issuance of a Tennessee Practitioner License.

Depending on the teaching endorsement, content knowledge may be demonstrated through a passing licensure assessment or an eligible degree major.

Licensure Content Assessment

A passing score may be submitted from an approved content assessment offered through:

The required assessment depends on the teaching endorsement being pursued.

Qualifying Degree Major

For certain teaching endorsements, an eligible bachelor’s or master’s degree major may meet the content knowledge requirement in place of a content assessment.

Under Tennessee’s Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy, qualifying majors must meet state requirements, including alignment between the degree major and the teaching endorsement and a minimum 3.0 GPA in major-related coursework.

Qualifying content areas may include:

  • American Sign Language
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • Economics
  • English
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government
  • History
  • Latin
  • Mathematics
  • Other World Languages
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish

For example, a bachelor’s degree with a transcript-listed major in Biology may meet the content knowledge requirement for the Biology 6–12 endorsement when all applicable state requirements are met.

Not all majors or teaching endorsements qualify for this option. Eligibility is determined according to current Tennessee licensure policy.

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Step 5: Admission Board Review

Completed applications are reviewed by the Program Coordinator for the selected teaching area.

Additional information may be requested during the review process. Depending on the program area, an interview may also be required before an admission decision is made.

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Step 6: Admission decision and verification 

Candidates recommended for admission will receive an official admission letter through the email given on the JEP application.

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.

Following admission, the CEHHS Director of Graduate Studies reviews admission to the UTK Graduate School.

Following admission to the graduate school a Plan of Study is reviewed with the appropriate Licensure Specialist and/or Program Coordinator.

The Plan of Study outlines the requirements for completing the JEP Program, including:

  • Required professional education coursework
  • Teaching-area or specialty coursework
  • Required clinical experiences
  • Expected program timeline
  • Licensure and program completion requirements

The Plan of Study serves as a guide for progressing through the program and completing the requirements for teacher licensure.

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Step 7: Issuing the Practitioner’s License

Admission to the JEP Program and issuance of a Tennessee Practitioner License are related but separate parts of issuing a practitioners license.

The Job-Embedded pathway involves coordination among the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Education, and the employing school or school district. State licensure requirements must be met before a Practitioner License can be issued.

Requirements for initial Practitioner License issuance include applicable content knowledge requirements, a qualifying teaching position, required employment documentation, program enrollment, and any additional requirements established by the Tennessee Department of Education.

Additional assessments or licensure requirements may also be required before completion of the JEP Program and advancement to a professional teaching license.

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