{"id":34,"date":"2025-04-02T09:35:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T13:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehhs-wds-dev.utk.edu\/opl\/?page_id=34"},"modified":"2026-09-15T12:20:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:20:41","slug":"education-licensure-programs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/opl\/apply-to-teacher-education\/education-licensure-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduate Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><hr class=\"orange-hash\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><a id=\"Top-UG\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #096e99\"><a style=\"color: #096e99\" href=\"#Step1-UG\">Step 1: Fill out the Teacher Education Application<\/a><\/span><a id=\"Step1-UGReverse\"><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"#Step2-UG\"><span style=\"color: #096e99\">Step 2: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting <\/span><span style=\"color: #096e99\">Process<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #1488ba\"><a style=\"color: #1488ba\" href=\"#Step3-UG\"><span style=\"color: #096e99\">Step 3: Admission Board Review<\/span><\/a><\/span><a id=\"Step3-UGReverse\"><\/a><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #096e99\"><a style=\"color: #096e99\" href=\"#Step4-UG\">Step 4: Admission <span style=\"color: #096e99\">Decision<\/span> and Verification<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Detailed instructions for each step are below.\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><hr class=\"orange-hash\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><a id=\"Step1-UG\"><\/a>Admission Step Details<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Step 1:The <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appXySg8BXIGjIJbt\/pagwaYIj2MWzDdjiu\/form\">Teacher Education Application<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;color: #4b4b4b\">The Tennessee Department of Education requires anyone seeking a teaching license to apply to and be accepted into an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;color: #4b4b4b\">The University of Tennessee\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;color: #4b4b4b\">The Teacher Education program application runs three times a year: fall, spring, and summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The expected application dates are below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fall: September-October<\/p>\n<p>Spring: January-March<\/p>\n<p>Summer: May-June<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appXySg8BXIGjIJbt\/pagwaYIj2MWzDdjiu\/form\">Fall 2026 Application:<\/a> Open August 31\u2013October 9<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs)<\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">At UT, these qualities are called <strong>Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">All candidates in teacher licensure programs are expected to demonstrate and maintain the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/utk.edu\/procadsforstudents\">Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs)<\/a> expected of professional educators.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Preparing for the Application Questions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Candidates should be prepared to answer:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Why do you think you could become a successful teacher or educator?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Why have you chosen this particular field or program area of teaching or education?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">What experiences have you had working with children and\/or youth?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">There is no single \u201ccorrect\u201d response to these questions. The goal is to provide thoughtful, specific answers that help reviewers understand the candidate as a future educator.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Tips for Writing Strong Responses<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Candidates do not need to be experienced essay writers to submit strong responses. Before beginning, consider the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Answer the entire question. Read each question carefully and make sure the response addresses everything being asked.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Be specific. Instead of only stating an interest in teaching, explain what experiences, people, goals, or observations helped develop that interest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Use examples. Experiences may come from schools, employment, volunteering, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, childcare, camps, community organizations, or other settings involving children or youth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Explain the impact. When describing an experience, include what was learned and how it influenced the decision to become an educator.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Show interest and determination. Explain why teaching matters personally and what motivates the commitment to completing the Teacher Education Program.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Connect experiences to the future. Consider how past experiences may help with becoming an effective teacher and supporting future students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Write in complete sentences. Responses should be organized, professional, and easy for the reader to follow.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Proofread before submitting. Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Reading a response aloud can help identify sentences that need improvement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><em>Undergraduate Teacher Education Applicants<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><em>The ProCADs questionnaire is included in the official <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appXySg8BXIGjIJbt\/pagwaYIj2MWzDdjiu\/form\">Teacher Education Application<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Step1-UGReverse\">Top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><a id=\"Step2-UG\"><\/a><strong>Step 2: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b4b\">Tennessee Code Annotated \u00a7 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The complete<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/opl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/Criminal-Background-Check-and-Fingerprinting-Requirement-for-Admission-to-the-Educator-Preparation-Program.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> CEHHS Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting Policy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> provides additional information about this requirement.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Start this process at least four (4) weeks prior to the application deadline to prevent delays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Steps to complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: upper-roman\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appXySg8BXIGjIJbt\/pagf4OS5QuyHhX0UO\/form\">Background Check Authorization Form<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Complete and upload the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1p7ShTswtQmibdEa8lpLcKt-Bn-TYjirL\/view\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> VECHS Form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This is included in the <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appXySg8BXIGjIJbt\/pagf4OS5QuyHhX0UO\/form\">Background Check Authorization Form<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Complete the fingerprinting scan. Instructions are sent after the Background Check Authorization form is verified complete.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b4b\">Start this process at least four weeks before the application deadline. Applications cannot be reviewed until background clearance is received.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b4b\">Out-of-state applicants who are not currently enrolled at UT should contact <a href=\"mailto:beateacher@utk.edu\">beateacher@utk.edu<\/a> before beginning the process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Step2-UGReverse\">Top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><a id=\"Step3-UG\"><\/a><strong>Step 3: Admission Board Review\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Once all required application materials have been received, the application will be sent to the appropriate program admission board for review.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">The admission board will review the completed application, including the candidate\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">This is an opportunity for the program to learn more about each candidate\u2019s interest in education, preparation for the program, and potential for success as a future educator.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">After the review is complete, an admission decision will be sent to the candidate\u2019s UTK email account by the Office of Professional Licensure &amp; School-Based Experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Step3-UGReverse\">Top<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><a id=\"Step4-UG\"><\/a><strong>Step 4: Admission Decision and Verification<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">Candidates recommended for admission will receive an official admission letter through their UTK email account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">The admission email will include instructions for completing the required <strong>Admission Verification Form<\/strong>. This form confirms the candidate\u2019s decision to accept admission to the Teacher Education Program and must be completed before moving forward with the next steps of the program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\"><strong>Admission is not complete until the Admission Verification Form has been submitted.<\/strong> Candidates should carefully review the admission email, complete the form by the provided deadline, and keep the admission letter for their records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Top-UG\">Back to the Top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Step 1: Fill out the Teacher Education Application Step 2: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting Process Step 3: Admission [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":272,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-wide.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Undergraduate Students - Office of Professional Licensure<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/opl\/apply-to-teacher-education\/education-licensure-programs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Undergraduate Students - 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