{"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":"2026-10-19T12:52:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T16:52:52","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<a id=\"Step2-UGReverse\"><\/a><\/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 instru<\/span>ctions for each step are below.<\/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;color: #4b4b00\">The first step toward admission to the Teacher Education Program is completing the Teacher Education Application. Candidates should carefully review and complete all required sections, provide the requested information, and respond to the three short-response questions included in the application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;color: #4b4b00\">The Teacher Education program application runs three times a year: fall, spring, and summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><strong>The expected application dates are below.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\">Fall: September-October<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\">Spring: January-March<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\">Summer: May-June<\/span><\/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<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><strong>Completing the Application<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">Before submitting the application, candidates should be prepared to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Provide the requested information.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Complete all required fields accurately and thoroughly.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Respond to the short-response questions.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Answer all three questions thoughtfully, providing specific examples and explaining your interest in becoming an educator.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Review your responses.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Check your answers for completeness, clarity, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Submit the application.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Review all sections to ensure the required information is complete before submitting.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Preparing for the Application Questions<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">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><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Candidates should be prepared to answer:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">Why do you think you could become a successful teacher or educator?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">Why have you chosen this particular field or program area of teaching or education?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">What experiences have you had working with children and\/or youth?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">There is no single \u201ccorrect\u201d response to these questions. The goal is to provide thoughtful, specific answers that help reviewers understand your interests, experiences, and potential as a future educator.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Tips for Writing Strong Responses<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">You do not need to be an experienced essay writer to submit strong responses. Before beginning, consider the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Answer the entire question.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Read each question carefully and make sure your response addresses everything being asked.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Be specific.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Explain what experiences, people, goals, or observations have influenced your interest in education.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Use examples.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Experiences may come from schools, employment, volunteering, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, childcare, camps, community organizations, or other settings involving children or youth.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Explain the impact.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Describe what you learned from your experiences and how they influenced your decision to pursue a career in education.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Share your motivation.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Explain why teaching matters to you and what motivates you to pursue the Teacher Education Program.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Connect your experiences to your future.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Consider how your experiences may help you become an effective educator and support future students.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Write clearly and professionally.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Use complete sentences and organize your thoughts so they are easy to follow.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b00\"><b>Proofread before submitting.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Reading your responses aloud can help identify areas that need improvement.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #4b4b00\">Take time to complete each part of the application. This is an opportunity to reflect on your decision to pursue education and share the experiences, interests, and goals that will help shape your development as a future educator.<\/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=\"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><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 v28.8 - 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