{"id":36,"date":"2025-04-02T09:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T13:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/opl\/?page_id=36"},"modified":"2026-04-16T09:50:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:50:05","slug":"undergraduate-initial-licensure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/opl\/education-licensure-programs\/undergraduate-initial-licensure\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduate Initial Licensure"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Traditional Teacher Education Application Information including application links and forms<\/b><\/h2>\n

Per the Tennessee Department of Education, all individuals wishing to pursue teacher licensure must complete an application and be accepted by an Education Preparation Program (EPP). Completing this application and being accepted into the UT Teacher Education program meets this requirement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Teacher Education Application\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Spring 2026 Teacher Education Application is now open through March 13. If you believe you should be applying for the Teacher Education program past the deadline, please contact beateacher@utk.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Teacher Education program application runs three times a year: fall, spring, and summer.\u00a0<\/span>The expected application dates are below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fall: September-October
\n<\/span>Spring: January-March
\n<\/span>Summer: May-June<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have any questions, please email beateacher@utk.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Navigating through the application process<\/b><\/h3>\n

Application Process: Initial Advising<\/b><\/p>\n

You will begin your application process by scheduling an appointment with a CEHHS academic advisor. You can do this by calling 865-974-8194 or emailing ehhsappts@utk.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Application Process: Review Program Requirements<\/b><\/p>\n

GPA
\n<\/strong>Per Tennessee State Board of Education policy, a GPA should be 2.75 or above to apply for admission to teacher education. If you are unsure whether your GPA meets the minimum requirement, please contact your advisor or beateacher@utk.edu<\/a>. If your GPA is below 2.75 but you are passionate about becoming a teacher, you are encouraged to apply as exceptions can be made in select cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Standardized Tests
\n<\/strong>Per Tennessee State Board of Education policy, those applying for admission to undergraduate teacher education programs should have an ACT Composite \u2013 21 or SAT Verbal & Math \u2013 1080. If you do not have proof of minimum ACT or SAT but are passionate about becoming a teacher, you are encouraged to apply as exceptions can be made in select cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional Requirements
\n<\/strong>Minimum credit hours and required courses completed, including AP and transfer, vary according to program area. Please check with the advisor for further details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Transfer or Returning Students
\n<\/strong>If you are not a current UT student, you must be admitted to the university before your admission to Teacher Education is finalized. Candidates may choose to apply to UT at this time. Check with your advisor regarding classification as an undergraduate or a graduate student before applying to the university. Admission to UT does not guarantee admission to teacher education. However, admission to UT is required <\/span>before full admission to a teacher education program is official. For more information about UT admission, please click <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions<\/b><\/p>\n

ProCADS (Professional Competencies, Attitudes and Dispositions)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

All current and future educators enrolled in licensure programs at UT are expected to display the Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADs) expected of professional educators. Failure to develop and maintain appropriate ProCADs for the duration of the educator preparation program may result in removal from a licensure program, regardless of academic performance. More information about ProCADS can be found at ProCADS (Professional Competencies, Attitudes and Dispositions)<\/span><\/p>\n

To complete the ProCADS form email beateacher@utk.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Undergraduate Students Applying to the Teacher Education Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please do not complete this questionnaire separately. This questionnaire is already included in the official Teacher Education Application<\/a> for undergraduate students. Submitting this standalone form may create duplicate records and delay the review of your application. You will complete this questionnaire as part of your official application submission.<\/p>\n

If you have questions, contact beateacher@utk.edu<\/a> before submitting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Application Process: Fingerprint and Background Check<\/b><\/p>\n

An explanation of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) Background Policy can be found by clicking here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 49-5-5610 requires all students who wish to be admitted to teacher preparation programs to:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Sign an authorization and release form authorizing a qualified Tennessee-licensed private investigation company by and on behalf of the board to complete a criminal history records check, and;<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Agree to the release of all investigative records to the administrator of the selected teacher training program, and;<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Supply a fingerprint sample and submit it to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Please complete these steps exactly as they are below. Not following this order can cause a delay in processing your application.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n