School Librarian / Media Specialist / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board category estimate

Tennessee School Librarian / Media Specialist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Category-average requirements, fees, and renewal figures for school librarian / media specialist in Tennessee, pending confirmation with the state licensing board.

Category estimate. The figures on this page are a category average, not yet confirmed with the Tennessee licensing board. The state and profession tables mark this row the same way. Treat the numbers as directional and check the board before relying on them; see the methodology limitations.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Manages school library resources. Requires teaching cert in most states.

What the Tennessee data shows for School Librarian / Media Specialists

Becoming a licensed school librarian / media specialist in Tennessee means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 2,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Tennessee regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 5-year cycle. Tennessee doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

Tennessee evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
School Librarian / Media Specialist · Tennessee

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Degree
2,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for School Librarian / Media Specialist All Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Librarian / Media Specialist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee's requirements cover 2000 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $100. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Librarian / Media Specialist in Tennessee? ▼
Certification as a school librarian / media specialist in Tennessee means clearing the state's checklist: 2000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Tennessee licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Librarian / Media Specialist license to Tennessee from another state? ▼
Tennessee evaluates out-of-state school librarian / media specialist licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the Tennessee licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Tennessee require a background check for School Librarian / Media Specialist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school librarian / media specialist licensing process in Tennessee. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this school librarian / media specialist license

School Librarian / Media Specialist in Tennessee is one requirement row in a school librarian / media specialist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Tennessee licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.