Secondary School Teacher / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Tennessee data shows for Secondary School Teachers

To practice as a secondary school teacher in Tennessee, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Tennessee's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

The initial price tag is $116, and renewal costs $79 every 5 years. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

C
Licensing Ease Score
56/100
Secondary School Teacher · 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 N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$116
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A+
$16/yr
$79 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$116
Renewal Fee
$79
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher 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 Secondary School Teacher in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee requires, passing an exam (State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $116. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in Tennessee? ▼
To become a licensed secondary school teacher in Tennessee, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Tennessee licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to Tennessee from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for secondary school teachers: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Tennessee licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for secondary school teacher licensing in Tennessee. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee ties continued secondary school teacher licensure to 150 continuing-education hours, due every 5 years, alongside a $79 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in Tennessee, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Tennessee's secondary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Secondary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state secondary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Tennessee's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Tennessee overview

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.