Admission to Teacher Education

For initial licensure, all candidates must gain Admission to the Teacher Education Program. At this point, the applicant will submit an application with supplementary documents to be reviewed by the Office of Teacher Education and interview team. Documents such as transcripts, Praxis I scores (or ACT/SAT), and writing samples (philosophy of education and autobiography) will be used to determine a score for admissions. Also, through an interview process, applicants are asked questions by the interview team to examine verbal skills and dispositional tendencies are examined. Two disposition forms, liability insurance, and a criminal background investigation are also required for admission. Students who desire to be a candidate for admission to the Teacher Education Program will apply to the Office of Teacher Education Student Services.

2024-2025 Application Deadline:

  • October 30, 2024 (Fall) 🍁
  • March 30, 2025 (Spring) 🌸 
  • June 30, 2025 (Summer) 🌻

Undergraduate Students Graduate Students

UNDERGRADUATE

Each prospective candidate will submit documentation that s/he has:

  • Undergraduate Admission Application *This is PDF fillable and includes a checklist. (Must be Signed by Advisor)
  • Completed at least 31 semester hours of coursework, including:
    (ENGL 1010, ENGL 1020, EDCI/PSYC 2420 (Early Childhood concentration take ECFS 2010), EDCI 2010, plus appropriate sequence of freshman math and science)
  • Minimum GPA - 2.75 
  • Program of Study / 4-year Plan which indicates all course completion grades (Signed by Advisor)
  • TBI/FBI Background Security Clearance
  • Proof of Liability Insurance
  • Autobiography
  • Teaching Philosophy (first draft)
  • Professional Resume', including URL to LinkedIn page 
  • Two (2) disposition assessment forms from your professor and/or education-related employer
  • TSU unofficial transcript*
  • Pass Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators unless you have an ACT score (21+) or SAT (1080+). You will to submit a copy of qualifying scores. 
    *Scores (or proof of testing date) MUST be provided with application!
    • If you need to take PRAXIS Core, please seek testing assistance (study guide, practice tests, and FREE test vouchers) from the GRACIE-OTL lab located in Room 212, Clay Hall.

Test Name

Test Code

Qualifying Score

Praxis Core: Reading

5713

156

Praxis Core: Writing

5723

162

Praxis Core: Math

5733

150

ACT  (Composite Score)

N/A

21

SAT (Reading & Math)

N/A

1080

To retrieve test scores, Login to www.ets.org. Then follow the steps below:

  1. Right click mouse on Results (PDF)
  2. Select Print
  3. Select Save as PDF
  4. Save on computer
  5. Submit PDF as attachment to  teachercertification@tnstate.edu

Note: Undergraduate Students will not be able to register for or obtain permits for any upper division classes until they are fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program. A Pre-Req/Test code error will be given during registration to those who have not been fully admitted. 

AST Degree Recipients: In order to complete full admission to the Teacher Education Program at Tennessee State students must show proof of having been awarded the AST Degree as well as submit proof of your test scores along with official application.

Tennessee Code Annotated §49-5-5610 requires that any student wishing to enter an approved teacher education program must undergo a criminal history check and fingerprinting by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Criminal Background Checks from outside agencies will not be accepted.

Regardless, if you have obtained a cleared TBI background check in the past, if you are not enrolled consecutively for the fall and spring semesters at Tennessee State University, you may be required to obtain a subsequent background check. Contact the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services to check the status of your background check at 615-963-5459.

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GRADUATE (Grow Your Own, Job-Embedded, and Post-Bac)

Post Baccalaureate student seeking admission to the Teacher Education Program (C&I, Secondary School Instruction and Elementary Education master’s degree majors) will submit documentation that s/he has:

Tennessee Code Annotated §49-5-5610 requires that any student wishing to enter an approved teacher education program must undergo a criminal history check and fingerprinting by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Criminal Background Checks from outside agencies will not be accepted.

Regardless, if you have obtained a cleared TBI background check in the past, if you are not enrolled consecutively for the fall and spring semesters at Tennessee State University, you may be required to obtain a subsequent background check. Contact the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services to check the status of your background check at 615-963-5459.

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