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Alternative Teaching Pathways

The Eriksson College of Education offers 25 initial teaching endorsements and collaborates with Tennessee school districts to help address high-need areas through the job-embedded practitioner licensure pathway. Learn more about how to get started and the options available within the job-embedded practitioner licensure pathway. 

Job-Embedded Practitioner Licensure

The Eriksson College of Education at Austin Peay State University partners with Tennessee school districts to offer a job-embedded practitioner license pathway. This program allows you to earn your teaching license while working as a teacher of record, while taking classes in a 100% online format. 

  • Apply for admission: Meet all graduate school admission requirements and submit your application.

  • Submit Intent to Hire Letter: The hiring school district will complete the Intent to Hire Letter and submit to Kevin Fee at feek@apsu.edu. The letter should be submitted from the district to Kevin Fee and include the applicant’s position, subject, grade level, endorsement code and name of the school and district in which the student will be a teacher of record.

  • Submit Praxis or NES scores (if applicable): If your undergraduate major differs from the content area you plan to teach, you must submit a passing Praxis II or NES Content Area exam score to Kevin Fee at feek@apsu.edu


    View Assessment (Praxis and/or NES) Requirements


    Applicants seeking a practitioner teacher licensure in a content area below may be exempt from the assessment requirement if they possess a degree in the content area for the endorsement (e.g., a B.S. in Mathematics degree seeking a Mathematics endorsement):

    • Biology 6-12

    • Chemistry 6-12

    • Earth Science 6-12

    • English 6-12

    • Foreign Language 6-12

    • History 6-12

    • Mathematics 6-12

    • Middle Grades Science 6-8

    • Middle Grades Math 6-8

Applicants who are seeking a practitioner teacher licensure in a content area where they do not hold a degree must pass the Praxis II or NES assessment and be hired by a partnering district as a teacher of record for 10 months. During this period, they will complete a minimum of four observations conducted by an APSU University Supervisor.

 

Available Content Areas:

  • Biology 6-12

  • Chemistry 6-12

  • Earth Science 6-12

  • English 6-12

  • Foreign Language 6-12

  • History 6-12

  • Mathematics 6-12

  • Middle Grades Science 6-8

  • Middle Grades Math 6-8

  • Visual Arts PreK-12

  • Integrated Early Childhood PreK-3

  • Elementary K-5

  • Music K-12 (Instrumental & Vocal)

  • Physical Education K-12

  • Special Education Comprehensive K-12

  • Special Education Interventionist K-8

  • Special Education Interventionist 6-12

 

Disclaimer: Due to frequent changes in professional assessments required for teacher licensure, please refer to the State Board of Education's Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators 5.105 Policy (PDF) for specific requirements.

 

To qualify for a Tennessee job-embedded practitioner license through Austin Peay State University, you must have:

  • A bachelor's degree

  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (for Master of Arts in Teaching) or 2.75 cumulative GPA (for Teacher Licensing Non-Degree)

  • Passing scores on the appropriate Praxis II or NES Content Exam or a bachelor's degree in the subject you plan to teach

  • An intent to hire letter from a partner school district for a teacher of record position

  • Completion of all program admission and enrollment requirements

Not all job-embedded licensure pathways qualify for financial aid. 

Eligible: Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) 
Ineligible: Teacher Licensing Non-Degree

Tuition Costs
Student Fee Costs

You must fulfill the following requirement:


Employment
: Secure a teaching position with a partnering Tennessee school district and complete at least one full academic year (10 months) as a teacher of record. You are responsible for finding and maintaining this employment.


Learn More

Dr. Sherri Prosser
prossers@apsu.edu
931-221-7516


Take the Next Step

Apply Today!