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Office of Teacher Licensure
Office of Teacher Licensure
News
Letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
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Peabody Welcomes Edmund S. Muskie Fellows
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Events
12/02/09
The Teaching Pyramid: Supporting Young Children's Social Emotional Development and Addressing and Preventing Challenging Behavior
Mary Louise Hemmeter, Department of Special Education
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Frequently Asked Questions From Current Students
Q: What is Screening about and when do I do it?
A: Screening is a process through which departmental faculty review a teacher education student's progress in the program and determine whether or not the student may continue in the program. Students must apply for screening by October 1 for fall semester screening, February 1 for spring semester screening. For details regarding screenings for undergraduates, see the current Vanderbilt Bulletin. For graduate students, see the Licensure for Teaching chapter in the Peabody College Catalog.
For undergraduates seeking licensure, there are two screenings: (1) Screening I occurs late in the sophomore or early in the junior year, and (2) Screening II occurs the semester prior to student teaching.
Graduate students seeking licensure must complete only Screening II the semester prior to student teaching. (Admission to the M.Ed. program includes the Screening I process.)
Q: What is an electronic degree audit for undergraduates?
A: Prior to Fall 2007, Peabody undergraduate students were required to file a Program of Studies form, approved by their faculty adviser, during the second semester of the sophomore year. Beginning Fall 2007, the program of studies has been replaced by an electronic degree audit, which is automatically updated each semester to reflect which degree and licensure requirements have been met and which are unmet. The faculty adviser and student should review the student’s electronic degree audit frequently, especially prior to registration for courses each semester. Instructions for accessing the electronic degree audit are included in the departmental handbook that each new undergraduate receives upon admission to Peabody. Completion of all courses, field work, and licensure requirements, as indicated by the degree audit, is necessary in order to gain eligibility for graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree and for departmental faculty recommendation for licensure.
Q: What are programs of studies and audit forms for graduate students seeking a teaching license?
A: Graduates students seeking licensure at the master’s level are working on two tracks simultaneously:
(1) Master’s degree track, which requires a program of studies that documents how all DEGREE requirements will be met and must be filed prior to completion of the first 12 hours of the program. The program of studies form is available in departmental offices and must be completed with the faculty adviser. After all signatures are obtained, the program of studies is filed with the Peabody Registrar. Prior to graduation with the M.Ed. degree, the program of studies will be checked by the Peabody Registrar to verify that all degree requirements have been met.
(2) Licensure track, which requires completion of audits that document how all LICENSURE requirements will be met and must be filed during the first two weeks in the program. To begin the audit process, each graduate student seeking initial licensure with the master’s degree should contact the Office of Teacher Licensure before the end of the first two weeks in the program to request an audit of his/her liberal arts background as it pertains to state and national standards for teacher preparation. The student will be informed about the findings of the audit and will be given instructions about finishing the audit process, which varies according to program. Completing the audit process within the first two weeks of the program provides the early opportunity to identify any exemptions that may be possible due to previous courses taken or other experience that could be considered in lieu of licensure requirements completed at Peabody. Prior to the licensure student’s graduation and eligibility for faculty recommendation for licensure, the audit forms will be checked for completion of all requirements in the Office of Teacher Licensure.
Q: What are PRAXIS tests? Do I need to take them? When should I take them?
A: Most states, including Tennessee, require that teachers pass PRAXIS exams before they can be licensed to teach. PRAXIS exams are given, just like the SAT or GRE, on national test dates across the country, including here at Vanderbilt (proctored by the VU Psychological and Counseling Center). Each state determines which PRAXIS tests are required for a license in their state. For more information about which tests are required in Tennessee, see our PRAXIS exam section.
It is very important for Vanderbilt teacher education graduates to pass the PRAXIS exams and be licensed in Tennessee, even if they do not plan to teach in Tennessee, in order to maintain maximum portability of licensure in other states. In some cases, even after many years of teaching in one state, a teacher moving to another state will be asked for proof of licensure in the state where initial teacher preparation was completed. It is also recommended that graduates consider obtaining a license in their home state.
Students may take PRAXIS exams whenever they choose. Test dates usually are available in September, November, January, March, April, June and July. For details about testing schedules and registration, check the ETS Web site. Be sure to have an official score report sent to Vanderbilt University (code 1871) and the Tennessee Department of Education (code 8190).
Q: Which PRAXIS exams do I need to take for a Tennessee teaching license?
A: Every teacher candidate needs to take one "Principles of Learning and Teaching" test, which tests basic knowledge of general pedagogy (there are four choices: EC, K-6, 5-9, and 7-12). In addition, specialty tests are required, depending on the endorsement(s) being sought for the license. Please see our PRAXIS Tests and Scores page for complete information.
Q: How do I get my license? How long will it be before I receive it?
A: At the end of each fall or spring semester, there will be an exit meeting during the last week of student teaching. Forms and instructions will be given to students to complete and submit to the Director of Teacher Licensure. Assuming the faculty have recommended licensure for the student, the licensure recommendation will be sent to the Tennessee Department of Education by the Director of Teacher Licensure as soon as the final VU transcript reflecting degree conferral is available. The license will be mailed directly to the student by state officials within four to six weeks after receiving the recommendation. The recommendation must include the state form, the official score report of PRAXIS exams, and official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
When the license is received from the Tennessee Department of Education, it should be examined carefully for accuracy of name, social security number, degree level, and endorsement(s). If there is an error, it should be brought to the attention of the Tennessee Department of Education without delay (call 615-532-4885).
Q: How long will my license be valid? How do I renew it?
A: In Tennessee, an initial teaching license is valid for five years. Teachers who are teaching during the five years will have opportunities to gain accumulating professional development points during the five years, qualifying the teacher for licensure renewal. If the teacher is not teaching, he/she would need to take a graduate-level, three-semester-hour course having to do with pedagogy or an endorsement field within the last year of the five-year cycle. An official transcript should then be sent to the Tennessee Department of Education with the request for licensure renewal. Check the Tennessee Department of Education Web site.
Q: How do I become licensed in other states?