Transition Points

Check out these resources for each of our certification programs in Tennessee :

• View the full copy of the Transition Points for Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program, or view Transition Point 1 for this program below.

• View the full copy of the Transition Points for Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program, or view Transition Point 1 for this program below.

• View the full copy of the Transition Points for Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program, or view Transition Point 1 for this program below.

Certification Support

Relay provides many resources to help prospective students prepare for certification/licensure.  

• Click here, to learn more about general certification information. 

• Click here, to see information about certification cost and budgeting.

• Click here, to access certification studying and support materials.

You can use this link and schedule the Praxis. As you register, make sure to indicate the Tennessee Department of Education (8190) and Relay Grad School of Education –Memphis Campus (2980) or Nashville Campus (2981) as score recipients. Failure to do so could impact your ability to get licensed and result in additional expenses.

 

Transition Point 1: Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program 

Educator Preparation Program Admission: 

Relay Application Deadline - EPP Items: 

• Summer or Fall Term Start: August 26, 2024

Deadline to Accept Offer of Admissions: 

• Summer or Fall Term Start: September 3, 2024

In order to be eligible for admission to the Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program, the following requirements must be met: 

 

Bachelor’s Degree:

Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education that has institutional (formerly regional) accreditation through one of the U.S. Department of Education’s approved accreditation agencies: HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, NWCCU, SACSCOC, WSCUC. Verify your institution’s accreditation status on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs here.

 

Minimum GPA:

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE. 

 

Relay may admit up to 10% of applicants to Relay’s Tennessee educator preparation programs via exception who have a GPA below the state minimum of 2.75 including those who fall under Relay’s minimum GPA requirement of a 2.50. These applicants may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. 

 

Coursework:

Applicants for the English as a Second Language pre-K-12 endorsement must have at least six (6) semester hours of college-level world language or the equivalent. Applicants may use evidence of the following experiences to meet this requirement:

at least six (6) semester hours of college-level world language of college-level world language. Note that American Sign Language (ASL) is designated as a world language.

at least six (6) semester hours of college-level study abroad coursework taken in a country whose primary language of instruction is not English 

Service in the Peace Corp in a country whose primary language is not English

Other experiences (evaluated on a case-by-case basis)

 

Background Clearance:

Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-55610. 

Applicants will need to complete and return the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) waiver. The VECHS waiver authorizes Relay GSE to receive any criminal history records pertaining to oneself. Once the completed document is received and has been verified as being complete, the applicant will receive further instructions for completing the fingerprinting and background check process.

 

Fall Enrollment Requirement

Instructional Role: Secure an instructional role (teacher resident, paraprofessional, or other role appropriate to the teaching residency) in a Tennessee school aligned to the endorsement(s) sought.

 

Relay students are required to confirm their instructional role details through the Fall School Authorization and Instructional Role Confirmation Form as a requirement to enroll in coursework each Fall. If your instructional role is not aligned to the requirements of your program, you must also submit a transfer application to a program that does align to your instructional role by the start of the fall term. Failure to submit a transfer application, if necessitated by your instructional role, may delay program completion or result in administrative withdrawal. 

 

Transition Point 1: Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program

Educator Preparation Program Admission: 

Relay Application Deadline - EPP Items: 

• Summer or Fall Term Start: August 26, 2024

Deadline to Accept Offer of Admissions: 

• Summer or Fall Term Start: September 3, 2024

In order to be eligible for admission to the Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program, the following requirements must be met: 

 

Bachelor’s Degree:

Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education that has institutional (formerly regional) accreditation through one of the U.S. Department of Education’s approved accreditation agencies: HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, NWCCU, SACSCOC, WSCUC. Verify your institution’s accreditation status on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs here.

 

Minimum GPA:

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE. 

 

Relay may admit up to 10% of applicants to Relay’s Tennessee educator preparation programs via exception who have a GPA below the state minimum of 2.75 including those who fall under Relay’s minimum GPA requirement of a 2.50. These applicants may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. 

 

Demonstration of Content Knowledge:

Applicants must demonstrate content knowledge for admission to the job-embedded program through a major in the subject area or passing the appropriate Praxis II Content Knowledge Assessment. Applicants who wish to pursue dual endorsement in a content area and in English as a Second Language PK-12 must demonstrate content knowledge for the content endorsement and in a world language. Details about content knowledge requirements can be found  here. 

 

Coursework:

Applicants for the English as a Second Language pre-K-12 endorsement must have at least six (6) semester hours of college-level world language or the equivalent. Applicants may use evidence of the following experiences to meet this requirement:

at least six (6) semester hours of college-level world language of college-level world language. Note that American Sign Language (ASL) is designated as a world language.

at least six (6) semester hours of college-level study abroad coursework taken in a country whose primary language of instruction is not English. 

Service in the Peace Corp in a country whose primary language is not English

Other experiences (evaluated on a case-by-case basis)

 

Background Clearance:

Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-55610. 

Applicants will need to complete and return the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) waiver. The VECHS waiver authorizes Relay GSE to receive any criminal history records pertaining to oneself. Once the completed document is received and has been verified as being complete, the applicant will receive further instructions for completing the fingerprinting and background check process. Results must be received by August 26, 2024.

 

Transition Point 1: Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program

Educator Preparation Program Admission: 

Relay Application Deadline - EPP Items: August 12, 2024

Deadline to Accept Admissions Offer: August 22, 2024

 

In order to be eligible for admission to the Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program the following requirements must be met: 

 

Bachelor’s Degree:

Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education that has institutional (formerly regional) accreditation through one of the U.S. Department of Education’s approved accreditation agencies: HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, NWCCU, SACSCOC, WSCUC. Verify your institution’s accreditation status on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs here.

 

Minimum GPA:

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE. 

 

Relay may admit up to 10% of applicants to Relay’s Tennessee educator preparation programs via exception who have a GPA below the state minimum of 2.75 including those who fall under Relay’s minimum GPA requirement of a 2.50. These applicants may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. 

 

Background Clearance: 

Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-55610. Results must be received by August 12, 2024.

 

Applicants will need to complete and return the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) waiver. The VECHS waiver authorizes Relay GSE to receive any criminal history records pertaining to oneself. Once the completed document is received and has been verified as being complete, the applicant will receive further instructions for completing the fingerprinting and background check process. 

Teaching License: Applicants are expected to submit proof of a valid teaching certificate or license upon enrollment.

 

Continue to Tennessee Program Offeringsà

Return to Admissions and Prospective Students home à