1. (1) All educators in Tennessee shall hold one (1) of the following license types:

   1. (a) The practitioner license is the first level license issued to applicants who meet the requirements set forth in this Rule. There are three (3) types of practitioner licenses: practitioner teacher license, practitioner occupational teacher license, and practitioner school services personnel license.
   2. (b) The professional license is issued to educators who have met licensure expectations at the practitioner level and who meet the requirements for advancement set forth in this Rule. There are three (3) types of professional licenses: professional teacher license, professional occupational teacher license, and professional school services personnel license.
   3. (c) The JROTC license is issued to active or retired military personnel who seek to serve as Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) teachers.
   4. (d) The license for postsecondary educators (PSE) is issued to applicants who have been a full-time or part-time college professor or instructor and who meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.
   5. (e) The adjunct license is issued to applicants seeking to teach no more than three (3) classes in a content area of critical shortage identified by the State Board who meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.
   6. (f) The Instructional Leader License-Aspiring (ILL-A) is issued to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree, are enrolled in an instructional leadership preparation program approved by the State Board of Education, and meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.
   7. (g) The Instructional Leader License (ILL) is issued to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree, have completed an instructional leadership preparation program approved by the State Board of Education, and meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.
   8. (h) The Instructional Leader License-Professional (ILL-P) is issued to educators currently holding the ILL who meet the requirements for advancement set forth in this Rule.
   9. (i) The Limited Academic License is issued to educators who hold a valid temporary teaching permit who meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.
   10. (j) The Limited Occupational Teaching License is issued to applicants who hold the relevant industry certification or relevant years of work experience, and meet the requirements set forth in this Rule.

2. (2) The validity period of each license type shall be outlined in the SBE Educator Licensure Policy 5.502, however:

   1. (a) The validity period of the practitioner license shall be no more than four (4) years.
   2. (b) The validity period of the professional license shall be no more than eleven (11) years.
   3. (c) The validity period of the ILL-A shall be no more than four (4) years.
   4. (d) The validity period of the ILL shall be no more than four (4) years.
   5. (e) The validity period of the ILL-P shall be no more eleven (11) years.
   6. (f) The validity period of the Limited Academic License shall be no more than three (3) years.
   7. (g) The validity period of the Limited Occupational Teaching License shall be no more than four (4) years.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-1-302 and 49-5-108. Administrative History: Original rule filed July 31, 2008; effective November 28, 2008. Amendment filed July 17, 2009; effective December 29, 2009. Repeal and new rules filed December 18, 2014; effective March 18, 2015. A stay of the rules was filed January 28, 2015; new effective date June 1, 2015. Emergency rules filed August 27, 2015; effective through February 23, 2016. Repeal and new rules filed October 27, 2015; effective January 25, 2016. Amendments filed August 16, 2019; effective November 14, 2019. Amendments filed March 16, 2023; effective June 14, 2023. Amendments filed March 5, 2025; effective June 3, 2025. Emergency rules filed September 16, 2025; effective through March 15, 2026. Amendments filed December 11, 2025; effective March 11, 2026.