Overview of Tennessee Testing Requirements
Important information
- Prior to initial licensure in Tennessee, applicants may be required to submit qualifying scores on the professional assessments required by Tennessee State Board of Education Policy 5.105: Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators.
- Those applying through an out-of-state pathway - and in-state applicants seeking an endorsement in Speech Communication 6–12 and/or Gifted Education Pre-K–12 - may be required to submit qualifying scores on the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Praxis test and the specialty area assessment(s) required for the endorsement area(s) sought, prior to initial licensure issuance.
- Prior to entering an educator preparation program, educator candidates may be required to take the Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests to demonstrate their qualifications. The Core tests are not required for licensure.
- The state of Tennessee accepts the Algebra I (5162), the Mathematics (5165), and the Middle School Mathematics (5164) Praxis assessments as supplemental assessments that can be used to meet the Algebra I employment standard. Additional requirements for the Algebra I employment standard can be found on the Tennessee Department of Education's website.
- ETS discontinued paper-delivered testing.
- However, Praxis tests will continue to be available in a paper-delivered format as required for ADA accommodations.
- All scores for previously administered paper-delivered tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken.
- To satisfy licensure requirements in Tennessee, scores must be no more than 5 years old, and the assessment and the test code must be those currently required in Tennessee.
- Tennessee requires a full and correct Social Security number (SSN) in order to receive score reports and process educator certification applications. ETS does not require SSNs for its own purposes but will submit it to Tennessee with assessment results. Failure to provide an SSN will delay processing of licensure applications.
Score reporting
- If you test in Tennessee at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in Tennessee, your score report will be sent automatically to the Tennessee Department of Education.
- If you test outside Tennessee or your Praxis profile address is not in Tennessee, your scores are not automatically sent to the Tennessee Department of Education. To have your scores sent to the Tennessee Department of Education, you must select the Tennessee Department of Education (state code 8190) as a score recipient when you register.
- For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports, you must select the Tennessee Department of Education (state code 8190) with each additional score report request.
Exemption from testing
Candidates for licensure in the following areas are required to complete the appropriate specialty area assessments only and are not required to take the PLT assessment:
- School Counselor PreK–12
- School Psychologist PreK–12
- School Social Worker PreK–12
- Speech/Language Pathology PreK–12
For further information on assessment requirements, contact the Office of Educator Licensing and Preparation.
In Tennessee, you must take the assessments required for each area of licensure and endorsement sought. Tennessee does not accept other states' tests.
See also links to other Praxis web pages and resources
For more information about educator requirements in Tennessee:
- Tennessee: Certification website
Other Programs used in Tennessee
Want to compare scores across states?
View scores requirements