Requirements for ECE Teacher Certification in Tennessee
Tennessee children, as in all states, need solid Early Childhood Education. After all, preschool provides a foundation for all later growth and learning. Studies have shown the dramatic efficacy of pre-k instruction and developmental nurture. From a purely pragmatic standpoint, when states invest in their youngest children, they reap great rewards.
James Heckman, a Nobel-prize winning economist, has shown that economic development is not a trickle down from adults to children, but the reverse. When states make an investment in their children, the kids repay the adults with a seven to ten percent rate of return.
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Step 1. Earn Your Degree
A bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education is the first, and most strenuous, step toward becoming a Tennessee teacher. You need to find a program that is approved by the state and which is fully accredited. Luckily, most education programs touting a teacher-prep track are fully accredited and approved.
During your time in school, you will need to complete a student teaching experience. This will allow you to work with a mentor on how you manage a classroom, deliver curriculum, and generally operate as an educational professional. This is more than a course, this is on-the-job training that will be enormously helpful on your path to the classroom.
Step 2. Pass Your Exams
To become a fully-licensed Early Childhood Education teacher, you need to pass three PRAXIS exams. You don't need to take all three at once, but you will need satisfactory scores to qualify for a full-time position. These tests include:
- Education of Young Children – Qualifying Score 160
- Elementary Education: Content Knowledge – Qualifying Score 163
- Teaching Reading: Elementary Education – Qualifying Score 162
Step 3. Standards and Qualifications
To fully qualify all of your materials, you must submit to a state and federal background, have your official transcripts sent directly from your school or other valid source, and submit a letter of recommendation from your school.
If you have any serious infractions on your record, including severe traffic infractions such as a DUI, you should account for these on your application. If you have fulfilled all of the court's requirements, including payment of all fines, then you can assert as much. If you still have court documents verifying your statements, you should include copies.
Once you’ve received your licensure, you will need to maintain it. This will require the completion of 45 ‘renewal points’ for every five years you hold the license. You can fulfill this requirement with college courses or other professional activities. However, keep in mind that if you earn enough college credit to earn your master’s and have your employing school complete a performance evaluation, you will be exempted from this ongoing requirement and open future teaching opportunities for yourself.
Popular Career Choices
- Preschool Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
| Occupation | Entry-Level | Mid-Career | Late-Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teacher | $25,200 | $26,500 | $26,800 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $40,300 | $42,700 | $48,000 |
| Professor of Education | $60,200 | $70,200 | $99,000 |
| School Principal | $73,400 | $79,000 | $86,000 |
| Special Education Teacher | $41,200 | $46,300 | $58,000 |
| ESL Teacher | $40,500 | $42,700 | $48,000 |
| School Psychologist | $54,200 | $61,000 | $73,000 |
Videos To Help You Find The Right Career Choices
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Early Childhood Educator is a Rewarding Career
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-WquPXglak
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Early Childhood Educators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNy7wzPo6C8
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How to Teach Kindergarten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNy7wzPo6C8
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Part 1 - High-Quality Kindergarten Today - Background
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XriN7Ks6j84
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A day in the life of a Special Education teacher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh1meBo_m1w
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What makes a good teacher great? | Azul Terronez | TEDxSantoDomingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrU6YJle6Q4
Why Teach?
Teachers form the backbone of our society. On top of the proverbial 3-Rs, they nurture and educate our young children as to the best ways to conduct themselves in our society. Teachers wear multiple hats on any given day. They are tasked with being teacher, social worker, administrator, counselor, disciplinarian, and friend, just to name a few.
However, though teaching is one of the toughest jobs in our culture, it is also one of the most rewarding. When you see a youngster's eyes light up when they finally understands multiplication, or when a little one cackles with delight when they finish their first puzzle, you can share in that moment. There is no paycheck large enough to match that. That is why teaching is such an esteemed and sought after profession.