A teacher sits across from four students instructing them on how to write well

Teacher Licensure

Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Tuition & Aid

Lead the next generation in learning.

Ranked as one of the most effective educator preparation programs in the state and nation, The Teacher Licensure Program will start your career in education with excellent training and experience. It is specifically and uniquely designed to meet the needs of new teachers by providing a support system of veteran teachers and expert professors while you are in practice.

This degree is ideal for individuals who already hold a degree in a certain field but would like to pursue teaching their expertise. Earning your Tennessee teaching license through this program will provide the application you desire and need. Our priority is to hone your skills in a collection of effective, diverse strategies for instructional practice. This includes varied approaches to planning lessons, understanding learner needs and creating optimal learning environments.

We promise to practice what we teach. In every class, you will be put in the posture of the learner. We try to keep our lectures short and informational so that you have plenty of time for practice and discussion.

Discover your potential and sharpen your ambition to become an excellent and professional practitioner by engaging in a challenging and comprehensive initial teacher training.

Lipscomb University follows all state guidelines for initial licensure candidates. This includes maintaining a specific conditional GPA for all incoming initial licensure candidates. All initial licensure candidates must have a 2.75 on their undergraduate degree in order to be considered for the program. For more information, please review the state GPA policy at the link below. If you would like to have your transcripts reviewed, prior to applying, please complete the form below.

GPA Policy Request a Transcript Analysis

Program Foundations

The course progression is specifically designed to scaffold learning effective practices in teaching. Learn about creating positive relationships and optimal environments for students to learn, plan effective lessons, understand learner needs and use data-informed instruction. You’ll get to take courses in your content area and literacy early on in the program, so you are supported in your current teaching area.

Concentrations

Choose from more than 20 different areas in teaching, including:

PreK-3 + Special Education integrated – 27 coursework hours (license); 30 coursework hours (M.Ed. in Instructional Practice)
K-5 with a Special Education endorsement – 27 coursework hours (license); 30 coursework hours (M.Ed. in Instructional Practice)
K-5 – 18 coursework hours (license); 30 coursework hours (M.Ed. in Instructional Practice)
6-8 subject specific – 18 coursework hours
6-12 subject specific – 18 coursework hours
K-12 related arts – 18 coursework hours

Capstone Projects

Licensure Pathways

Tennessee teaching licensure requirements include an extended clinical experience. This extended clinical experience can be fulfilled through either traditional student teaching or a job-embedded clinical practice.

Certain requirements and guidelines established by the State of Tennessee regarding educator licenses can be found in the following documents: Tennessee Educator License Types and Key Terms; and Tennessee State Board of Education Educator Licensure Policy.

Traditional Student Teaching

The student teaching route to licensure requires university-supervised clinical experience in two different classrooms located in area schools for a total of 15 weeks of student teaching, the equivalent of one full semester. Candidates who choose the traditional student teaching route must take EG 5417 Enhanced Student Teaching (seven hours) and EG 5402 Student Teaching Seminar (two hours) during their semester of student teaching. The edTPA, a performance-based, subject-specific assessment, is included in these required courses and must be successfully completed.

Job-Embedded Practitioner License

Lipscomb University participates in Tennessee's job-embedded practitioner license program with many partner Tennessee school districts (LEAs). A candidate can enter Lipscomb University’s job-embedded practitioner program after meeting the applicable admission requirements, but to fully complete the job-embedded program and teacher licensure requirements, the candidate must be hired by a local school district and complete a minimum of one year (10 months) of full-time teaching as a teacher-of-record. It is the candidate's responsibility to secure and maintain employment to satisfy the job-embedded requirement. Participation in university mentoring every semester until program completion (EG 513V Alternative Licensure Mentoring - four hours minimum) and successful completion of a non-credit edTPA course (for individuals with job-embedded licenses only) are also mandatory in order to complete the licensure and program requirements. Eligibility for a Tennessee job-embedded practitioner license supported by Lipscomb is contingent on a conferred baccalaureate degree, a passing score on the appropriate content exam (Praxis, NES, or ALTA, as applicable), an intent-to-hire letter from a partner LEA as a teacher of record, and meeting all admission and other requirements for the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites?

Having a conferred Bachelor's degree, from a regionally accredited institution, with a GPA of a 2.75 or higher.

My GPA is below a 2.75, can I apply?

We would be happy to review your transcripts and calculate the last 60 hours of coursework to see that GPA. It will provide us with another data point.

Do you accept transfer credit?

We will be happy to review transcripts but we do not guarantee transfer credit since this is a licensure program and there are strict licensing guideline we must follow.

When can I apply?

We accept students three times a year for this program: fall, spring and summer.

Does the Teaching Licensure program build into all M.Ed. programs?

No. Teaching License program only builds into the M.Ed. in Instructional Practice. It does not build into all the other M.Ed. programs.

Transfer Student Policy

Customize Your Degree (Stackable Master of Education)

Combine a certificate for this concentration with another to craft your own degree program, customized toward personal education and career goals. The stackable master's degree (M.Ed.) ensures those who seek to broaden their leadership skills in a variety of ways are able to do so.

Certificate + Certificate + Research = Stackable Master of Education (M.Ed.) (30+ Credit Hours)

Stackable Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Teaching Licensure Program Outcomes

When you pursue your Tennessee teaching license through Lipscomb University, you are equipped with all of the necessary expertise and experiential learning to succeed as an educator. Important skills, such as planning, instructing and assessment, are taught by experienced teachers from a variety of backgrounds. Then, you can engage with actual students in the classroom for real-world applications of your learning.

Admissions Requirements

Completed Online application
$50 application fee
Official transcripts for all degrees conferred and any other coursework post bachelors.
Personal statement:
Explain your goals and your purpose for pursuing a graduate education degree at Lipscomb University and elaborate on how this degree would help you to make an impact on teaching and learning in your classroom or school in a concise, clear essay. (500 words)
Three Recommendations
- Recommender #1 – Current Administrator/Supervisor (non-family member)
  If no direct supervisor, provide another academic reference (see Rec. #2)
- Recommender #2 – Academic or Professional Colleague (non-family member)
- Recommender #3 – Personal reference of integrity and/or faith (non-family member)
Resume

View the College of Education's graduate programs application timeline.

International Students

Courses

Certificate of Graduate Studies in Teacher Licensure

Stackable M.Ed. Program

Tuition & Aid

$953* per credit hour
$715 per credit hour with the 25% in-service discount

*Note: The graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective each summer semester.

Scholarship Information

As you give back to the community, Lipscomb University wants to give back to you. The College of Education offers significant scholarships to current educators and administrators. Those pursuing career as a teacher, you're not left out either! Check out the following information to see if you qualify for scholarships.

Scholarships

All completed applications should be mailed to:

Lipscomb University
College of Education
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204

Types of Aid

Scholarships

Student Loans

As a graduate student, you are still able to file the FAFSA—and you should! By filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you may be eligible for a number of student loans.

Federal Stafford Loan

A borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. Loans must be actively accepted in myLipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. Stafford Loans will not pay until the student has completed both Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov. Loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

Graduate PLUS Loan

The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to independent graduate students. Both loans require credit approval by the Department of Education, as well as a FAFSA submission. Apply at www.studentloans.gov.

Private Loans

In addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. It is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. Eligibility for these loans requires a credit check and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

Veteran Aid/Yellow Ribbon Program

Through an agreement with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Lipscomb University will guarantee some level of graduate tuition funding, applicable to all Lipscomb University graduate programs, for graduate students who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Depending on program tuition rates, the graduate tuition funding may or may not cover the total tuition cost of the program.

The Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses. For eligibility requirements, go to www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Any questions concerning eligibility or benefits should be directed to the VA school-certifying official located in the lower level of Bennett Campus Center, Suite 140, or visit their website.

Contact Information

20+

possible license areas

Flexible Schedule

Our courses are offered at a variety of convenient locations around Nashville or online, at times designed to work with your busy schedule. Our hybrid class model allows you the best of going to school as a working professional.

Networking

Both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. These connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

Top Program

Lipscomb ranks as one of the top teacher prep programs in the state. Learn more about this accolade here

Mentorship

Pursue a job-embedded mentorship to earn a salary, work in a classroom, and complete courses in the evenings.

News

Teacher with her students outside in a hallway

College of Education receives $1 million in grants to help remove barriers to teaching profession and fill shortages

Grants to prepare more than 200 teachers to serve Metro Nashville Public Schools and Hamilton, Montgomery and Williamson county school districts in Tennessee.

Full News Story

Teacher helping a student in a classroom

College of Education once again among top in state for teacher prep program in report card

Lipscomb University has once again been recognized as one of the most effective teacher preparation programs in the state as it earned high marks on the 2021 Teacher Preparation Report Card released this week by the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Full News Story

Our Faculty

Vanessa Garcia

Assistant Dean, Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships

Dr. Vanessa Garcia is an experienced educator who has held various leadership positions in her 20-year career. That career has seen her serve as a middle and high school teacher,...
Meet Vanessa Garcia
Ally Hauptman

Assistant Dean, Teacher Education

Ally Hauptman is the lead faculty for Instructional Practice at Lipscomb University where she teaches graduate level courses in building classroom community, planning, and elementary and middle grades literacy instruction....
Meet Ally Hauptman
Julie Simone

Student Teaching Supervisor

Ever since she was young, Julie Simone has always known she wanted to be a teacher. She earned her undergraduate and master degrees in elementary and special education from Vanderbilt...
Meet Julie Simone
Casey Heard

Assistant Professor

Meet Casey Heard
Michelle Hasty

Associate Professor

Michelle Hasty is a Nashville native and graduate of Metro Nashville Public Schools. She received a B.A. in English from Auburn University, an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education from Vanderbilt...
Meet Michelle Hasty
Rachel Peay Cornett

Assistant Professor

With 16 years experience as both a classroom educator and K-5 academic interventionist, Rachel comes to Lipscomb from Rutherford County Schools, having previously served as an adjunct professor at Middle...
Meet Rachel Peay Cornett

Career Paths

Middle School Teachers

Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. They help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curriculum they will face in high school.

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects, such as math and reading, in order to prepare them for future schooling.

Teacher Assistants

Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.

High School Teachers

High school teachers (grades 9-12) are essential faculty members. They educate adolescents as they move into young adulthood, providing the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their next stage of life.