Office of Teacher Education

Tennessee Tech offers a Job-Embedded Occupational Licensure Program for individuals who have the appropriate industry experience/certification and have been or will be hired as the teacher of record in a school system with which Tech holds a partnership.

For a breakdown of program requirements for admission/completion, please review the benchmark tracking form:

Occupational Licensure Benchmark Tracking Form

The Job-Embedded Occupational License Program may be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Many of the required courses in the program are online, but some courses have in-person components that require students to come to Tech's main campus in Cookeville.

Candidates who are interested in beginning the Occupational Licensure program at Tech, please begin by fulfilling the Pre-OTE Admission Requirements.

For Assistance Contact

Elora Davis, Coordinator / Advisor

Phone: 931-372-3860
Email: eldavis@tntech.edu
Fax: 931-372-6286

Benchmark 1: Submit Occupational License Applications

Step 1 / Confirm District Partnership

Confirm with Elora Davis that your district holds a partnership with Tennessee Tech prior to submitting applications.

Step 2 / Create a TNCompass Account

Create a TNCompass Account and submit an Occupational License application.

Create TNCompass Account

You MUST select "Tennessee Technological University" as your university of choice. (It is important that you login regularly to check the status of your application.)

TNCompass guide (PDF)

Step 3 / Begin License Application Process
License Application

License Application

Once you have submitted your information, Certification Analyst Ethan Grissom, egrissom@tntech.edu, will contact you with additional instructions.

Benchmark 2: Admission to Tennessee Tech

Step 1 / Intent to Hire

Email an "Intent to Hire" letter to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu stating that: "the candidate has been or will be hired as the teacher of record, by a school district in which Tennessee Tech holds a partnership, and in an occupational teaching area."

Step 2 / Transcripts

Email all official high school and/or college transcripts to Ethan Grissom, Certification Analyst, at egrissom@tntech.edu or mail to:

Office of Teacher Education

Tennessee Tech
Attn: Ethan Grissom

Campus Box 5092 | Cookeville TN 38505

IMPORTANT: OTE will forward transcripts to the Tech Admissions Office for a candidate's university admission application. 
If a candidate sends transcripts directly to the Admissions Office or College of Graduate Studies, they will be required to send additional copies to OTE for licensure.

Step 3 / Submit Online Application

Submit an online admission application to Tennessee Tech and obtain full admission status (keep application deadlines in mind).

Please designate your desired program as the following: undergraduate, teacher certificate, non-degree. Candidates will be given a student ID number, known as a "T-number," upon admission.

Apply Online Here

If you have previously earned a bachelor's degree and are interested in applying occupational coursework towards a graduate degree, please contact Elora Davis, eldavis@tntech.edu prior to submitting your admission application to the College of Graduate Studies.

Apply to College of Graduate Studies

Once you have received your full admission status to Tech and have received a T-number, please proceed with fulfilling your Admission Requirements to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).

Benchmark 3: Admission to the TEP

Step 1 / Apply for Admission

Submit an online admission application:
Apply for Admission to TEP

Step 2 / Interview Request Form

Submit the Interview Request Form below and complete the TEP interview process.

Interview Request Form 

Step 3 / Orientation

Complete orientation with Elora Davis, upon concluding your TEP interview.

Benchmark 4: Prior to Beginning Coursework

Step 1 / Personal Affirmation Statement

Complete the Personal Affirmation Statement in TN Compass. The Personal Affirmation Statement is not available until a candidate has been fully admitted into the TEP and recommended for licensure by Tennessee Tech.

Step 2 / Program of Study (PoS)

Complete and submit a signed Program of Study (PoS) to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu.  

*You will receive a PoS once you have received admission to OTE. 
Candidates will not be able to register until the signed PoS has been received.

Step 3 / Guidelines and Expectations

Complete and submit the Guidelines and Expectations for Job-Embedded Candidates form to Elora Davis at eldavis@tntech.edu.

The Guidelines and Expectations form must be turned in by the end of the first semester or a candidate will not be able to register for a second semester.

Benchmark 5: Complete Occupational Coursework & Program Requirements

Candidates are expected to successfully...

1. Complete 14 hours of Occupational Licensure coursework;

2. Complete 30 total hours of supplemental experience hours;

3. Complete a minimum of one year teaching experience. 

Please Note:

ALL requirements must be completed by the candidate's license expiration date.

> Candidates must begin coursework the following semester after admission.

> Candidates must also plan to take one to two courses each semester until all occupational coursework has been completed.

> The Occupational Licensure program is viewed in year increments in which candidates are expected to complete specific requirements.

> If a candidate has any lapse in enrollment, excluding summer semesters, they will be required to re-apply for admission to Tennessee Tech.