MTSU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Special Education

Revised 03/16/2023

MTSU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Special Education Comprehensive K-12

– Initial Licensure

Practitioner License – Job-Embedded Clinical Practice Program Requirements

Candidates applying for the Practitioner license job-embedded path must meet the following requirements:

Candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

II.

Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the content by submission of a passing score on the PRAXIS Special

Education Comprehensive content knowledge assessment (www.ets.org/praxis/tn/test-takers/plan-your-

test/licensure-requirements.html). Due to frequent changes to professional assessments required for teacher licensure,

please refer to the State Board of Education Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators 5.105 policy

(www.tn.gov/sbe/rules--policies-and-guidance/policies.html) for specific requirements.

III.

Apply for Admission to MTSU through the Graduate School – Apply as a non-degree seeking student in the

Job-Embedded Program. https://www.mtsu.edu/graduate/index.php Forward the acceptance letter from Graduate

Studies to patti.agnew@mtsu.edu

IV.

Practitioner Job-Embedded Teachers will be required to attend an orientation session on the Middle

Tennessee State University campus (unless otherwise announced) upon acceptance into the program.

The following documentation must be submitted when making application.

• Letter of Intent to Hire from a school district – An official letter from the school system stating

position, subject, grade level, and endorsement code for which the candidate is being hired.

• Official Transcripts: Candidates must submit official sealed transcripts that show degree conferment.

• Transcript Analysis Request Form – Request form for transcript analysis: Request for Transcript

Analysis Job-Embedded Practitioner License form

• Personal Affirmation Document: Candidates must submit the following document along with the

request for transcript analysis:

www.mtsu.edu/education/docs/Tennessee_Department_of_Education_Affirmation_Form.pdf

• Admission to Teacher Education Application Form: www.mtsu.edu/education/admission.php#JobEmbedded

• GPA: A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree

program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited

institution of higher learning.

• Test Score: Acceptable score(s) on appropriate content knowledge assessment(s) for the subject the

candidate is applying to teach. Upload to the online application.

VI.

Program of Study - Upon documentation of the above criteria, a Program of Study detailing the coursework to be

completed will be sent to the candidate, advisor, and mentor.

VII.

Assurance Agreement – Candidates are required to sign an Assurance Agreement with the MTSU College of Education.

The Assurance Agreement confirms the candidate understands and agrees to abide by all MTSU policies and the

employing school district policies. Failure to follow all policies or meet all responsibilities of the MTSU Job-Embedded

clinical practice program may result in the candidate’s status being changed or dismissed from the program. This form

will be sent to the candidate along with the Program of Study.

VIII.

Candidates will be assigned a MTSU College of Education faculty advisor. Candidates are required to meet with

Revised 03/16/2023

their advisor prior to registering for classes to review the program of study and map out a timeline for completion of

coursework.

IX.

Candidates will be assigned a MTSU College of Education mentor while completing the requirements for the

job-embedded clinical practice. The mentor will have frequent contact with the candidate, school-assigned mentor,

school principal and MTSU Office of Professional Laboratory Experiences staff to provide continuous progress

monitoring, evaluation, and mentoring.

Candidates will assume the role of the teacher of record and have direct teaching experiences with students of

diverse backgrounds and learning needs in at least two settings. This requirement may be achieved by teaching or

assisting in a different classroom or grade level.

XI.

Annual Job-Embedded Practitioner requirements - Although the first issuance of the Practitioner license is valid for

a 3-year period, candidates must meet annual benchmarks set by the MTSU College of Education for continuation in

the Job-Embedded clinical practice program.

• Professional Assessments: Passing all PRAXIS content knowledge assessments

(www.ets.org/praxis/tn/requirements).

• Evaluations: Annual documentation of successful evaluations confirmed by the employing school district.

• Employment: Continued employment during the job-embedded clinical experience.

XII.

TNCompass – The recommendation for the Practitioner license job-embedded path is entered in TNCompass,

the TN Department of Education electronic licensure database. Upon initial licensure recommendation,

candidates will receive an email to complete another Personal Affirmation form in TNCompass.

XIII.

All course work and required assessments must be completed by the expiration date of the license or the license will

become inactive.

XIV.

Program Completion – Upon completion of the program of study, required professional assessments, and

required experience, candidates must submit a final official transcript to the College of Education Office of

Professional Laboratory Experiences.

XV.

MTSU College of Education - Office of Professional Laboratory Experiences

Please send all documentation and correspondence to:

Mail: Office of Professional Laboratory Experiences / Teacher Licensure

Attn. Job-Embedded

MTSU Box 14

1301 E. Main Street

Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Email: patti.agnew@mtsu.edu