In Tennessee, Relay offers Master of Arts in Teaching programs with the option to pursue licensure, a non-degree licensure only program, and an Advanced Certificate program. 

Join our community of practitioners focused on achievement, and well-being of students and teachers.

The Relay Approach

Relay is honored to partner with Tennessee’s largest school districts in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville, as well many public charter school networks, and we are eager to continue working in collaboration with schools and districts on their long-term strategy for teacher recruitment and development. Since 2015, over 500 students have graduated from Relay in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Teacher Prep Report Card, Relay is one of the top producers in the state of educators working in high-need subject areas, including Math, Science, Special Education, and English as a Second Language. 

Faculty

Relay faculty are experienced classroom teachers who blend theory with real-world application and build supportive communities of adult learners.

State Requirements

Each state has its own admissions requirements for students applying to Relay Graduate School of Education. This article will help you understand what's needed for the program you're interested in, so you can feel prepared and confident as you begin your application.

Understanding your GPA admissions requirements
All students must be admitted to Relay Graduate School of Education in order to enroll in coursework.
If you plan to pursue teacher licensure, you will also need to meet the admissions criteria for Relay's Educator Preparation Program (EPP) — requirements that are separate from Graduate School admissions and based on state-specific certification guidelines.

‍In short:

• If you are pursuing a degree only, you must meet Graduate School admissions requirements.
• If you are pursuing a degree with licensure, you must meet both Graduate School and Educator Preparation Program requirements.

Additional Admissions Requirements

The Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE) in Rule 0520-02-04-.08(2)(b) requires that all students seeking admission to an educator preparation program supply fingerprints and submit to a criminal history records conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-5-5610. Admittance to the program may be denied if the student has any of the items in the criminal history that would cause the teaching license to be revoked or not issued as identified in SBE Rule 0520-02-03-.09(3).

During the admissions process, applicants will receive information about their privacy rights and process for appealing any criminal history results. They will also complete and return the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) waiver and sign an acknowledgment indicating they have read and understood all the information provided. Upon receipt of the acknowledgment and completed waiver, Relay will provide instructions for completing the background check process, including scheduling and attending a fingerprinting appointment.

Per Tennessee law and regulatory code, Relay is unable to accept background checks completed through an employer or any other entity.

Requirements for admission to our Master of Arts in Teaching Program

To be eligible for our Master of Arts in Teaching Program with or without licensure, you will need to:

• Complete your application
• Complete your admissions checklist
• Submit your official, degree-conferred transcript with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below 2.5 who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.)‍
• Obtain a program-aligned instructional role prior to beginning clinical practice coursework

If you are planning on pursuing licensure, you will also need to:

• Complete Transition Point 1 requirements for the program, which will be added to your admissions checklist
• Have a GPA of 2.75 or higher (Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below 2.75 who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.)

In Tennessee, the Educator Preparation Program for Master of Arts in Teaching candidates is the Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program (Non-Residents) or the Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program (Residents).
‍

GPA Requirements

Requirements for admission to our Licensure Only Programs

Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program: Non-residency program for current lead teachers

Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program: Residency program for assistant/non-lead teachers

To be eligible for our Licensure Only Programs, you will need to:

• Complete your application
• Complete your admissions checklist
• Submit your official, degree-conferred transcript with a cumulative GPA of 2.75
  
  • Relay requires a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher for the graduate school, however the educator preparation program in Tennessee requires a GPA of 2.75
  • Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below the requirements who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.
• Obtain a program-aligned instructional role prior to beginning clinical practice coursework
• Complete Transition Point 1 requirements for the program, which will be added to your admissions checklist

In Tennessee, the Educator Preparation Program for Master of Arts in Teaching candidates is the Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program (Non-Residents) or the Tennessee Teacher Licensure Program (Residents).

‍

GPA Requirements

Requirements for admission to our Additional Endorsement Program: English as a Second Language

To be eligible for our Additional Endorsement Program, you will need to:

• Complete your application
• Complete your admissions checklist
• Submit your official, degree-conferred transcript with a cumulative GPA of 2.75
  
  • Relay requires a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher for the graduate school, however the educator preparation program in Tennessee requires a GPA of 2.75
  • Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below the requirements who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.
• Obtain a program-aligned instructional role prior to beginning clinical practice coursework
• Complete Transition Point 1 requirements for the program, which will be added to your admissions checklist

In Tennessee, the Educator Preparation Program for Master of Arts in Teaching candidates is the Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program.
‍

GPA Requirements

Requirements for admission to our Advanced Certificate in Special Education Program

To be eligible for our Advanced Certificate in Special Education Program without licensure, you will need to:

• Complete your application
• Complete your admissions checklist
• Submit your official, degree-conferred transcript with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  
  • Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below 2.5 who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.
• Obtain a program-aligned instructional role before beginning clinical practice coursework

If you are planning on pursuing certification/licensure, you will also need to:

• Complete Transition Point 1 requirements for the program, which will be added to your admissions checklist
• Have a GPA of 2.75
  
  • Relay offers limited exceptions for applicants with a GPA below the requirements who meet other criteria. Email support@relay.edu for details.

In Tennessee, the Educator Preparation Program for Advanced Certificate in Special Education candidates is the Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program.

‍

GPA Requirements

In Colorado, the Educator Preparation Program for Advanced Certificate in Special Education candidates is the Colorado Additional Endorsement Licensure Program.

Check out Tennessee’s Program Offerings.

Make sure to review Program-Specific Deadlines.

Additional Regulations and Policies Specific To Tennessee

Credits earned at the Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) may not transfer to another educational institution. Credits earned at another educational institution may not be accepted by Relay. You should obtain confirmation that Relay will accept any credits you have earned at another educational institution before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement. You should also contact any educational institutions that you may want to transfer credits earned at Relay to determine if such institutions will accept credits earned at Relay prior to executing an enrollment contract or agreement. The ability to transfer credits from Relay to another educational institution may be very limited. Your credits may not transfer and you may have to repeat courses previously taken at Relay if you enroll in another educational institution. You should never assume that credits will transfer to or from any educational institution. It is highly recommended and you are advised to make certain that you know the transfer of credit policy of Relay and of any other educational institutions you may in the future want to transfer the credits earned at Relay before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement.

You may access the full Tennessee Transferability of Credits disclosure here.

School & District Partners

Relay partners with over 25 public school districts and systems across Tennessee. Here is just a sample:

• Memphis-Shelby County Schools
• Metro Nashville Public Schools
• Knox County Schools
• Freedom Preparatory Academy
• Promise Academy
• KIPP Nashville
• LEAD Public Schools
• Valor Collegiate Academies

Teacher Recruitment Partners

Man Up Teacher Fellowship

Relay partners with Man Up Teacher Fellowship to support and develop male teachers of color looking to become excellent educators for their students.

Teach For America - Nashville

Relay partners with Teach For America - Nashville to provide high quality training, coaching, and support to TFA corps members through Relay's Alternative Licensure and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs.