Become an ESA vendor in Tennessee
Tennessee EFS · paid through Student First (Theo). The registration picture, cited to the program’s own paper. Free, no account needed.
Not really, not yet. Tennessee publishes no vendor application anywhere, and EFS is tuition-first, the money is meant for enrolling in a registered private school, with tutoring and therapy as leftover spend. Tutors need an active TN teaching license and fingerprint checks.
No vendor application exists. TDOE runs a provider-facing page with background and fingerprinting guidance and an office address, but nothing to apply on, so the only move is to email and ask.
What you'll need
- Teaching certificate or professional license
- Background check / fingerprint clearance
A free account fills this in from your own Vault and Settings, and keeps it filled in.
The path in
There's no vendor sign-up to fill out. TDOE's schools and service providers page hosts the Background and Fingerprinting Guidance and publishes Private.Schools@tn.gov, so start there and email to ask how providers get added.
- Line up your license and background checks
Tutors need an active TN teaching license (agencies need accreditation), therapists a department-approved license. TBI and FBI fingerprint checks are required for anyone working with students.
- Understand it's tuition-first
EFS money is spent mainly on private-school tuition through the portal, with tutoring and therapy as residual spend. The addressable slice is small next to Arizona or Texas.
EFS is tuition-first. Families have to enroll in a registered non-public school, and tutoring or therapy is what's left over, so the market here is thin.
TDOE EFS Family Handbook 2026-27