How to Become a Teacher in North Carolina

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Choose What You Want to Teach

Before you begin your journey, you should consider in which setting you would like to teach. For example, do you want to teach in elementary, middle, or high school? Do you prefer working with children with special needs? Answering these questions will determine some of the steps you take.

Earn a Bachelor's in Education to Meet the Requirements for a Teaching Certificate in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the basic education requirements for becoming a teacher are obtaining a bachelor's degree in education (from a NC approved teacher education program at a regionally accredited college or university) and passing the North Carolina licensing exams.

If you have not yet received a bachelor's in education or another major, you can choose a college major based on the grade level and subject(s) you want to teach. For example, you may pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English if you wish to become a high school English teacher. If you are not sure what to major in, a school counselor may help you in deciding on the one right for you.

Many colleges and universities offer joint degree and teacher education programs. Teacher education programs generally consist of a set curriculum that takes place at the college as well as some type of fieldwork. Curricula consists of classes on the theories of teaching and learning, methodology of teaching, and educational technology classes. Classes typically also cover developmental stages for students of varying ages. The fieldwork aspect will vary from college to college, but usually involves classroom observations. In addition to the observations, student teaching will be required of all teaching candidates. As a student teacher you will work with a master teacher to write lesson plans, teach those lessons, and reflect on them.

Alternative Teacher Certification in North Carolina

There are some other alternative pathways to becoming a certified teacher in North Carolina.

Teaching Certificate in Another State

Another pathway to obtaining a license to teach in North Carolina is the completion of another state's approved route to licensure. Some additional courses or tests may be required, depending on your home state's certification requirements. If you have certification to teach from another state, contact North Carolina's Department of Education's Licensure Department to see what will be required of you.

Highly Qualified

There is yet another pathway for candidates who have a teaching credential in another state but want to teach in North Carolina. You can teach in North Carolina if you meet the federal requirements to be designated as "Highly Qualified". For this, you must have already earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college. In order to receive "Highly Qualified" status in North Carolina, you must be fully licensed and "Highly Qualified" a state. In addition, you will need to have three or more years of teaching experience in that state. You will also need to meet the North Carolina State Board of Education's approved licensure exam requirements.

Lateral Entry Teaching License

If you are a person who did not graduate from an approved teaching program, or someone who has decided to change your career to teaching from another field, you may qualify for a teaching position right away as you obtain your license through "lateral entry." This pathway is only offered on a provisional basis and still requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Learn more about lateral entry here.

Pass the Exams Required for Teacher Certification in North Carolina

After completing your education requirements, the next step to becoming a teacher in North Carolina is to pass the required state tests. These tests are offered by the NC Department of Public Instruction's Licensure Section. North Carolina does not have 100% reciprocity with other states, therefore there are no exemptions to taking the required state tests for licensure.

The following tests are required in North Carolina for those wishing to become teachers:

The Praxis (Core Academic Skills for Educators)
The Praxis II (Subject Area Tests) - if required for your licensure area

Note that some colleges or universities may ask that you pass some or all of these tests prior to entering or exiting a teacher preparation program. Check with a program advisor or counselor to find out more about your requirements.

K-12 Teachers

The following tests are required in North Carolina for those wishing to become K-12 teachers:

Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics

Or, you may take the:

Praxis I Reading
Praxis I Writing
Praxis I Mathematics

In addition to these required tests, you may also need to take a test for your specific licensure area if it is required (e.g., Middle School Social Studies).

NC TEACH

Yet another pathway is completion of an alternative teacher preparation program. In NC, this is called North Carolina Teachers of Excellence for All Children (NC TEACH). NC TEACH is offered at North Carolina State University (NC State) and is designed to recruit, train, support, and retain mid-career professionals as they become licensed teachers in the state.

FIND SCHOOLS

Apply for your North Carolina Teaching License

Some candidates may be considered "Highly Qualified." This may apply if you are fully licensed and "Highly Qualified" in another state who have three or more years of teaching experience in another state and who meet NC State Board of Education approved licensure exam requirements or have National Board Certification and are issued the SP2 Professional Educator's license.

Application Requirements

North Carolina offers two types of licenses for teachers including:

Standard Professional I (SP1) Professional Educator's License - if you have 0-2 years of teaching experience; valid for 3 years
Standard Professional II (SP2) Professional Educator's License - if you have 3+ years of teaching experience; valid for 5 years

The following items are required to apply for a license:

Form A (Application for a North Carolina Professional Educator's License)
Your license from another state or Form V (Verification of Completion of an Approved Teacher Education Program)
Transcripts
Test scores or Form OS-HQ (Verification of "Highly Qualified" status)
Form E (Verification of K-12 Teaching Experience) and/or Form CE (Verification of Post-Secondary Educator Experience)
International verification (if degree was earned outside of the U.S.)
Payment

Contact Information

NC Department of Public Instruction
Licensure Section
6365 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-6365

Find a Teaching Job in North Carolina

After completion of the above steps, you will be prepared to find a job in North Carolina! You will be ready to make an impact on hundreds of children in this great state.

North Carolina Public Schools

Candidates hoping to teach in North Carolina can access the North Carolina Public Schools Application System portal through the Department of Education website called NCTeacherMatch. Applicants are advised that some school districts do not post all jobs through this site. The remainder of jobs throughout the state are viewable by using the school district map and accessing the school district site directly. Like most other regions of the USA, North Carolina is currently experiencing high need for teachers able to teach elementary subjects, languages including English, math, sciences, and special education. Other roles within the profession are experiencing a slower growth than the national average.

Teacher Labor Unions in NC

Once hired, teachers may join their state affiliate of the teacher's labor union. In North Carolina, options are the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and the Classroom Teachers Association of NC. Professional unions support teachers during labor and legal struggles and advocate for professional development in and outside the classroom.

Retirement Benefits for NC Teachers

Upon retirement from the public school system, teachers are able to manage their income through accessing their pension funds on a monthly basis. Generally, teachers are permitted to contribute 6% of their income to the pension fund during their career.

North Carolina Private Schools

In addition to the state's public school system, teachers may apply to any of the state's 755 private schools. These schools have an average ratio of 10 teachers per student. The small class sizes are favorable to many teachers, as meeting the needs of all students becomes more feasible. In North Carolina, over 50% of the private schools have a religious affiliation. Teachers are reminded that salary and work expectations may differ from the public system.

Teacher Shortage in North Carolina by Subjects or Discipline (2021-2022)

The following list of teacher shortage areas in North Carolina has been obtained from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education, Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) list for the 2021-2022 school year:

Elementary Education K-5
Special Education, Exceptional Children K-12
Mathematics 6-12

Number of Public and Private School Teachers By Grade

The following Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) table highlights the number of teachers in North Carolina in both private and public schools, by grade level, as of May 2021:

Grade Level	Number of Teachers
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	16,900
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	40,230
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	20,080
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	26,080
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	520
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	5,160
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	2,690
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	3,480

Continue Your Education and Professional Development

North Carolina values on-going professional development in order for teachers to improve their practice boost student achievement.

Professional Development in North Carolina

The state of North Carolina has a support system in place for helping teachers, administrators, and support staff to achieve their professional development goals. In addition to the Department of Education's mandates for teacher licensure and re-qualification, the state has partnered with LearnNC to provide a database of offerings available for professional development opportunities. The North Carolina Professional Development Directory does not include information about specific courses and workshops, however contact information for providers is found within the database, and teachers are encouraged to make contact with providers. In addition to LearnNC, there are a variety of other organizations who provide insight and support to the educators of North Carolina. The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), the Professional Educators of NC (PENC), the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC): SEANC have a variety of resources and contacts to help teachers improve their practice.

Advance Your Career and Meet Continuing Education Requirements with a Master's in Teaching or Education

Although you won't need a master's teaching or education to teach in North Carolina, you'll still find that this advanced degree can deliver a host of benefits - to your career, to your classroom, and to your paycheck. Plus, earn your master's degree and you'll satisfy the continuing education requirements for one, five-year cycle of your Professional Educator's Continuing License.

After completing three years of teaching experience on a Professional Educator's Initial License, you'll be required to earn a Professional Educator's Continuing License, which must be renewed every five years upon completion of at least 8 renewal credits.

While there are many ways you can satisfy the renewal credit requirements, earn a master's degree during this time and you'll satisfy the requirements after completing just two courses (1 semester hour = 1.5 units of credit).

A Master's Also Increases Your Earning Potential

Educators in North Carolina who earn a master's in education or teaching not only enjoy everything from job stability to better and more diverse professional opportunities, they also earn a larger paycheck than their bachelor's-prepared peers. According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, teachers in North Carolina's Public Schools earned a minimum salary of $37,000, while those with a master's degree earned a minimum salary of $40,700 - a difference of $3,700.