North Carolina requires all public K-12 teachers to hold a valid teaching license that meets the requirements established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in North Carolina are:
Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in North Carolina.
Table of Contents
The following guide outlines the steps to become a teacher in North Carolina via the traditional pathway. North Carolina uses a tiered licensing system for teachers:
If you are a bachelor’s degree holder who has yet to complete a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in North Carolina.
To become a licensed teacher in North Carolina, candidates must first earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree major will depend on the grade level and subject of the target license. As part of their degree, teachers will also complete an approved educator preparation program (EPP). A complete list of approved programs, including contact information for each program, is available on the NCDPI Approved Programs page.
You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our North Carolina schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.
As part of their EPP, prospective teachers must complete a 16-week student teaching placement in a North Carolina school. This student teaching experience, or internship, can be over one or two semesters. Student teaching should be in the same grade and subject as the intended license and completed under the direction of an experienced, licensed teacher who acts as a clinical mentor.
North Carolina requires all teaching candidates to complete specific pedagogy and content exams as part of the licensure process. For the pedagogy, or core academic skills requirement, prospective teachers must complete either Pearson’s edTPA pedagogy assessment or the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), usually as part of their EPP. For the content exam requirement, applicants must take the Praxis subject exam that corresponds to their teaching area. Praxis exams are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). In some cases, such as for elementary education, additional Pearson content tests may be required
Once all the educational and assessment requirements are complete, the EPP will recommend them for licensure and candidates can apply for their North Carolina Initial Professional License (IPL). Applications must be submitted online through the NCDPI Online Licensure System. Along with the online application, the following documents must be submitted through the NCDPI portal:
Additional details on the licensing process in North Carolina can be found on the NCDPI’s Steps to Apply page.
North Carolina’s IPL is valid for three years but is non-renewable. To continue teaching, North Carolina teachers must convert their license to a Continuing Professional License (CPL). To qualify to upgrade to a CPL, teachers must demonstrate at least three years of teaching experience and have passing scores on all required North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) licensure exams. The Further Educator License Information page on the NCDPI website has additional details on converting an IPL to a CPL in North Carolina.
Guide to Other Teaching PathwaysNorth Carolina’s CPL is valid for five years. To renew a CPL, teachers must complete eight continuing education units (CEUs) or 80 hours of professional development. Licenses expire on June 30 of the expiration year. NCDPI will automatically send a renewal email on April 15 of the expiration year, with a link to the renewal application. Renewal applications must be submitted through the NCDPI online portal, but teachers are directed to wait for the renewal email and use the link provided to complete their application. Details on the renewal process, including additional information on qualifying CEU and professional development credits, are available on the Renew or Update Your Professional Educator’s License page of the NCDPI website.
Once licensed, teachers in North Carolina can only teach in the subject and grade area specified on their CPL, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. Teachers with a current CPL can add a subject area or grade level to an existing endorsement in one of several ways:
ETS has a complete list of Praxis content exams approved by NCDPI. Once the endorsement requirements have been met, teachers can apply to add the subject or grade through the NCDPI online portal.
North Carolina accepts valid teaching licenses from all other states, but out-of-state teachers will likely need to complete North Carolina’s content and pedagogy exams. Teachers with at least three years of experience can apply directly for a CPL, while those with less experience must apply for an IPL first while they complete the testing requirements. Out-of-state teachers must use the NCDPI online portal to complete the application and submit the following documentation:
The Forms and FAQs page of the NCDPI website outlines reciprocity in North Carolina. You can learn more about transferring a teaching certificate or license between states on our guide to certification reciprocity.
In addition to standard teaching licenses, North Carolina offers a variety of support licenses for school staff. These licenses include, but are not limited to:
Additional support licenses for social workers, school nurses, media specialists (librarians), superintendents, and curriculum specialists are also available. Many specialist licenses require at least a master’s degree, including a specialized preparation program in the desired field. NCDPI’s Areas of Licensure page provides additional details and links for related education licenses in North Carolina.
Growth in Teaching Jobs in NC through 2030 2 *
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), North Carolina had 2,647 operational schools during the 2017-2018 school year. 3 Within those schools, there were 100,400 teachers and 1,553,513 students, equating to an overall student-teacher ratio of approximately 15:1. 3
North Carolina’s job projections for teachers are slightly lower than national averages, although prospects for preschool teachers are higher than average at 21.2% compared to 18.4% nationally. 2 Middle and high school job growth is the weakest in the state, at 7.0% compared to 13.1% and 7.1% compared to 13.7%, respectively. 2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for North Carolina teachers.
| Type | Number Employed in NC 4 | Average Annual Openings in NC 2 | NC Proj. Job Growth 2020-2030 2 | Average Annual Salary in NC 4 | 25th Percentile Wages in NC 5 | 75th Percentile Wages in NC 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 16,380 | 2,010 | 21.2% | $31,950 | $27,310 | $35,600 |
| Preschool Teachers, Special Education | 350 | 60 | 8.7% | $52,010 | $41,940 | $61,520 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 3,220 | 540 | 7.3% | $48,570 | $42,130 | $57,890 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 43,240 | 4,360 | 7% | $49,560 | $45,990 | $57,760 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education | 4,960 | 670 | 7% | $51,250 | $44,720 | $59,630 |
| Middle School Teachers | 19,870 | 1,920 | 7% | $50,450 | $46,090 | $58,200 |
| Middle School Teachers, Special Education | 2,570 | 80 | 7.3% | $52,950 | $47,100 | $59,640 |
| Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 1,030 | 120 | 6.3% | $54,180 | $47,540 | $59,930 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 28,960 | 2,340 | 7.1% | $51,570 | $46,440 | $59,250 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Special Education | 3,510 | 170 | 6.5% | $51,610 | $44,960 | $59,990 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education | 4,150 | 430 | 6.5% | $52,620 | $47,450 | $58,780 |
*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.
North Carolina, like most states, is facing multiple teaching shortages. According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, North Carolina has designated the following deficits:
In addition to these deficits, North Carolina reported 3,619 unfilled teaching positions during the 2022-2023 school year. 7 A further 3,600 teachers were considered underqualified for their position, including teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis. 7
Question: How do you become a substitute teacher in North Carolina?
Answer: To be a substitute teacher in North Carolina, you must apply to the district in which you hope to work. The state does not require substitutes to have a valid teaching license, but individual districts may have different requirements.
Question: How many private schools and private school teachers does North Carolina have?
Answer: Based on data from the 2019-202 school year, there were 757 private schools in North Carolina. 8 Those schools employed 13,358 full-time teachers, who taught 121,525 students. 8 There are no statewide licensing requirements for private school teachers in North Carolina, but individual schools may prefer to employ teachers with a valid teaching license.