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North Carolina Teacher Certification and Career Guide

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:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in North Carolina.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in North Carolina

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:

  • Initial Professional License (IPL) (3-year): For teachers who have completed the education and testing requirements for licensure in North Carolina.
  • Continuing Professional License (CPL) (5-year): For teachers with at least three years of experience teaching with a valid license.

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.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

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.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

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.

3. Pass the required North Carolina teacher exams.

North Carolina State SealNorth 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

4. Apply for North Carolina teacher certification.

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:

  • Official transcripts
  • Passing content and pedagogy exam scores
  • Proof of completed EPP (Form V)
  • Experience request forms (if applicable)
  • Fingerprint background check
  • Non-refundable processing fee

Additional details on the licensing process in North Carolina can be found on the NCDPI’s Steps to Apply page.

5. Upgrade your license.

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 Pathways

North Carolina Teacher Certification Renewal

North 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.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

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:

  • Pass an approved content assessment in the corresponding subject area
  • Complete an approved EPP in the desired subject/grade
  • Complete 24 semester hours in the intended endorsement area with a grade of “C” or better

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 Teaching License Reciprocity

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:

  • Valid out-of-state license
  • Official transcripts
  • Passing content and pedagogy exam scores
  • Proof of completed EPP (Form V)
  • Experience request forms (if applicable)
  • Non-refundable processing fee

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:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) Restricted License: Unlike traditional classroom teachers, CTE educators can obtain a valid teaching license based on their experience in the subject area. Most subject areas require at least two years of experience within the last five years. CTE Restricted Licenses are intended to allow professionals to work in education while completing the requirements for a traditional CPL. Many subject areas require at least a bachelor’s degree in addition to the experience requirements in order to qualify for licensure.
  • School Administrator License: Principal: To work as a principal in North Carolina, applicants must hold an Administrative License, which requires a master’s degree, valid CPL, and completion of an approved school administrator preparation program.
  • School Services Personnel License: School Psychologist: School psychologists in North Carolina must have a School Services Personnel License in School Psychology. To qualify, applicants must have an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree and must complete an approved school psychology training program. School psychologists are authorized to work in preK-12 settings in North Carolina schools.

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.

North Carolina Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

7.8%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in NC through 20322*

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 much better than national projections. North Carolina elementary school teacher jobs are projected to grow by 7.8%, compared to 0.7% nationally; middle school teacher jobs are projected to grow by 8%, compared to 0.8% nationally; and high school teacher jobs are projected to grow by 8.1%, compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for North Carolina teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in NC4Average Annual Openings in NC2NC Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in NC425th Percentile Wages in NC575th Percentile Wages in NC5
Preschool Teachers16,3802,0109.5%$31,950$27,310$35,600
Preschool Teachers, Special Education350308.8%$52,010$41,940$61,520
Kindergarten Teachers3,2203507.2%$48,570$42,130$57,890
Elementary School Teachers43,2403,1407.8%$49,560$45,990$57,760
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education4,9603506.9%$51,250$44,720$59,630
Middle School Teachers19,8701,4508%$50,450$46,090$58,200
Middle School Teachers, Special Education2,570——$52,950$47,100$59,640
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education1,030707.2%$54,180$47,540$59,930
Secondary School Teachers28,9601,9608.1%$51,570$46,440$59,250
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education3,510——$51,610$44,960$59,990
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education4,1502706.7%$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.

Teacher Shortages in North Carolina

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

Additional Resources

North Carolina Teacher Interviews

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

References:
1. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, North Carolina: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nc.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp