North Carolina Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
Alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs, are designed for those who have a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree. Teaching candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education and have not completed a teacher preparation program may pursue North Carolina alternative teacher certification. If you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree, refer to our guide to traditional certification in North Carolina. Continue reading to learn how to become a teacher in North Carolina through alternative routes.
Table of Contents
- North Carolina Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Best Alternative Certification Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
To be eligible for North Carolina alternative certification, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and either 24 semester hours of coursework in the requested licensure area or a passing score on the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE)-approved exams for the requested licensure area.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in North Carolina
North Carolina only maintains one alternative pathway to licensure, the Residency License (RL), which is described below. Candidates must complete an approved teacher preparation program as part of the RL process. Alternative teacher preparation programs typically lead to a certificate but may also lead to a master’s degree.
Residency License
The RL is for candidates who meet all of the licensure content requirements but still need to complete pedagogy requirements. To qualify for certification under the Residency License pathway, candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.7
- Have either completed 24 hours of coursework in the requested licensure area or passed the required NCSBE content area examinations
- Be enrolled in a recognized Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
Once a candidate has secured employment with a Local Education Agency (LEA), the LEA will complete the Residency License Verification Form and recommend them for an RL. The RL is a one-year pathway and is renewable up to two times over three years. All requirements to convert the RL to either an Initial Professional License (IPL) or Continuing Professional License (CPL) must be completed within those three years.
Testing Requirements for North Carolina Alternative Certification
RL candidates without at least 24 hours of semester hours in the requested licensure area must pass the NCSBE-required exams in their content area. In addition, elementary school teaching candidates (K-6) must take the Foundations of Reading and General Curriculum exams and those seeking certification in Exceptional Children (K-12) must take the ETS Praxis Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications exam.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
Teachers may also be certified to teach in North Carolina through reciprocity. Candidates following this route must have a standard teaching license that is active in another state with three years of teaching experience. To earn the Continuing Professional License, a candidate must also pass the NCSBE exams or hold National Board Certification. For further details, consult our guide to interstate reciprocity.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in North Carolina
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University* | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | 72 | 15 | — | $10,687 |
| Barton College* | No | Alternative | 7 | 1 | — | $24,111 |
| Campbell University* | AAQEP | Alternative | 27 | 6 | N.A. | $26,299 |
| Catawba College* | No | Alternative | — | — | — | $18,657 |
| Chowan University* | No | Alternative | — | — | — | $16,784 |
| Duke University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $26,932 |
| East Carolina University* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | 912 | 209 | 95% | $15,403 |
| Elizabeth City State University* | CAEP | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $3,270 |
| Fayetteville State University* | CAEP | Master’s | 41 | 11 | — | $7,016 |
| Gardner-Webb University | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $20,363 |
| Greensboro College* | No | Alternative, Master’s | 31 | 19 | — | $17,783 |
| Guilford College | No | Certificate | — | — | — | $22,620 |
| High Point University* | AAQEP | Certificate | 25 | — | — | $40,719 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | AAQEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $18,814 |
| Mars Hill University | AAQEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $18,195 |
| Montreat College* | No | Alternative | — | — | — | $23,906 |
| North Carolina A&T State University* | CAEP | Master’s | 43 | 28 | 96% | $9,541 |
| North Carolina Central University* | CAEP | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $13,324 |
| North Carolina State University* | CAEP | Alternative, Master’s | 228 | 78 | — | $14,600 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan College | AAQEP | Alternative | 1 | — | — | $16,772 |
| Pfeiffer University* | CAEP | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $22,121 |
| University of Mount Olive* | No | Alternative, Certificate | 128 | 70 | — | $14,805 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate | — | — | — | $13,411 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $10,038 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | 82 | 70 | 86% | $16,029 |
| University of North Carolina Greensboro* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | 26 | 7 | N.A. | $9,853 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke* | CAEP | Master’s | 129 | 13 | — | $10,069 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | CAEP | Master’s | 240 | 82 | 78% | $17,946 |
| Wake Forest University | AAQEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $26,324 |
| Western Carolina University* | CAEP | Master’s | 207 | 51 | 91% | $13,221 |
| William Peace University* | No | Alternative | — | — | — | $25,841 |
| Wingate University* | No | Alternative, Master’s | 12 | 5 | N.A. | $20,594 |
| Winston-Salem State University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $11,868 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Best Alternative Teacher Certification Programs in North Carolina
We used overall pass rates on the teacher licensing exams to identify the best alternative teacher certification programs in North Carolina. The following schools all reported 90% or above pass rates for alternative and master’s program graduates.
- North Carolina A&T State University (Alternative, Master’s; 96%)
- East Carolina University (Alternative, Certificate, Master’s; 95%)
- Western Carolina University (Master’s; 91%)4
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in North Carolina based on the shortest possible time to completion. Shorter alternative certification programs are often more affordable since they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- Campbell University (12 months)
- Duke University (12 months)
- East Carolina University (12 months)
- Lenoir-Rhyne University (12 months)
- Montreat College (12 months)
- North Carolina Central University (12 months)
- University of North Carolina Asheville (12 months)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (12 months)
- University of North Carolina Greensboro (12 months)
- Wingate University (12 months)
Additional Resources
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Alternative Preparation Pathways: Overview and requirements for alternative route candidates in North Carolina.
- North Carolina Regional Alternative Licensing Centers (RALC): Guide RALC locations, which offer resources and support for alternative-route teachers.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- North Carolina Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. North Carolina State Board of Education: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educators-licensure
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/