Become a Teacher
in North Carolina
Certification Roadmap
*Click buttons to jump to sectionNorth Carolina Highlights
To become a certified teacher in North Carolina, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are North Carolina's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education: Permanent Standard certification requires 30 credits in-discipline, including 12 credits in advanced study.
- Secondary English/Language Arts: Permanent Standard certification requires 30 credits in-discipline, including 12 credits in advanced study.
- Secondary Mathematics:Permanent Standard certification requires 30 credits in-discipline, including 12 credits in advanced study.
- Secondary History/Social Science:Permanent Standard certification requires 30 credits in-discipline, including 12 credits in advanced study.
- Secondary Science: Permanent Standard certification requires 30 credits in-discipline, including 12 credits in advanced study.
Teacher Preparation
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction requires teachers to either complete a state-approved teacher education program from a regionally accredited college or university, or the state-approved alternate route, in order to obtain a three-year Standard Professional 1 License.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in North Carolina is coming soon!
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
Certification Reciprocity
North Carolina will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine |
| Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Mississippi |
| Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada |
| New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York |
| North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: North Carolina provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in high needs schools
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: North Carolina has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in North Carolina makes $39,670
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in North Carolina makes$41,520
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in North Carolina makes 121% of the salary of the average worker in North Carolina
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in North Carolina receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
- Number of Years to Tenure: North Carolina requires 4 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure


