Like other states, North Carolina expects teachers to get their licenses renewed after several years have passed. Continuing education and in-service sessions are two options on the path to license renewal for all teachers.
Requirements for Teaching Certification Renewal in North Carolina
| Average Salary for Teachers in North Carolina (2019)* | $48,700 (Kindergarten), $48,560 (Elementary), $49,620 (Middle), $49,930 (Secondary) |
| Required Degree | Bachelor's |
| Degree Field | Education - Elementary, Middle, or Secondary |
| Testing Requirements | None for teaching license renewal |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How to Renew Your Teaching Certification in North Carolina
According to North Carolina's State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction, the time for renewal of about-to-expire teaching licenses goes from April 15th to June 30th of the expiring year. The second tier of the North Carolina license, known as the North Carolina Professional Educator's Continuing License, lasts for five years. Any lapse in licensure may result in a teacher's ineligibility for employment as a teacher in the state. Specific procedures and instructions for the application process are available through the department's online renewal portal.
For the purposes of renewing a license, a total of eight credits must be earned toward the state's requirements. A semester hour of college or university class time is equivalent to 1.5 hours of state renewal credit for North Carolina. For teachers of kindergarten through fifth grade, three state credits should be earned in a teacher's respective subject area, three from literacy, and two in digital learning competencies. For sixth grade through twelfth grade teachers, the ratio is as follows: three in subject area, two in digital learning competencies, and three general credits. These guidelines are subject to change at any time by the State Board of Education, so be sure to keep an eye on the department's website for any announcements regarding policy. Based on Board of Education policy, local educational agencies have the right to assign literacy requirements for any educator.
Several different activities can be applied to renewal credit for the sake of the license. Courses taken at accredited colleges and/or universities are accepted, and official transcripts must be submitted with license renewal as proof - grade reports without proper documentation will be rejected. Courses and workshops at local in-service sessions will count toward these credits, with certification necessary by the administrative unit in charge of the event. Teachers can also attend classes and workshops overseen by a local educational agency; documentation of attendance must be provided by the agency sponsoring any such activity.
The cost of license renewal is $35. All transcripts from attended courses must be included inside the online portal, along with certificates of completion/documents proving attendance at workshops or in-service courses. If any other education experience has been attended that is not included in the licensure section, a separate form (Form E - Verification of K-12 Educator Experience) can be downloaded and scanned into the application.
Additional Resources for North Carolina Teaching License Renewal
While you await your license renewal, it may benefit you to review your classroom material with Study.com's online database of educational resources. You can find out how well you understand your own expertise, or discover a new idea for a lesson plan through the practice guides below:
- 11th Grade English Curriculum Resource and Lesson Plans
- 6th Grade Math
