General Information about Teaching Certification Programs in North Carolina
Teaching certification programs prepare candidates for initial licensure or certification in teaching. This licensure is mandatory to work as public school teachers in North Carolina. Certification programs can be pursued in two ways:
One of the ways is to enroll in a traditional bachelor's or master's program that also offers teacher certification. The subject you choose for the degree should be the one you want to endorse for your certification. Teachers in NC can be licensed in a wide range of areas including Elementary (K-6), Exceptional Children K-12, English as a Second Language ESL (K-6) and secondary subject areas like Social Studies, Spanish, Political Science and History.
The second way is to enroll in an alternative teacher preparation program which does not lead to any degree. These programs can be completed in a much shorter time and allow you to work in full-time teaching positions even while pursuing the program.
List of Online Teaching Certification Programs in North Carolina
Online teaching programs in North Carolina come in a variety of forms. Graduate programs typically require a bachelor's degree and many of these programs include real-world teaching assignments. Below, we will offer more detail on a few of these programs.
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
The University of North Carolina, Charlotte offers an online graduate certificate in teaching for the levels 6-9 (middle grade) and 9-12 (secondary grades). The program leads to initial licensure in the content areas of science, social studies, mathematics, and English for both middle and secondary grades. It requires a total of 16 credit hours. The program also includes 15-30 hours of clinical experience each semester. The school also offers graduate certificates in the areas of elementary education, foreign language education (K-12), ESL, and Special Education (K-12); all of them lead to respective certifications.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University offers an online, part-time residency licensure teacher certification program named NC Teach. This program can be completed in three semesters. A bachelor's degree with a CGPA of 2.70 is required for admission. Candidates should also be working as full-time teachers in one of the endorsement areas offered by the program. The program offers licensure in the areas of English (9-12), Language Arts (6-9), World Languages (Spanish, French, and Chinese), Technology, Engineering, and Design Education, and in math, science, and social studies for the grades 6-9 and 9-12.
Central Piedmont Community College
The Central Piedmont Community College offers the Teacher Education - Lateral Entry program, which is an online alternative program for bachelor's degree holders who commit to finishing a teacher prep program within three years. The program offers eight-week courses in pedagogy and provides individual study plans for each candidate. Courses are offered in early childhood education, child development, classroom management, nutrition, and learning theories. An accredited four-year bachelor's degree is mandatory to become eligible for admissions.
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
The University of North Carolina, Wilmington is home to online Master of Arts in Teaching programs in the areas of art education, middle grades education, and elementary education. The art education program is meant for bachelor's degree holders in arts or related fields and can be completed in one year; it leads to K-12 licensure. The middle grades degree program is designed for those who have a bachelor's degree and want to teach language arts, social studies, math, or science in middle grades; this program requires 33 credit hours and can be completed either part-time or full-time. The elementary education program is for graduates who want to teach in K-6 grade levels.
Career Outlook after Earning Teaching Certification in North Carolina
Teaching certification programs are highly beneficial for careers in teaching because they improve your efficiency through field experiences and gives you the theoretical knowledge to apply in the classrooms.
According to the 2019 data of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, teachers in North Carolina earn a mean salary of $48,700 (kindergarten), $48,560 (elementary), $49,620 (middle school), and $49,930 (secondary). The site also states that kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and high school teachers in the U.S. are projected to experience job growth of 4% between 2019 and 2029. This growth is faster than the national average for all occupations.
NC State, UNC-Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and the University of North Carolina all offer online teaching certification programs. These programs include degrees like a Master of Arts in Teaching, residency licensure programs and graduate certificates.
