Common Teacher Certification Challenges in North Carolina
Published: | by Hannah Sparling
You have the bachelor’s degree. You have the classroom experience (or you’re ready to get it). What you don’t have is a clear picture of what North Carolina actually requires for teacher licensure — and every source you check seems to say something different.
Let’s fix that. Below, we’ll bust a few myths that scare off aspiring teachers in the Tar Heel State. We’ll walk through common challenges North Carolina teachers face in earning a license, as well as what you can do to overcome each one.
Myth vs. Fact: What You Really Need to Know
Myth: North Carolina is lowering standards for teachers.
Every licensed teacher in a North Carolina public school has to clear the same bar: bachelor’s degree, completed Educator Preparation Program, licensure exams. There are multiple pathways to licensure to support teachers with different backgrounds (career changers, for example), but no matter your route, the standards are the same for everyone.
Myth: You need an education degree to teach in North Carolina.
You need a bachelor’s degree, but it doesn’t have to be in education. If you have a degree in another subject, you could earn your North Carolina teaching license through an alternative Educator Preparation Program (EPP).
Myth: Fail the Foundations of Reading once and you’re out.
You can retake the test; you’ll just have to wait at least 30 days. If you don’t pass on your first try, it’s worth using that 30 days to take a detailed look at your score and where you most need to improve. For help getting started, download The Educator’s Must-Have Guide to Excel at U.S. Teacher Certification Exams.
Myth: An out-of-state license transfers automatically to NC.
It’s not automatic. North Carolina reviews out-of-state credentials to ensure they cover NC’s minimum requirements for licensure. North Carolina does recognize approved EPPs from all states, so it’s likely your license will transfer. However, there’s a chance you may need to complete some additional requirements, such as passing additional licensure exams and/or the edTPA.
Common Certification Challenges Aspiring Teachers Face in North Carolina
The Pearson Foundations of Reading Exam
If you want to teach elementary or special education in North Carolina, you’ll need to pass the Foundations of Reading test for your initial license. This is a four-and-a-half-hour test that includes 100 multiple choice questions along with two open-response assignments.
This requirement can catch some aspiring teachers off guard because it’s not a test of whether you can read and comprehend text but a test of whether you can teach others to do the same.
IPL to CPL Progression (and the 3-year Non-Renewable Clock)
North Carolina’s Initial Professional License (IPL) is valid for three years and is not renewable. This means you must advance to your Continuing Professional License (CPL) during that window, or you may lose your job.
There are two main differences between the IPL and the CPL:
- Classroom experience: For your CPL, you need at least 3 years of effective teaching.
- Licensure exams: With your IPL, you must attempt your licensure exams in the first year of the license. To earn your CPL, you’ll need to pass every required exam within the 3-year window.
Praxis vs. Pearson vs. PPAT
North Carolina teachers pass a series of licensure exams, including a performance assessment along with content exams. Your exact list depends on your licensure area, and vendor can vary by test, so check with the NCDPI before you register for anything.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- The Foundations of Reading test is administered by Pearson. You’ll take this if you want to teach elementary or special education.
- For content area exams, many of these are administered by Praxis.
- For your performance assessment, you could take either the edTPA or the PPAT. All teachers are required to take one or the other.
For more info, visit the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s page on testing.
Financial Barriers
This can be one of the biggest hurdles for aspiring teachers, especially career changers who are working full-time and wondering how they’ll come up with EPP tuition, exam fees, and the application fee for their Initial Professional License.
- EPP tuition: This is usually the biggest line item, and cost can vary widely from program to program.
- Exam fees: You’ll pay separately for each test, including any retakes.
- Licensure fees: You’ll pay a fee when you apply for your teaching license.
- Lost wages: If you can’t work while you’re completing your EPP, that means lost wages in addition to paying your tuition.
Administrative Hurdles
Meeting North Carolina’s licensure requirements is one thing. Documenting them is another.
Your application, transcripts, exam scores, EPP recommendation, and employment verification all route through the NCDPI Online Licensure System. Some pieces you submit; others have to come from your testing vendor, your university, or your school district. It’s easy to get tangled up in the bureaucracy or confused about who handles which step. To combat this, try making a list of who sends what, and keep a status update for each item.
How to Overcome North Carolina’s Certification Challenges
Below are 4 strategies to help you avoid common missteps and launch your North Carolina teaching career.
Enroll in an Approved EPP
Completing an EPP is one of the biggest steps to earning your teaching license in North Carolina, so you want to make sure your program counts. Here are some good questions to ask when evaluating potential programs:
- Is the EPP approved in North Carolina? The state maintains a list of approved programs. That’s a great place to start.
- How long is the program? Some EPPs take a few years, but others are much faster. Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program (an approved EPP in North Carolina) can be completed in just 9 months.
- Is it in-person or online? Which style would you prefer, and which would fit better into your current schedule and commitments?
- How much is tuition? Especially if you’re footing the bill yourself (some school districts may cover part or all of your tuition, so make sure you check into that), you want to be careful not to overextend your finances.
- Can you work during the program? This is a big one, especially for career changers. If you can’t go without a paycheck for the duration of your EPP, you need to find one that will fit with your current job schedule and responsibilities.
Don’t Procrastinate with Your IPL
Three years sounds like plenty of time to move from your Initial Professional License (IPL) to your Continuing Professional License (CPL) — until you realize two and a half years have gone by and you still have exams to pass.
Register for your licensure exams during your first year (this is a requirement of the IPL, anyway), and if you miss the qualifying score on any test, start studying right away and register for a re-take within a few months.
For your performance evaluations, chat with your principal about how evaluations are being documented, and check in early instead of just assuming the experience requirement for your license is handled.
Explore Financial Help
Certification costs add up, but there is help available. Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness is probably the most widely available option — up to $17,500 for special education or secondary math and science teachers at qualifying low-income schools, or a smaller amount for other subjects. (Check with your loan provider to see what a specific job might qualify for.)
State programs are narrower but still an option. North Carolina Teaching Fellows, for example, offers up to $5,000 per semester in forgivable loans. This is for students at select NC partner universities, so it won’t be an option for everyone, and it’s also limited to elementary education, special education, and STEM teachers in public schools. Just make sure you read all the details before you apply.
Then, you can check with your school or district. North Carolina needs licensed teachers, and many schools offer EPP tuition coverage, either partial or full, to help remove barriers for aspiring teachers.
Use Mentorship and Cohort Networks
Find someone in your building or network who already has a CPL, preferably in your same licensure area, and ask them how they did it. What tests did they take and how did they prepare? What EPP did they complete? Is there anything they would change?
If you’re already in a school, it’s likely there’s an existing mentor program — take advantage of that to help you navigate the licensure process.
Cohort programs work the same way for your EPP. Moving through your program with a small group means someone else is hitting the same deadlines as you and dealing with some of the same stressors. Even just having an ear for venting can go a long way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don’t pass the Foundations of Reading test?
You retake it after a 30-day wait. You can use that time to review your score report and target your weak areas. Just don’t let it slide — your Initial Professional License gives you three years to pass, and that license type is not renewable.
What’s the difference between an IPL and a CPL in North Carolina?
The Initial Professional License (IPL) is your starting license. It’s valid for three years and can’t be renewed. The Continuing Professional License (CPL) is the full credential — you earn it by passing your required licensure exams and completing three years of effective teaching.
Does North Carolina accept my out-of-state teaching license?
Not automatically. NCDPI will review your credentials against North Carolina’s requirements, and you may need to complete additional steps such as taking additional licensure exams or completing a performance assessment such as the edTPA.
Do I take the Praxis or Pearson tests for North Carolina certification?
It depends on what you want to teach. Elementary and special education candidates take Pearson’s Foundations of Reading test. Many other subject areas use Praxis Subject Assessments. Check NCDPI’s testing requirements for your specific licensure area.
What financial help is available for certification costs in North Carolina?
Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness offers up to $17,500 for special education and secondary math or science teachers at qualifying low-income schools. State programs like NC Teaching Fellows exist, too, but eligibility can be limited.
One of your best options for financial help might be your individual school or district. Many offer tuition reimbursement to attract and retain quality teachers, especially those who come to education from a non-traditional background.
Ready to earn your North Carolina teaching license?
Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is an approved EPP in North Carolina and can be completed in just 9 months, fully online. It’s designed for busy adults, so you can keep working full-time while completing the program.
Questions? Join an upcoming information session.
If you’re ready to apply, you can do that for free in about 15 minutes. You’ll hear back within 2 business days.
