Reich College of Education

Students seeking a North Carolina Educator License have several routes available to them, each with specific requirements and limitations. In all cases, they should consult the appropriate offices or authorities for additional information. Below is a brief overview of the routes available through Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education (RCOE).

Several licensure options exist for students:

• Initial Professional License
  • Teacher Education Undergraduate Program
  • Teacher Education Graduate Certificate Program
• Residency Licensure Graduate Certificate Programs

Testing Requirements for a North Carolina License

Applicants for a North Carolina professional educator’s license must meet the State Board of Education’s testing requirements. Teachers holding an Initial Professional License must complete all exams in the first year and pass them by the end of the third year to qualify for a Continuing Professional License.

We recommend that students complete all required licensure tests before their student teaching internship, when their coursework knowledge is current, and RCOE faculty and staff support is available.

This chart outlines the current testing requirements for all content areas: North Carolina State Board of Education Licensing Testing Requirements.

All students should request that their licensure test scores, including edTPA, be sent to the NC Department of Public Instruction and to Appalachian State University when they register for exams.

Students graduating from the Residency Licensure program must pass all required exams before their license can be converted to a Continuing Professional License.

Teacher Education Undergraduate Program

An Initial Professional License (IPL) is a three-year, non-renewable license for new educators who have completed an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and have less than three years of teaching experience. The most common path to an IPL is a four-year undergraduate degree in teacher education or school social work.

For more information on Educator Preparation Programs at Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education, please visit our Academics page.

The University Bulletin provides detailed information on each program of study and its course requirements.

Teacher Education Graduate Certificate Program

The Teacher Education Graduate Certificate is an accelerated, post-baccalaureate program for professionals with a non-education bachelor's degree seeking teacher licensure. Offered fully online, the program enables students to apply for their IPL in as few as three semesters, depending on the area of study. It also meets the EPP enrollment requirement for the North Carolina Residency License.

Teacher Education Graduate Certificates are available in the following areas:

• Birth through Kindergarten
• Career and Technical Education
  • Business, Finance, and Information Technology Education
  • Business, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences Education
  • Technology, Engineering, and Design Education
  • Trade and Industry Education
• Elementary Education (K-6)
• Middle and Secondary Education (6-12)
  • Middle Grades Education: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies
  • Secondary Education: English, Mathematics, and Science
• Special Education (K-12)
  • General Curriculum
  • Adapted Curriculum

For more information about Graduate Certificate Programs at Appalachian State University, please visit the Graduate Certificates page.

Applying for an Initial Professional License

After your degree is officially conferred, you may apply online for your Initial Professional License through the North Carolina Department of Instruction (NCDPI) website.*

The following documents must be uploaded with your application:

• Official Transcript: Ensure your transcript displays your degree conferral date. You can request it from the Registrar's Office by following the "Ordering a Transcript" instructions on their website.
• Test Scores: Include your Praxis II and/or Pearson scores, if applicable.
• Work Authorization: Submit this document only if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Approved Education Program (Form V): This form is generally not required except in rare cases, such as speech pathology. NCDPI will contact you if it is needed.

NCDPI typically processes applications within eight to twelve weeks.

For additional information about the licensure application process, please refer to the links below.

• Professional Educator Licensure Application Process
• Complete details regarding the application process for Initial Professional Licensure, Upgrade or Clear Licensure, or Adding an Area by Program Completion
• In-State Initial Application Video Tutorial

*Please do not submit a licensure application until your degree is conferred and you have obtained your official transcript. Appalachian State University confers degrees each semester on the following dates:

• Fall: January 31
• Spring: May 3
• Summer: August 31

**Once you begin an application on the NCDPI website, you must complete it within 30 days, or you may be required to start a new application.

A Residency License (RL) provides an alternative route to becoming a professional educator. It allows individuals to teach in North Carolina while completing an approved EPP program. The license may be renewed twice, for a maximum of three years, after which it can be cleared to a Continuing Professional License.

To qualify for a Residency License, you must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
• Be employed by a North Carolina Local Education Agency (LEA).
• Be admitted into a Graduate Certificate Program and enrolled in coursework.
• Have either:
  • 24 semester hours of coursework in the licensure area, or
  • A passing score on the required state licensure exam(s).

 For more information, visit Residency Licensure Programs at Appalachian State University or contact licensure@appstate.edu.