Earn Your NC Teaching License

How long your teaching licensure takes depends on your background and the type of teaching program you choose. 

Here’s what you can expect for most programs:

• Bachelor’s degree & licensure: About 4 years
• Master’s degree & licensure: 1–3 years
• Residency licensure: 1–2 years
• Licensure-only: Up to 1 year

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: To teach in North Carolina public schools, you’ll eventually need a teaching license. But if you have a bachelor’s degree or vocational work experience, you may qualify for alternative pathways that put you in the classroom faster!

• Do you have a bachelor’s degree? Licensure-only or residency licensure (also called alternative licensure) programs often take less time and cost less than traditional teaching programs. Head over to our Residency Licensure page and download our Residency Licensure guide to learn more.

• Are you a tradesperson? If you have vocational experience, you may be able to get licensed to teach as a Career & Technical Education instructor. Positions are available in fields such as health sciences, skilled trades, business and marketing and others. Look for programs with the TeachNC Program Explorer.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in one subject, but want to teach something else, you may need to take a few courses before you can enroll in a teaching program. A post-baccalaureate or "post-bac" program through a college or university can help you get the extra credits you need. 

Check with your teaching program to find out how many credits you need to have in your future teaching subject. 

If you’re already a licensed educator—in North Carolina or elsewhere—you may be able to skip certain exams or other steps to get your NC teaching license. You should review the Department of Public Instruction Forms and FAQs page for information on your specific situation.  

This page will connect you with resources if you are:   

• An out-of-state or international educator who wants to transfer your teaching credential to North Carolina.
• A licensed North Carolina educator who wants to renew or advance your teaching license.
• A licensed North Carolina educator who wants to add teaching areas to your license or earn an administrative license.

If you’re an international student, you’ll need extra documentation when you apply to your teaching program. It’s a good idea to start collecting those documents as soon as possible.

You’ll need: 

• Documentation that shows you are eligible to work legally in the U.S. This can be a copy of a valid work authorization, permanent resident card or U.S. passport.
• Test scores, if applicable (copies are okay).
• If you earned your degree in another country, you’ll also need an International Education Evaluation by an International Evaluation agency.

Learn more.

Your pay will depend on your years of experience and where you work. The average starting salary for North Carolina teachers is about $57,000. (2)

In North Carolina, the state pays a base salary to all teachers in the state. Most districts pay an additional salary supplement on top of the state salary. The supplemental salary is often a percentage of your overall base salary, so it will increase as you gain experience or credentials. (3)

Learn more about North Carolina teacher pay.

Wondering how to pay for your program? We can help! Here are a few of the tools TeachNC offers:

• TeachNC scholarships for future educators
• $100 back for any application-related costs
• Information about financial resources with our Finances Guide
• Explore scholarships and other opportunities with our Financial Aid Explorer.