TFA is a non-traditional pathway into the classroom, which means you don’t need to have a teaching license when you start. TFA welcomes candidates from all backgrounds. 

Once you get your North Carolina placement, you’ll pursue full teacher licensure through a TFA partner institution. In North Carolina TFA has a partnerships with East Carolina University and Western Governors University. Each program is uniquely designed to meet TFA corps members’ needs. 

Salary and Benefits

TFA corps members are not volunteers. You'll earn a salary and benefits through your school district, and you'll receive the same pay rate as any other beginning teacher in your region. 

TFA also has opportunities for housing assistance, scholarships and other financial aid, to help you pay for moving, licensure and other costs of living. Check out TFA's financial aid page to learn more. 

Education award 

As part of the AmeriCorps national service network, most TFA corps members are also eligible for an AmeriCorps education award after each successful year of teaching. The specific award amount varies, but it is usually between $5,300 and $6,100.

You can use your education award to pay for qualified student loans and educational expenses like tuition. You can also use this award to pay for your teacher licensure.

TFA believes that teaching is the greatest act of leadership. The program puts energy, attention and resources into developing and supporting TFA teachers. 

Throughout your two-year commitment, you’ll have access to a personal leadership coach and high-quality professional development opportunities that are specifically designed for TFA corps members.

TFA corps members work and lead alongside students, families and communities to expand educational opportunities. 

When you join TFA, you have access to a community of 64,000 corps members and alumni nationwide—a network of support that will challenge, guide and push you to create a more equitable education for all students.

Summer Training Model

Before you enter the classroom, you will complete TFA’s Summer Training Model. This is your chance to get intensive, hands-on instructional support and coaching before you start teaching.

The Summer Training Model is an essential component of your experience, and sets TFA apart from other programs. Generally, TFA’s summer training focuses on the following areas: 

• Foundations of Teaching: You will build knowledge, skills, and mindsets to plan and deliver effective lessons, build relationships with students and create a productive learning environment. This experience is intended to help you build fundamental knowledge, not mastery.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness: This part of the training will help you develop your approach to culturally relevant teaching, alongside peers who are also committed to doing this critical self-reflection. During these sessions, you will lay the groundwork for your ongoing development as a leader working toward systems change.
• Leadership: You will also explore TFA’s “Theory of Leadership.” You’ll learn how your role as an educator will help you build skills and experiences to change the systems that contribute to educational inequity.