Educators are vital to our future, and they’re sought after in North Carolina schools. Find out how and where you can build a sustainable, fulfilling career while you give back to your community.
In step with the national shortage of teachers, educators and paraeducators (like teaching assistants) in North Carolina are much a needed resource. High-need subject areas like math, science, special education and elementary education have additional vacancies.
If you’ve considered ways to help your community and future generations, becoming a teacher is a public service that is also a fulfilling and stable career.
You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a high-needs area. When you get licensed to teach in a shortage area, you may also become eligible for generous student loan forgiveness programs. Some districts may also provide salary supplements and/or signing bonuses.
If you’re inspired to make a difference for students, you can have a big effect working in an educator shortage area.
As of 2019, there were 94,410 teaching positions and 7,111 of those were unfilled at the start of the school year. (1) To get a sense of what subject areas are in high demand, here are the job openings for the beginning of the 2020 school year:
Source: Public Schools of North Carolina
Search for schools that are currently looking to fill teaching, support staff, administration and many more positions on this job board provided by our partner, SchoolSpring.
When you hear the term “shortage area,” you might be wondering why these areas are so hard to fill. There are a lot of reasons why the areas listed above have staffing shortages. We’ll go over a few of those here.
“Latinos are younger, as a group, so they make up a greater share of the student population than the adult population. Teachers may stay in the profession for decades, so it takes time for the workforce to transform.” (2)
If you’re curious about teaching, but not sure if it’s right for you, we have good news: You don’t have to commit right away!
Senate Bill 582, which passed in the House and Senate in 2021, would address North Carolina’s teacher shortage by allowing people with a college degree to teach high school classes without a teaching license. (6)
There are a lot of ways you can gain education experience and get a sense of the work before you pursue a teaching license. For example, you can consider:
What do these jobs look like? In the next section, we’ll go over a few classroom roles and what to expect.
If you’re wondering about the requirements to become a teacher in North Carolina, you’ve come to the right place.
To become a North Carolina teacher, you’ll need to complete a few steps. Here’s the Cliffs Notes version:
Becoming a teacher in North Carolina can sound like a lot—but that’s where TeachNC comes in! We’re here for you every step of the way, from choosing the right program to completing your applications to preparing for licensing tests. Chat with a TeachNC coach for more info on how to get started.
Visit our About Licensure page for a full explanation and (free!) downloadable PDF that covers the licensure process from start to finish.
We’re always working on something new to help the next generation of great teachers. With an account, you get first dibs!
Learn how you can start a high-demand career and make a difference for North Carolina students.
