The Licensure Section of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is responsible for examining credentials and issuing licenses that qualify individuals to seek employment as teachers, administrators, and other special service personnel in North Carolina public schools.
All professional employees of public schools must hold a license for the subject or grade level they teach or for the professional education assignment that they hold. Depending on the time of year, the licensure process may be approximately six weeks. Late spring and early summer are typically when the most license applications are submitted. College of Education and Allied Profession’s (CEAP) licensure specialist will be happy to assist you with the licensing process.
The standard basis for licensure is:
- the completion of a state approved education program at a regionally accredited college or university or the completion of an approved alternative route to licensure (lateral entry, licensure-only, MAT),
- having met the federal requirements to be designated as "Highly Qualified," and
- having earned a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a regionally accredited college.
At Western Carolina University, recommendations for licensure are made for administrative, supervisory, student service, and teaching areas. Teaching areas encompass birth-through-kindergarten, elementary (K-6), middle grades (6-9), secondary grades (9-12) - English, math, comprehensive science, comprehensive social sciences, special subjects (K-12) - art, music, physical education, Spanish, and exceptional children.
School-based administrators and student service personnel must also meet specific requirements for employment in North Carolina. Special services personnel include administrators and student services personnel school counselors, school psychologists, and speech-language pathologists.
Western Carolina University also offers add-on licensure programs in reading, academically gifted, school administration, and exceptional children program administrator.
For more information, please contact CEAP’s licensure specialist.