Alternative Licensure Pathway

There are two primary pathways to becoming a teacher in North Carolina, either through a Traditional Education program or an Alternative program. No matter your route to teaching, we require that all Beginning, Out of State, and International Teachers become licensed by North Carolina.

There are multiple license types: Professional Educator's Initial License, Professional Educator's Continuing License, Residency License, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Restricted License, and an Emergency License. Information on license types can be found on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) website.

If you have a bachelor's degree, you can pursue a career in teaching.

If you're interested in pursuing a teaching license through an alternative route, consider attending an Alternative Licensure Pathway webinar for more information. This program offers opportunities in the following instructional content areas:

Birth through Kindergarten
Elementary K-6
Exceptional Children (General and Adaptive Curriculum)
Multilingual Learner
Secondary English/Language Arts (Middle & High School)
Secondary Math (Middle & High School)
Secondary Science (Middle & High School)
Secondary History/Social Studies (Middle & High School)

Click here to register for our Alternative License Webinar To learn more about this alternative pathway to teaching, attend one of our Alternative License Webinars.

CMS Teaching Residency

The CMS Teaching Residency is an accelerated, affordable path to becoming a full-time CMS teacher. To be eligible for the Residency, you must hold a bachelor's degree, meet all legal requirements to work in the United States, have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7, and plan to take all state-required certification tests. We train residents to work in the grades and subject areas where they're needed most. Learn more.

Residency License

The Residency License is defined as a one-year license, renewable twice, that meets both of the following requirements:

Is requested by the local board of education; and
Accompanied by a certification of supervision from the recognized educator preparation program in which the individual is enrolled.

The individual for whom the license is requested meets all of the following requirements:

Holds a bachelor's degree;
Has either completed coursework relevant to the requested licensure area or passed the content area examination relevant to the requested licensure area that the State Board has approved;
Is enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program; and
Meets all other requirements established by the State Board, including completing pre-service requirements before teaching.

Emergency License

Career and Technical Education Restricted Licenses

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Restricted Licenses require that teaching candidates have related work experience for the CTE program area and the related degree. CTE Restricted Licenses allow candidates to obtain an Initial Professional Educator license based primarily on the candidate's work experience. An associate degree or high school diploma is the minimum education requirement in some CTE licensure areas, as long as the candidate meets the required work experience for the CTE Restricted route.

Partner Programs

Educational Partners International, LLC (EPI)
Educational Partners International, LLC: Designated by the U.S. Dept. of State as a J-1 exchange visitor program sponsor, EPI provides highly-qualified international teachers with the visa sponsorship and support needed to teach critical needs subjects in N.C. EPI assists teachers and schools with visa processing, licensure, professional and cultural development, and more. In addition, they provide a unique cultural exchange program emphasizing support.

Global Teaching Partners
Global Teaching Partners, LLC provides the recruitment, placement, and ongoing support of highly qualified K-12 international teachers. Global is committed to supporting its teachers in all aspects of life for the duration of their time in the program, which results in a retention rate of approximately 96.5% for the organization. Global teachers are highly motivated and will work hard to ensure their successful transition to living and teaching in the United States.

Participate
Participate: Since 1989, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has worked with Participate (formerly VIF) to welcome teachers from around the world to our state. Today, hundreds of North Carolina schools host about one thousand Participate international teachers from 48 countries.

Teach for America
Teach for America (TFA) is one of our teaching partnerships. They recruit outstanding and diverse leaders early in their careers and ask them to make a commitment that begins with two years of teaching in a public school, partnering with children and families most impacted by educational inequities.

Troops to Teachers

At Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), we believe military personnel make great employees. We invite you to apply to both our instructional and non-instructional career opportunities. There are many reasons we look to hire veterans, but our students are at the heart of all our hiring decisions. Are you ready to serve our youth?

All current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to participate in the Troops to Teachers (TTT) program. The last period of military service must be characterized as honorable. TTT provides counseling and, for those eligible for hire as teachers, referral services to assist with the transition to the classroom. Counseling includes discussing path options considering education level and referral to appropriate IHEs that offer teacher education programs applicable to the individual's interest and geography. Additionally, unofficial transcripts, résumé and cover letter reviews are available in North Carolina. We also have volunteer mentors available in many areas for observational experiences.

Visit the Troops to Teachers program website for more information.