LICENSURE

The Licensure Section 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.

Whether you are looking forward to your first educator position or are re-entering education after an absence, your steps to obtaining a license are easy and convenient.

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.

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE LICENSURE SECTION?

At this time there is no contact with the Licensure Section via email.

By Mail:

NC Department of Public Instruction
Licensure Section
6365 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-6365

By Phone:

Two phone numbers are available for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Standard Time:

1.919.807.3310 outside of North Carolina and

1.800.577.7994 within North Carolina.

LICENSE QUALIFICATIONS

These charts are for quick reference only. Please use the links on the left for more information.

All Teachers with 0-2 Years of Teaching Experience - Under review, will return soon.
Out of State Teachers with 3+ Years of Teaching Experience - Under review, will return soon.
Lateral Entry Teachers in North Carolina
(pdf, 31kb)

HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CURRENT LICENSE OR TEST SCORES?

Please submit your request in writing to the address above and include the following:

Your full name
Social Security Number
Item(s) you need a copy of
Current mailing address - copies cannot and will not be faxed due to confidentiality requirements.
$30 fee. You may pay by personal check, money order, or certified check made payable to the Department of Public Instruction. You may also pay by Visa or MasterCard. If you wish to pay by credit card, fill out the credit card payment form (pdf, 56kb).

OTHER RESOURCES

Professional Associations and Organizations

Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF): Since 1989, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has worked with VIF to welcome teachers from around the world to our state. Today, hundreds of North Carolina schools host over one thousand VIF participants from 48 different countries.

North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE): NCAE's mission is to advocate for members and students, to enhance the education profession and to advance public education.

Professional Educators of NC (PENC): PENC is an association of individuals committed to the right of every child to receive a quality, uninterrupted public education.

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) State Teacher Center: The SREB - State Teacher Center is an online resource designed to help you find information relevant to the teaching profession.

State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC): SEANC is committed to protecting and enhancing the rights and benefits of current, retired and future state employees.