Areas of Licensure

Do I Need a Professional Educator's License To Work in NC Public Schools?

student on benchAll North Carolina teachers, student services personnel and administrators must be licensed to serve in the public schools.  Completion of an approved educator preparation program (EPP) whether traditional or alternative is the route to licensure.  See Beginning the Process for an Educator's License for more detailed information on the licensure process and the specific documentation required to apply.

Apply or Update Your License Online Now!

If you have completed either an in-state or out-of-state approved EPP you may access the NCDPI Online Licensure System to apply for or update a current license.  Instructions and more information are available within the online licensure system to guide you through the application process.

Current Professional Educator's License Categories Issued by the State of North Carolina

Tab/Accordion Items

This category covers grades Birth-6

Birth-Kindergarten (B-K)

Elementary (K-6) Science Add-on**

Preschool Add-on*

Reading (K-6)

Elementary (K-6)

English as a Second Language [ESL] (K-6)

Elementary (K-6) Second Language++  

Exceptional Children: General Curriculum (K-6)

Elementary (K-6) Math Add-on**

Exceptional Children: Adapted Curriculum (K-6)

* Available only to teachers with current licenses in elementary education, special education, or family and consumer sciences.

** Available upon completion of NCSBE approved educator preparation programs offered by approved NC universities.

++ May be added only to an Elementary (K-6) license and is valid for full-time assignments in grades 6 and below

This category includes grades 6-9

Middle Grades Language Arts 

Mathematics Middle Grades Mathematics

Mathematics Middle Grades Science

Middle Grades Social Studies

Middle Grades Literacy Coach**

** Available only to teachers who complete the NC
Teacher Academy Middle School Literacy Coach Training Program

This category includes grades 9-12

English

Anthropology

Mathematics

French

Science

Spanish

Earth Science

German

Biology

Japanese

Physics

Russian

Chemistry

Latin

Social Studies

Bible

Political Science

Journalism ++

Geography

Psychology ++

History

Italian

Economics

Chinese

Sociology

 

++ Issued only to individuals fully licensed in another area.

This category includes grades K-12

Art

American Sign Language

Hebrew 

Music

French

Hindi

Dance

Spanish

Italian

Theater Arts

German

Korean

Health Specialist

Japanese

Latin

Physical Education

Russian

Portuguese

Health and Physical Education

Arabic

Swahili
 

Safety and Driver Education*

Cherokee

Turkish

Speech Communication

Chinese

Computer Education Endorsement++ 

ESL

Greek (Ancient)

Junior ROTC 

Reading

Greek (Modern)

Other Second Languages

* Issued only if individual is fully licensed in another state or upon completion of NCSBE approved alternate route program.

++ Issued only to individuals fully licensed in another area.

This category covers all K-12 exceptionalities. In other states, this category may also be called Special Education.

Specific Learning Disabled

Cross Categorical (mildly/moderately disabled)

Academically Gifted

Severely/Profoundly Disabled

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Mentally Disabled

Special Education: General Curriculum

Visually Impaired

Special Education: Adapted Curriculum

Behaviorally/Emotionally Disabled

This category includes grades 6-12.  Vocational Education is a term used in other states for this group of license areas.

Agriculture Education

Health Science Education – Registered Nurse

Trade and Industrial Education-Collision Repair

Business, Finance and Information Technology Education

Health Science Education –Non-RN

Trade and Industrial Education- Automotive Service

Career Development Coordinator

Health Science Education –Biotechnology

Trade and Industrial Education-Construction

Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator

Information Technology Education

Trade and Industrial Education-Drafting

Family and Consumer Sciences - General

Marketing Education

Trade and Industrial Education-Welding

Family and Consumer Sciences - Apparel­

Special Populations Coordinator (Handicap/Disadvantaged)

Trade and Industrial Education- Manufacturing

Family and Consumer Sciences -Child Development & Family Studies

Technology Engineering and Design Education

Trade and Industrial Education-Digital Media

Family and Consumer Sciences -Foods and Nutrition/Culinary Arts

Technology Engineering and Design Education-Sci Vis & Game Art

Trade and Industrial Education-Public Safety

Family and Consumer Sciences -Interior Design

Career and Technical Education Director

Special Populations Coordinator

This category includes K-12 school and district level Administrative roles.

Superintendent*

Principal**

Curriculum Instructional Specialist**

Instructional Technology Specialist - Computers**

Media Supervisor**

Exceptional Children Program Administrator**

* Initial license is issued only at Educational Specialist or Doctoral levels

** Initial license is issued only at master's level or above

 

This category includes K-12 student services personnel who provide support services to school-aged children.

School Counselor*

School Social Worker

School Psychologist**

Instructional Technology Specialist - Telecommunications*

Media Coordinator*

Audiologist*

Speech-Language Pathologist***

*    Initial license is issued only at master's level or above

**  Initial license is issued only at Educational Specialist (sometimes called Advanced) or Doctoral levels

*** Effective July 1, 2011, the NCSBE will accept only a current and valid North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists license as the qualifying credential for service in public schools.