Frequently Asked Questions for Licensure Only

1. If I have already earned a bachelor’s degree, how do I get a license to teach in North Carolina?
   


2. How do I become a “lateral entry” teacher?
   


3. What licensure programs are offered at UNCW?
   


4. What education courses do I need to take to get a license?
   


5. Do I get credit for courses I have already taken?
   


6. What steps do I take to be admitted to UNCW?
   


7. What are the requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education?
   


8. What are the content course requirements for middle grades licensure?
   


9. What are the content course requirements for secondary (high school) licensure?
   


10. Will I be licensed to teach if I move to another state?
    


11. Is financial aid available for “licensure only” students?
    

1. If I have already earned a bachelor’s degree, how do I get a license to teach in North Carolina?

The requirements vary depending on which license you are seeking. Go to: http://www.uncw.edu/ed/deglicenpdfs/checklicensure.pdf for more information on the steps you need to take.

2. How do I become a “lateral entry” teacher?

When a person is hired to teach by a school system and does not have a North Carolina teaching license, it is called lateral entry. The person has until 2006 to complete the course requirements for licensure. People are hired lateral entry only when there are no licensed teachers to fill the vacancy. Go to: www.uncw.edu/ed/degrees.html. You will find a list of the degree and licensure programs that are offered. Select the program that you are interested in for detailed information.

3. What licensure programs are offered at UNCW?

• Education of Young Children (birth-kindergarten)
• Elementary Education (grades K-6)
• Middle Grades Education (grades 6-9)
• Special Education (grades K-12)

Licensure for grades 9-12

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Geology
• Physics
• Science
• Social Studies

Licensure for grades K-12

• Physical Education
• Music
• French
• Spanish

Alternative Pathways to Teaching

4. What education courses do I need to take to get a license?

Go to www.uncw.edu/ed and click on degrees and licensure programs. The list of education courses that are required is included in the program description.

5. Do I get credit for courses I have already taken?

An analysis of your transcripts will determine what course requirements have already been met. An individual plan of study will list what courses remain to be taken. For more information please contact the Watson School of Education 962-3350 for all of the licensure areas except for Education of Young Children (EYC). Contact Dr. Edna Collins for EYC at (910) 962-7790.

6. What steps do I take to be admitted to UNCW?

There is a checklist for completing licensure requirements at http://www.uncw.edu/ed which includes the information about application for admission. You will be applying for admission as a “special undergraduate”. Check the box at the top of the application that has this label.

7. What are the requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education?

The specific requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education are described at http://www.uncw.edu/ed/degrees.html. Click on the “Student Information and Admissions Requirements” link. Admission to the Watson School of Education is required in order to take education courses that are numbered higher than EDN 303. One must submit a completed application form which will be reviewed at the end of the fall, spring, or summer II semesters once grades have been posted. If your application is denied, you must complete a new application for the next review.

8. What are the content course requirements for middle grades licensure?

Accreditation needs 24 hours of content coursework in one of the following subjects: English, math, social studies or science. That subject area will be your primary teaching field, and you will take the methods course as well as the remainder of the middle grades education courses. We encourage students to also become licensed in an additional teaching field. The content requirement for the additional field is 18 hours, and you will also take the methods course that is appropriate for that field.

9. What are the content course requirements for secondary (high school) licensure?

A degree in the content area that you will be teaching is required for secondary licensure. For example, a degree in English is required to teach English at the high school level. If the degree does not completely match your field, a transcript analysis can be done to determine what requirements have been met and what content and education courses remain to be taken.

10. Will I be licensed to teach if I move to another state?

North Carolina Department of Instruction has reciprocity with 41 other states. You will be able to apply for a license in the new location and will meet most of the licensure requirements. There may be a need to take additional tests other than Praxis because the licensure tests vary from state to state.

11. Is financial aid available for “licensure only” students?

You can apply for a student loan as a “special undergraduate”. Go to the financial aid and veteran’s services webpage at www.uncw.edu/finaid. The category on the webpage that is titled About Financial Aid provides extensive information and links to many subcategories. There is also a category that is titled Forms which provides all of the forms that one needs to complete. It is important to contact the financial aid office to ask questions and be assigned a financial aid counselor.