Alternative Pathways to Teaching License
(Post-baccalaureate)
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Secondary Education
Designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in English, history, mathematics, science, or Spanish (or a specified amount of coursework in each according to the content area pursued) who wish to earn teaching license via a graduate degree program. Click here for more information about the M.A.T. program for Secondary Education.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades Education
Designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree with semester hours of approved credit in English, social studies, mathematics, or science, and wish to earn teacher licensure to instruct the younger adolescent via a graduate degree program. Click here for more information about the M.A.T. program for Middle Grades Education.
Undergraduate Licensure-only Program (Post-baccalaureate)
This is a program designed for those who already possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. This is an undergraduate non-degree plan of study toward one's teaching credential. A student may begin taking classes any semester and complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis.
Students participating in this college-credit program must already have a bachelor’s degree, and may or may not be employed by a school system. Being employed by a school system is not required in order to take classes toward teaching license. However, some of our applicants are currently teaching in the classroom as lateral entry teachers.
As a point of clarification, lateral entry is strictly a hiring term used by the state for employing an uncertified person to teach. This person will have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related area to the opening, and can only be hired if there is not a certified teacher available. Once a person is hired laterally, they will then be given a 3 year lateral entry teaching license and will have to complete a program for clear license during that time. Teaching one year under the provisional teaching license will waive the need for student teaching.
A plan of study is individualized, based on one’s previous degree and the licensure area sought. Most plans of study may be completed in a minimum of two academic years, if the student attends on a full time basis (12 – 18 semester hours per semester). However, length of time to complete a plan of study (beyond 2 academic years) will vary based on number of courses required, and full or part time status.
Included in the licensure-only program is NC Teach II - program is currently under funding-review and no new students are being added. NC Teach II is a grant funded licensure-only program targeted for specific teaching areas - specifically middle grades and secondary math and science, and special education teaching license. For information on the NC Teach II program, click here.
Checklist For Completing Licensure Requirements (Licensure-only)
Alternative Pathways to Teaching License Matrix
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lateral entry?
Lateral entry is a hiring term used by the state for employing an uncertified person to teach. This person will have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related area to the opening, and can only be hired if there is not a certified teacher available. Once a person is hired laterally, they will then be given a 3 year lateral entry teaching license and will have to complete a program for clear license during that time, through a licensure-only or M.A.T. program. Teaching one year under the provisional teaching license will waive the need for student teaching. For more information on Lateral entry requirements, go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/lateral/.
Licensure areas included in the Undergraduate Licensure-only Program
Students who are participating in the Licensure-only program (including lateral entry teachers) may earn teaching license in any of the following areas by completing required courses as determined by the advisor for licensure-only programs. For program information, go to http://www.uncw.edu/ed/degree_under.html
- Education of Young Children (B-K)
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Special Education (K-12)
- General Curriculum
- Adapted Curriculum - Middle Grades Education (6-9)
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies - Secondary Education (9-12)
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies - Special Subjects K-12 Licensure
- Foreign Language (French, Spanish)
- Physical Education
- Music
For more information:
Mr. Sam Black
Alternative Licensure Coordinator
Watson School of Education
blacks@uncw.edu