section .0300 – Licensure

16 NCAC 06C .0301         Definitions

As used in this Section, the following definitions apply:

(1)           "Administrator" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.1(1).

(2)           "Administrator license" is defined in 115C-270.20(b)(1).

(3)           "Administrator preparation program" or "APP" is defined in G.S. 115C-284.1(a).

(4)           "Applicant" means a person applying for any of the licensure services listed in 16 NCAC 06C .0371.

(5)           "Beginning teacher" is defined in 16 NCAC 06C .0202(4).

(6)           "Clear license" means a professional educator license or its equivalent that:

(a)           Is in good standing with the licensing authority that issued the license;

(b)           Does not require the completion of any additional professional examinations or coursework;

(c)           Has not been revoked or had discipline imposed by any jurisdiction;

(d)           Does not have an investigation relating to unprofessional conduct pending in any jurisdiction relating to the license; and

(e)           Has not been voluntarily surrendered while under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any jurisdiction.

(7)           "Continuing education unit" or "CEU" means credit earned by a professional educator for the purpose of renewing the educator's license. One CEU shall consist of either:

(a)           Two-thirds of a semester credit hour from an institution of higher education; or

(b)           Ten clock hours of professional development programming.

(8)           "Continuing professional license" or "CPL" means a five-year, renewable license issued to an applicant or professional educator who meets the relevant requirements established by this Section.

(9)           "Educator preparation program" or "EPP" is defined in G.S. 115C-269.1(10).

(10)         "Emergency license" or "EL" is defined in 115C-270.20(a)(2).

(11)         "EVAAS" means the Education Value-Added Assessment System.

(12)         "Initial professional license" or "IPL" means a three-year, nonrenewable license issued to an applicant or professional educator who meets the relevant requirements established by this Section.

(13)         "Jurisdiction" means any of the following:

(a)           A state, territory, or federal district of the United States.

(b)           A foreign country or political subdivision thereof.

(14)         "License" means a professional educator license issued by the State Board of Education in accordance with this Subchapter and Chapter 115C, Article 17E of the General Statutes.

(15)         "License area" means a grade level, content area, or specialization in which a license authorizes the licensee to practice.

(16)         "Licensure examination requirements" means the standardized examination requirements adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-270.15 for each license classification.

(17)         "Lifetime license" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(d).

(18)         "Limited license" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(4a).

(19)         "Out-of-state applicant" means any applicant who completed an educator preparation program or administrator preparation program with a principal place of business outside of North Carolina. This includes international preparation programs.

(20)         "Out-of-state exam" means a standardized examination recognized by the licensing authority of a jurisdiction outside North Carolina that is designed to demonstrate an applicant's academic and professional preparation in license area and the passage of which is necessary to be issued a renewable license in that jurisdiction.

(21)         "Provisional assistant principal license" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(b)(2).

(22)         "Renewal cycle" means the five-year period between each renewal of a CPL.

(23)         "Residency license" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(5).

(24)         "State Salary Schedule" means the salary schedule for teachers and other public school personnel administered by the State Board of Education in accordance with G.S. 115C-12(9)a and 115C-12(16).

(25)         "Student services personnel" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.1(4).

(26)         "Student services personnel license" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(b1).

(27)         "Teacher" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.1(5).

History Note:        Authority G.S. 115C-12(9); 115C-270.1; 115C-270.5; 115C-270.15; 115C-270.20;

Eff. July 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2000; March 1, 1990;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2026.