16 ncac 06c .0302         general licensure requirements

(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, any person employed as a professional educator in a North Carolina public school shall hold or be qualified to hold a professional educator license issued by the State Board of Education in accordance with this Section.

(b)  The State Board of Education shall issue the following classifications of professional educator licenses:

(1)           Teacher;

(2)           Administrator; or

(3)           Student Services Personnel.

(c)  Each license issued by the State Board of Education shall include the following information:

(1)           The grade levels, content areas, and specializations for which the applicant shall be eligible for employment;

(2)           The applicant's years of professional experience; and

(3)           The applicant's degree level, which shall be based on the highest degree issued to the applicant by an educator preparation program.

(d)  For any license that requires the applicant to complete an educator preparation program, the EPP must either be recognized by the State Board of Education or by the equivalent licensing authority in the state, country, or other jurisdiction in which the EPP maintains its principal place of business.

(e)  The State Board of Education shall issue a license once the applicant submits a complete license application. An application is considered complete when the applicant has:

(1)           Submitted all information, documentation, and credentials required by 16 NCAC 06C .0334, thereby demonstrating qualification for the license;

(2)           Paid the relevant application fee, as prescribed by 16 NCAC 06C .0371; and

(3)           If applicable, been cleared from any investigation conducted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to 16 NCAC 06C .0603.

(f)  A complete application for one of the licensure services specified in 16 NCAC 06C .0371, except for license renewal, must be submitted to the SBE by April 15 of a given fiscal year to guarantee processing of the application prior to the end of the fiscal year. If a complete application is submitted after April 15 and the SBE does not approve the application prior to the end of the fiscal year, a PSU employing the applicant shall not use State or federal funds for the purpose of paying the applicant's salary for the fiscal year in which the application was submitted.

(g)  Every license shall expire on June 30 of the calendar year in which it is set to expire, unless it is renewed, extended, or converted to another type of license in accordance with this Section.

History Note:        Authority G.S. G.S. 115C-12(9); 115C-218.90; 115C-270.5; 115C-270.10; 115C-270.15; 115C-270.20; 115C-270.30; 115C-295;

Eff. July 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2000;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2026.