16 NCAC 06C .0305 LICENSES FOR NON-TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATES

(a) A person who has not graduated from a teacher education program that has been approved under Rule .0202 of this Subchapter who later desires to teach shall have his/her credentials evaluated by an IHE approved in accordance with these Rules or regional alternative licensing center ("RALC"). The person shall satisfy the assessment of his/her needs and be recommended by the IHE or RALC for a license.

(b) Persons who have been selected for employment by a LEA under the lateral entry provisions of G.S. 115C-296(c) may obtain a license as follows:

(1) To be eligible for a lateral entry license, a person shall:

(A) have attained a bachelor's degree in the license area from a regionally-accredited IHE;

(B) be recommended for a lateral entry license by the employing LEA; and

(C) have had a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5, have five years of experience considered relevant by the employing LEA, or have passed the NTE PRAXIS 1 exams (Preprofessional Skills Tests in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) and have attained one of the following:

(i) a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all work completed in the senior year;

(ii) a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the major; or

(iii) a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a minimum of 15 semester hours of coursework completed within the last 5 years.

(2) A person who holds a lateral entry license shall complete a program that includes the following components:

(A) completion of an approved teacher education program in the area of licensure at a college or university or completion of a program of study outlined by the RALC;

(B) attaining a passing score on the PRAXIS subject exam(s) during the first two school years of holding the lateral entry license if the exam was not the basis of qualifying for the license;

(C) completion of a staff development program that includes a two-week training course prior to beginning the work assignment;

(D) completion of six semester hours of course work in the approved program each school year;

(E) successful completion of at least a three-year initial licensure program in the lateral entry license area; and

(F) completion of all the requirements of this Subparagraph within three years of becoming eligible for a lateral entry license and the recommendation of the IHE or RALC for a non-provisional (clear) license.

(3) Individuals who possess five or more years of experience considered relevant by the employing LEA and who satisfy testing requirements for the licensure area within the first year of teaching shall be issued an initial license upon:

(A) completion of the NC TEACH modules or the equivalent through an approved teacher education program: 1) The Teacher, The Learner, and The School; 2) Diversity; 3) Content Area Pedagogy;

NOTE: The NC TEACH modules are offered and administered through North Carolina colleges and universities that have approved teacher education preparation programs.

(B) completion of the NC TEACH module on Instructional Technology or its equivalent through an approved teacher education program, community college, or through professional development offered by the employing LEA; and

(4) The employing LEA shall commit in writing to:

(A) provide a two-week pre-work orientation that includes lesson planning, classroom organization, classroom management, and an overview of the ABCs Program including the standard course of study and end-of-grade and end-of-course testing;

(B) assign the person a mentor on or before the first day on the job;

(D) give regular focused feedback to the person for improving instruction; and

(E) assist the person in accessing prescribed course work and professional development opportunities.

(c) A person who is qualified to hold at least a class "A" teaching license may be issued additional areas of licensure on a provisional basis as needed by LEAs. The person must satisfy deficiencies for full licensure at the rate of six semester hours per year. The person must complete this yearly credit before the beginning of the following school year and the credit must be directly applicable to the provisional area(s). The person must complete all credit requirements by the end of the fifth year of provisional licensure.

(d) The Department shall issue an emergency license to persons who hold at least a baccalaureate degree but who do not qualify for a lateral entry license. The emergency license shall be valid for one year and may not be renewed. When it requests an emergency license for a person, the LEA must document that no appropriately licensed professionals or persons who are eligible for a lateral entry license are available to accept the position.

(1) To be eligible for an emergency license, the person must have attained a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited IHE and be recommended by the employing LEA.

(2) A person who holds an emergency license shall complete a program that includes the following components:

(A) The employing LEA shall commit in writing to:

(i) provide a two-week pre-work orientation that includes lesson planning, classroom organization, classroom management, and an overview of the ABCs Program including the standard course of study and end-of-grade and end-of-course testing;

(ii) assign the person a mentor on or before the first day on the job;

(iii) provide working conditions that are similar to those for novice teachers;

(iv) give regular focused feedback to the person for improving instruction; and

(v) assist the person in obtaining a teaching license.

(B) The person shall complete a staff development program that includes a two-week training course prior to beginning the work assignment.

(C) The LEA shall provide the person with on-going support designed to enhance the person's classroom teaching performance.

History Note: Authority G.S. 115C‑12(9)a; N.C. Constitution, Article IX, s. 5;

Eff. July 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. January 2, 2006; August 1, 2000; March 1, 1990.