16 NCAC 06C .0338         Residency license

(a)  The governing body of a public school unit or an eligible nonpublic school may request a residency license for an applicant under its employment if the applicant meets the requirements of G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(5) and has either:

(1)           Completed at least 24 hours of coursework in the content area for which the license is sought; or

(2)           Passed the applicable licensure examination requirements for that content area.

For purposes of this Rule, an "eligible nonpublic school" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(5)a.2.

(b)  A person who holds or previously held a residency license shall not be eligible for a permit to teach or an emergency license.

(c)  A person who previously held a lateral entry license issued by the SBE under G.S. 115C-297 (repealed by S.L. 2017-189) but did not convert that license to a CPL prior to its expiration shall qualify for a residency license in the same license area if the person:

(1)           Meets the requirements of G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(5); and

(2)           Has passed the applicable licensure examination requirements for that content area.

(d)  To renew a residency license, the PSU governing body or eligible nonpublic school employing the applicant shall provide documentation to the SBE that the applicant:

(1)           Is enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program;

(2)           Is employed as a teacher in the public school unit or eligible nonpublic school;

(3)           Acquired at least six months of teaching experience during the preceding school year; and

(4)           Completed 10 days of professional development, as described in Rule .0339 of this Section, in the first year of the residency license.

(e)  If an applicant fails to renew a residency license for the second or third year, the residency license shall expire. A PSU governing body or eligible nonpublic school that hires the applicant within three years of the effective date of the initial residency license may request that the SBE reinstate the license, provided that the license has not already been renewed twice and the PSU or eligible nonpublic school employing the applicant provides documentation that the applicant is employed by the PSU governing body or eligible nonpublic school employing and enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program.

(f)  To convert a residency license to an IPL or a CPL, the applicant shall:

(1)           Meet the requirements for an IPL in Rule .0336 or a CPL in Rule .0337 of this Section; and

(2)           Be recommended by the EPP that prepared the licensee.

If the applicant satisfies the above requirements by June 30 of the third year of the residency license, the IPL or CPL shall be effective July 1 of the next fiscal year. If the applicant fails to satisfy the requirements by this date, the residency license shall expire and the IPL or CPL shall be effective on the date the applicant satisfies the requirements.

(g)  The governing body of a public school unit or eligible nonpublic school employing the applicant may request a residency license in an additional license area for an applicant under its employment if the applicant holds a clear license in another license area, provided that the applicant meets the requirements of G.S. 115C-270.20(a)(5) for each of the requested areas.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 115C-12(9); 115C-270.5; 115C-270.10; 115C-270.15; 115C-270.20; 115C-270.25; 115C-295;

Eff. October 1, 2020;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2026.