Residency Licensure

The Residency Licensure pathway is tailored for individuals who already possess a bachelor's degree and wish to begin teaching while completing the necessary requirements for full licensure. This program allows candidates to work as teachers under a one-year Residency License, which is renewable up to two additional times, totaling three years. During this period, participants must fulfill specific pedagogy and testing requirements to transition to a full Initial Professional License (IPL) or Continuing Professional License (CPL).

UNCP's Residency Licensure pathway is aligned with the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, providing a structured route for career changers or recent graduates to enter the teaching profession faster while working on their degree. Candidates are required to be employed by a North Carolina Local Education Agency (LEA) and enrolled in an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at UNCP. The program emphasizes the completion of licensure exams and pedagogical training within the three-year time frame to ensure a smooth transition to full licensure.

Minimum Requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
• Have either completed 24 hours of coursework in the requested licensure area or passed the North Carolina State Board of Education NCSBEE) required content area examination(s) for the requested licensure area.
• Be enrolled in a recognized Educator Preparation Program EPP).  Students must have earned a grade point scale for formal admission to approved North Carolina EPPs.
• Meet all other requirements established by the NCSBEE, including completing pre-service requirements prior to teaching.