Teachers Academy - School of Education
Lateral Entry
What is lateral entry?
Lateral entry licensure permits qualified individuals to teach in public schools while they earn an ongoing Standard Professional I license.
The State Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education require lateral entry teachers to complete all requirements to convert their licenses within three years. This includes
Coursework
- Affiliation with a state approved teacher education program at a North Carolina college or university, or affiliation with a Regional Alternate Licensing Center (RALC)
- Successful completion of the program of study (courses and other requirements) prescribed by the college or university or the RALC
- Successful completion of at least six semester hours of the required coursework each academic year
Professional Test
- Passing scores on North Carolina required PRAXIS II exams in the licensure area
Clinical Experience
- Documentation of at least one year of successful teaching in the licensure area
Application
- Application for Standard Professional I license, with recommendation by college, university or RALC
At UNCG, NC TEACH Alternative Licensure and PAIL provide structured programs of study for lateral entry teachers. NC TEACH offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs in middle grades, secondary education, French and Spanish, as well as undergraduate licensure programs in the arts and physical education. PAIL is the alternative licensure program in special education. In addition, a number of programs offer master's degree programs that lead to licensure and an advanced degree.
For information, please read about the programs at Alternative Licensure on this website
In addition, information about undergraduate programs can be found in the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin. Information about master's degree programs can be found in the UNCG Graduate Bulletin and by contacting the appropriate program coordinators (see Council of Program Coordinators).
What are the eligibility requirements for lateral entry?
Revised 1/9/2009
Retrieved at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/licensure/lateralentry.pdf
How does an individual acquire a lateral entry license?
After offering a teaching contract, the school system requests a lateral entry license from the State Department of Public Instruction's Licensure Section. A fee of $55 is assessed.
For more information about lateral entry licensure
See the State Department of Public Instruction website, http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/lateral/