Residency Licensure is an alternative pathway to teaching that allows qualified individuals to begin teaching while completing North Carolina licensure requirements. Residency licensure has replaced the lateral entry pathway, which was discontinued by the State Board of Education in 2019.
Applicants for the program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Individuals hired to teach without a North Carolina teaching license must affiliate with an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) before the employing school system can apply for the new teacher’s Residency License. The Residency License is good for one year and can be renewed twice. This enables candidates to teach for up to three years while completing an EPP course of study needed to attain a clear teacher license.
An Educator Preparation Program (EPP) is a four-year university, college or organization that prepares, trains and recommends students for teacher licensure. UNCW’s Watson College of Education is a North Carolina approved Educator Preparation Program.
UNCW is currently accepting applications.
This program can be completed in approximately 18 months, depending on how many courses the applicant is comfortable taking in each semester. Interested teachers should consult with the program coordinator on a program of study.
The residency license requires the acknowledgement of employment with a Local Education Agency (LEA) and enrollment in an EPP. Interested teachers should consult with their licensure specialist or contact Nicole Geczi at geczin@uncw.edu.