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Teaching English as a Second Language Clinical Residency, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Your path to ESL licensure
  • K - 12

    Earn a License to Teach ESL in Grades K-12

  • 18

    Credit Hours

  • 100%

    Online

program completion feature
program completion feature

Offers

Dedicated faculty with expertise in teaching English language learners

Flexible online format designed to accommodate working professionals

An opportunity to learn the cultural and linguistic needs of ESL students

Applied learning opportunities

TESL Residency Licensure Program Overview

North Carolina Needs ESL Teachers

The Southeastern region of the United States has experienced very rapid growth in the past two decades. Immigrants and their families are coming to this area and adding to our communities and schools. However, there is a shortage of teachers that are prepared to work with immigrant children, the children of immigrants and adult English language learners.

Earn Your License Online

Our residency licensure pathway supports non-certified teachers who have been hired to teach ESL in grades K-12 in North Carolina public schools. Coursework is designed to lead to NC teacher certification.

This 18 credit-hour program can be completed in just over one year and is designed to accommodate working professionals while providing preparation for effective teaching and learning in the classroom. Dedicated faculty with extensive teaching experience teach all courses in this efficient and comprehensive program.

Develop Strong Teaching Skills

Candidates in the TESL Residency Licensure program will develop knowledge and skills commensurate with that of a first year ESL teacher. You will gain knowledge of K-12 communities and issues affecting the English language learner population, knowledge of linguistics and second language acquisition and instructional strategies for meeting the needs of students for whom English is a second language. You will also learn how to establish a classroom environment sensitive to the needs of all students and ways to use technology to enhance the academic achievement of English language learners.

Our TESL Residency courses are offered at the graduate level. This is not a degree program, but all courses can be transferred into our Master of Arts in Teaching in TESL degree program.

View Student Learning Outcomes
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About Watson’s TESL Program - Learn more about Watson’s undergraduate and graduate programs in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Sample Courses

sample courses
TSL 511 ESL Issues: Culture, Policy & Advocacy
TSL 516 Second Language Acquisition Research and Theory
TSL 517 Methods for Second Language Learners
TSL 518 English as a Second Language Assessment
EDN 590 Student Teaching in Education
See The Full Curriculum

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Residency Licensure is an alternative pathway to teaching that allows qualified individuals to begin teaching while completing North Carolina licensure requirements. Residency licensure replaces the lateral entry pathway, which was discontinued by the State Board of Education as of June 30, 2019.

Applicants for the Residency Licensure program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The applicant must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7, 24 hours in the content area they are teaching, and a passing score on the Praxis II ESOL.

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. These are two sample programs of study.

Two Courses Per Semester

  • First Fall Semester TSL 511 and TSL 516
  • First Spring Semester TSL 517 and TSL 537
  • First Summer TSL 518
  • Second Fall Semester EDN 590

One Course Per Semester

  • First Fall Semester TSL 511
  • First Spring Semester TSL 537
  • First Summer TSL 518
  • Second Fall Semester TSL 516
  • Second Spring Semester TSL 537 and EDN 590

In-state distance education fees apply to this program. Tuition and fees can be found at this website.

No. The program is not eligible for financial aid because Residency Licensure is not a degree program. (A post-baccalaureate program leads to licensure by the state.)

The residency license requires the acknowledgement of employment with a Local Education Agency (LEA) and enrollment in an EPP.

  1. The LEA fills out a residency license form verifying your employment, and sends the form to the EPP (i.e., the Watson College).
  2. The Watson College verifies enrollment in WCE’s Residency Licensure program and returns the document to the LEA.
  3. The LEA sends the form to the licensure department at NCDPI for processing. Once a Residency License is issued, it is good for one year and may be renewed twice.
  4. The teacher completes program coursework and submits an edTPA portfolio.
  5. After successful completion of the program, the EPP will recommend the teacher for a North Carolina Professional License.

Admission Deadlines & Requirements

Information: Teaching English as a Second Language Clinical Residency - Post-Baccalauraeate Certificate

Apply Now

  • Complete applications are reviewed for admission by the program as they are received.
  • All application and supporting documents must be received by the published deadline.

Coordinator

Location/Delivery Method

  • Distance Education - Online - Asynchronous (instructional materials made available on the Internet and available 24 hours a day every day-not time-dependent slots).

Deadlines (11:59 p.m. EST)

  • Spring 2025:
    • November 1, 2024
  • Summer I 2025:
    • May 1, 2025
  • Summer II 2025:
    • June 1, 2025
  • Fall 2025:
    • July 1, 2025

Transcripts

  • One official transcript is required from each U.S. post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Getting Started page for international transcript instructions.

Test Scores

  • None Required

Recommendations

  • None Required

Additional Requirements

  1. Upload Supplemental Documents After Application Submission
  2. Essay: Education Statement of Interest Essay
    Essay
  3. Teaching Position:
    This program is designed to provide coursework in the field of Teaching English as a Second Language for non-certified teachers who have been hired to teach in high need areas. This coursework is designed to lead to NC teacher certification. This is not a degree program. Applicants seeking a masters degree should apply to the Masters of Teaching in ESL degree.
  4. GPA Requirement:
    Undergraduate GPA of 3. 0 or better is recommended for application to UNCW. The state of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction requires that applicants have an undergraduate GPA of 2.7 to receive a teaching license.
  5. Praxis:
    Passing Praxis II ESOL score.(recommended) or 24 credit hours of content that can be applied to Teaching English as a Second Language content (as evidenced by submitted transcripts).  Contact the program coordinator with questions about this requirement.
  6. Financial Aid:  Non-federal loans are available for this program.  Admitted students may apply through the UNCW Scholarship Application to be considered for additional scholarships.  Please consult your Financial Aid Counselor for further details.
  7. Visa Sponsorship:  This program does not qualify for visa sponsorship.

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Teaching English as a Second Language Programs

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