North Carolina, like many states, has a significant teacher shortage and, in order to fill vacancies, school districts are hiring an increasing number of teachers that are not yet certified. UNCW’s Watson College of Education offers several programs for individuals seeking NC licensure while working full time in the classroom.
“There are many pathways to becoming a teacher,” said Nicole Geczi, alternative licensure support and placements coordinator in WCE’s Office of Professional Experiences. “We have many students who begin work as a teacher or a teacher assistant before they obtain a NC teaching license. In my role, I have the opportunity to support all students pursuing licensure while employed full-time in public schools in North Carolina. Watson offers many programs for these working professionals, and I invite anyone interested in exploring this option to reach out. Our team is happy to help teachers and TAs find the program that’s best for them.”
North Carolina allows teachers to work in the school system with a bachelor’s degree while obtaining a NC teaching license. To achieve this, teachers can enroll in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program that enables them to earn a graduate degree while completing the requirements for residency licensure, or they can enroll in a residency licensure program, which is not a degree program but is designed to lead to NC teacher certification in a specific field of study.
Our programs are designed to accommodate working professionals while providing preparation for effective teaching and learning. Courses are offered online and are taught by experienced faculty with classroom teaching experiences. Field experiences may be completed in the teacher’s classroom, and edTPA support is embedded within the program to make the licensing process smoother for participating students.
MAT programs are offered in:
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs are offered in:
We offer two pathways for professionals looking to transition from teacher assistant to elementary school teacher:
Both programs are designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Courses are offered fully online with field experience placements that provide the thorough preparation new teachers need to succeed. Successful completion of either program leads to North Carolina teacher licensure and will prepare you to teach children in grades K-6.
For more information on Residency Licensure programs please visit the Residency Licensure website or view our Residency Licensure flyer.
For more information on TA to Teacher Programs please see our TA to Teacher flyer.
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