Lateral Entry License

Lateral Entry License: Allows skilled individuals outside of the public education system to enter the teaching profession while completing an approved program.  All new Lateral Entry teachers are REQUIRED by law to complete a ten day training prior to taking over teaching responsibilities. Lateral entry licensure requirements must be met within three years.  In order to qualify for a Lateral Entry license, individuals must have at least a Bachelor’s degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university AND

EITHER:

• Relevant Degree (except for Elementary Education and Exceptional Children) OR
• 24 semester hours of course work in the core area (except for Elementary Education and Exceptional Children) OR
• Passing PRAXIS II subject assessment scores for the licensure area or The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL-only for World Languages except English)

AND

ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• 2.5 GPA OR
• Five years of relevant experience that occurred after Bachelor’s degree OR
• Passing PRAXIS I scores or a total SAT score of 1100 or a total ACT score of 24 PLUS one of the following:

• 3.0 GPA in the major field of study or
• 3.0 GPA in all courses in senior year or
• 3.0 GPA on a minimum of 15 semester hours of courses (related to teaching area of licensure) completed within the last five years

NOTE:
To qualify for a Lateral Entry license in Elementary Education or Exceptional Children (Teacher of Record positions), the PRAXIS II subject assessment must be met prior to employment.

To qualify for a Lateral Entry license in English As a Second Language you must have either 24 semester hours in English, Linguistics, a degree in English or the PRAXIS II.

Once a license is established, the holder must either associate with a college or university with an approved education program in the area of licensure OR submit their credentials to the Regional Alternative Licensing Center (RALC).  Either agency should outline a program of study of which the licensed individual must complete a minimum of six semester hours each year in order to be eligible for re-employment. (Note: Whether or not employment continues in a North Carolina school system, the lateral entry license holder must complete all requirements within the three year period.)

                EXAMPLE
Year 1: Begin teaching the 2007-2008 school year, but before the beginning of the second school year (2008-2009), must complete 6 semester hours of coursework.
Year 2: Teach the 2008-2009 school year, but before the beginning of the third school year (2009-2010), must have completed a minimum total of 12 semester hours of coursework.
Year 3: Teach the 2009-2010 school year, but before the beginning of the fourth school year (2010-2011), must have completed all required coursework and PRAXIS II testing.