Key Points:
- North Carolina teacher licensing rules will now require new teachers to attempt certification exams in their first year.
- Teachers must attempt the test in year one and pass within three years to earn a Continuing Professional License.
- DPI is informing schools and programs to ensure a smooth rollout of the new requirement by 2026.
A major revision to the North Carolina teacher licensing process is underway, with state officials preparing to require beginning teachers to take their certification exams within their first year of employment. The State Board of Education will vote on the proposed rule change in December.
Currently, teachers are granted three years to pass their certification exams before becoming eligible for a continuing professional license. Under the new rule, educators would still have three years to pass, but must attempt the test during their first year of licensure.
Exam Rule to Align with State Statute
According to Tom Tomberlin, senior director of the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Office of Education Preparation and Teacher Licensure, the change is intended to ensure compliance with existing state law. “Were a candidate not to attempt their examination in the first year — even if they went on to pass that exam in the second or third year — we would not be able to convert them to a continuing professional license,” Tomberlin said at the board’s November 6 meeting.
The rule proposal follows guidance from DPI’s legal team, which advised that the current interpretation of the statute — previously treated as aspirational — must now be enforced as a formal requirement. Once approved by the Rules Review Commission, the regulation is expected to take effect on July 1, 2026. This change updates key aspects of North Carolina teacher licensing.
Background: From Flexibility to Compliance
In 2017, North Carolina lawmakers introduced the Initial Professional License (IPL) to address teacher shortages. The IPL allowed new teachers to begin teaching before passing their exams, providing a three-year non-renewable window to meet all testing requirements. Those who passed could then transition to a Continuing Professional License (CPL), which is valid for five years.
Tomberlin said that the original intent of the law was to encourage, not penalize, teachers taking exams early. However, recent legal interpretations indicate that candidates must attempt the exams during their first year to qualify for conversion later.
“This rule would require that they not only pass it by the end of the third year but also attempt it in the first,” Tomberlin explained. “It’s a very important change, and I want to make sure my K-12 colleagues are aware.”
Communicating the Upcoming Changes
To ensure awareness, DPI has begun informing teacher preparation programs, school districts, and educators statewide about the upcoming shift. Officials said they want to prevent confusion among teachers who might be unaware of the new first-year testing requirement.
“I wouldn’t want someone to come up and say, ‘Well, I didn’t know I had to take it the first year,’” said Connie Locklear, a member of the state’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) and director of the Indian Resource Center in Robeson County.
The department is also considering adjustments to the limited license rules, which allow schools to retain teachers who have not yet passed the exams. Officials say this option could provide flexibility as the new North Carolina teacher licensing requirement is phased in.
Teacher Retention and Future Outlook
The change comes amid challenges in teacher recruitment and retention. A recent state report found that nearly 10% of teachers leave the profession annually, with over 2,100 vacancies reported across the state’s 115 school districts at the start of the current school year.
While the rule aims to clarify testing expectations, education leaders are monitoring how it might affect new teacher onboarding. DPI officials emphasized that implementation will take time and coordination across multiple school systems.
For now, the department’s focus remains on ensuring that teacher candidates, schools, and preparation programs are fully informed before the policy takes effect next year. This is a key update in North Carolina teacher licensing.
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