Reciprocal Licensing

Reciprocity plans allow educators from outside North Carolina to establish eligibility for licensing in this state. Reciprocity applies to the extent that out-of-state education programs are equivalent to North Carolina's standards and guidelines for approved education programs. Certain requirements specific to North Carolina, such as the Praxis Series tests, are not covered by reciprocity and must be met before a clear North Carolina license can be issued.

North Carolina recognizes four teacher education and reciprocal licensing approaches:

• Completion of an education program accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• Completion of an education program that follow National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) standards
• Reciprocity based on interstate agreements. North Carolina has reciprocal contracts with:
  

  	Alabama		Louisiana		Oklahoma
  	Alaska		Maine		Oregon
  	Arkansas		Maryland		Pennsylvania
  	California		Massachusetts		Rhode Island
  	Colorado		Michigan		South Carolina
  	Connecticut		Mississippi		Tennessee
  	Delaware		Nebraska		Texas
  	Florida		Nevada		Utah
  	Georgia		New Hampshire		Vermont
  	Hawaii		New Jersey		Virginia
  	Idaho		New Mexico		Washington
  	Illinois		New York		West Virginia
  	Indiana		North Dakota		Wyoming
  	Kansas		Ohio		District of Columbia
  	Kentucky				Guam

• Completion of a state-approved program not accredited by NCATE, approved through the interstate agreement, or based on NASDTEC guidelines.

Reciprocity does not guarantee that all areas of licensure will transfer directly from one state to another, but applicants will receive the closest comparable North Carolina areas. In some cases, North Carolina grade level definitions (e.g., elementary and secondary) may differ from those in other states, and such a difference may be reflected on the North Carolina license.

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction