Elementary School Teacher / North Carolina
2026 data North Carolina board official source

North Carolina Elementary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Instructs students in grades K-6. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the North Carolina data shows for Elementary School Teachers

Becoming a licensed elementary school teacher in North Carolina means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. North Carolina regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree in Education".

The initial price tag is $131, and renewal costs $86 every 5 years. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For elementary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
54/100
Elementary School Teacher · North Carolina

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$131
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A
$17/yr
$86 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in North Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree in Education
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$131
Renewal Fee
$86
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Elementary School Teacher All North Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Elementary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina requires, passing an exam (State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $131. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Elementary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina licenses elementary school teachers who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the North Carolina licensing board.
Can I transfer my Elementary School Teacher license to North Carolina from another state? ▼
For elementary school teachers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the North Carolina licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does North Carolina require a background check for Elementary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the elementary school teacher licensing process in North Carolina. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Elementary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as an elementary school teacher in North Carolina, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $86.

Related Guides

What to do with this elementary school teacher license

Elementary School Teacher in North Carolina, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an elementary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the North Carolina licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.