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

North Carolina Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the North Carolina data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Becoming a licensed secondary school teacher in North Carolina means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II 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 plus Subject Certification".

The initial price tag is $131, and renewal costs $86 every 5 years. Maintaining the license requires 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
54/100
Secondary 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 plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II 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 Secondary 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 Secondary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina requires, passing an exam (State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $131. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
Certification as a secondary school teacher in North Carolina means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to North Carolina from another state? ▼
Secondary School Teacher licenses generally reciprocate as follows: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does North Carolina require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Yes, North Carolina requires a criminal background check as part of the secondary school teacher licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in North Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as a secondary 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 secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in North Carolina, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary 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.