Special Announcements

Licensure Renewal

UPDATE:  For your convenience the renewal application will remain open through July 31, 2020 and your license will not expire if you submit your renewal by that date.  Please login at https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov to complete and submit your open renewal application.

See important details below for renewing educators who are both employed and not employed in North Carolina public schools.  Charter school employed educators should contact their school's licensure/administrative staff for renewal assistance.

Steps to a NC Teacher License Renewal:

License Renewal Steps for Educators Employed in a NC School System Who Have Met Renewal Credits:

1. Access your open Renewal application by logging in at https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov/

2. Complete the Statement of Applicant questions

3. Submit the application 

4. Pay the $35 fee

• Employed educators who have not met renewal credits should take no action.  The license will receive a one-year extension through June 30, 2021.

License Renewal Steps for Educators Not Employed in a NC School System Who:

A.  Have Met Renewal Credits

1. Access your open Renewal application by logging in at https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov/

2. Complete the Statement of Applicant questions

3. Upload documentation of renewal credits (CEUs certificates, official degree-dated transcripts, etc.)

4. Submit the application

5. Pay the $35 fee

B.  Have Not Met Renewal Credits

1. Access your open Renewal application by logging in at https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov/

2. Complete the Statement of Applicant questions

3. Upload a memo requesting the extension to 6/30/2021 when prompted to provide renewal credits

4. Submit the application

5. Pay the $35 fee

UPDATE (07/06/2020):  For your convenience, the renewal application will remain open through July 31, 2020.  Your license will not expire if you submit your renewal by that date.  Please login at https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov to complete and submit your open renewal application.

Interested in changing your career to teaching?  Check out North Carolina's new Residency License.

North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) required licensure exams are outlined in policy LICN-003. Prepare and register to take SBE required licensure exams:

• Pearson 

• Praxis 

The NCDPI Online Licensure System will assist you through the application process.  Begin by creating a licensure account.  Simply click NCDPI Registration at the bottom left of the online application system main page.

Contact the Licensure office by phone at 800-577-7994 (toll-free within North Carolina) or (919) 716-1800.

• If you are calling because you are having trouble logging in to the online licensure system or for password resets, please press 3.

• If you have general licensure questions, please press 2 to speak to a Licensure Specialist.

• If you are checking on the status of an application that you have already submitted, please press 1.

Professional Educator's License Renewal

The renewal process ensures that North Carolina Continuing Professional License (CPL) educators engage in on-going updates of their professional knowledge and technical competence. The CPL must be renewed every five years on or after April 15th of the year that a license expires. 

If your license expired in previous years, the renewal request can be submitted at any time. 

Tracking and Recording Your Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

• A valid current out-of-state license cannot be used to renew your North Carolina license.

• Each educator is responsible for knowing and satisfying their license renewal requirements.

• On or after April 15th of the year that a license expires, renew by submitting credits, official final transcripts, professional development certificates, etc. to the NCDPI Licensure Section for renewal as part of a complete application in the NCDPI Online Licensure System.

  • Experience verification forms should be included in the renewal request

Renewal and Reinstatement Requirements Total 8 CEUs or 80 Clock Hours of Professional Development

*As a condition of employment per NC State Board of Education Policy LICN-005 employing school systems reserve the right to assign literacy requirements for any educator.

*Renewal requirements are subject to change based on NC State Board of Education policy updates.

Credits Required for Licensure Renewal

Grades K-5

• 3 Subject Area 

• 3 Literacy

• 2 Digital Learning 

Student Services Personnel

• 3 Professional Discipline

• 2 Digital Learning

• 3 General

Grades 6-12

• 3 Subject Area 

• 2 Digital Learning 

• 3 General

Administrators

• 3 Executive's Role

• 2 Digital Learning 

• 3 General

Renewal Criteria

• A unit of renewal credit (CEU) is equal to 10 clock hours of professional development

• 8 units of renewal credit are required to renew both a current and expired CPL

• For a CPL to remain current, all renewal credit must be earned by the expiration date of the license

Activities Accepted for Renewal Credit:

• College or university courses

  • Official transcripts are required as documentation; grade reports are not accepted.

• Local in-service courses or workshops

  • The administrative unit certifies credits.

• Classes and workshops approved by an LEA

  • Documentation of completion is provided by the agency sponsoring the activity.

Out-of-State Educators

1.  I have a license from another state and I would like to teach in North Carolina. What should I do?

• Please Begin the Process for an Educator's License.

2.  Will my experience from another state be credited to my NC professional educator's license?

• Yes, if verified properly, your K-12 teaching experience may be credited. Please Begin the Process for an Educator's License and include Professional Educator's License Experience Verification (Form E).

3.  How do I transfer my license from another state to North Carolina?

• Begin the Process for an Educator's License.

• North Carolina recognizes approved EPPs from all states

Contact NCDPI Licensure Office

1.  Through the Licensure Online System

2.  Call 800-577-7994 (toll-free within North Carolina) or (919) 716-1800

3.  Email asklicensure@dpi.nc.gov and provide the following information:

• Your full legal name

• Last 4 digits of your SSN

• Your NC educator's license or application number

  • Failure to provide this information may delay or deny our ability to respond.