RENEWAL CREDITS INFO

Keeping records of renewal credit

  • Individuals employed in a public school unit (or a nonpublic school authorized to administer staff development programs) should contact the superintendent, headmaster, or designated staff development coordinator about all renewal questions and recording of credits earned.

  • Individuals not currently employed in a public school unit (or a nonpublic school authorized to administer staff development programs) should maintain their own records of renewal credit until it is time to renew their professional educator's licenses. Contact your former public school employer(s), if applicable, to receive a signed and dated copy of renewal credits earned while employed.

    • At the time of renewal, April 15th through June 30th of the year that a license expires, such credits should be submitted to the Licensure Section for renewal through the NCDPI Online Licensure System.

*The definition of teacher includes instructional support personnel

Credits required for licenses expiring on: June 30, 2017 & June 30, 2018

Grades K-5
3 Subject Area 3 Literacy

2 General

Grades 6-12
3 Subject Area 5 General

Student Services Personnel
3 Professional Discipline Area 5 General

Administrators
3 Executive's Role 5 General

Credits required for licenses expiring on or after: June 30, 2019

Grades K-5
3 Subject Area 3 Literacy

2 Digital Learning Competencies

Grades 6-12
3 Subject Area 2 Digital Learning Competencies

3 General

Student Services Personnel
3 Professional Discipline Area 2 Digital Learning Competencies

3 General

Administrators
3 Executive's Role 2 Digital Learning Competencies

3 General

*As a condition of employment per NC State Board of Education (NCSBE) Policy LICN-005, LEAs 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.

*As a condition of employment per NC State Board of Education (NCSBE) Policy LICN-005, LEAs 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.

Renewal Criteria:

  • A unit of renewal credit is equivalent to one quarter hour or one in-service credit from a North Carolina public school system. A unit reflects ten contact hours.

  • One semester hour is equivalent to 1.5 units of credit.

  • For a professional educator's license to remain current, all credit must be earned by the expiration date of the existing professional educator's license.

  • To renew an expired Professional Educator's Continuing License, 8 units of renewal credit must be earned.

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.

How to Apply for Renewal of a Professional Educator's License

Access the NCDPI Online Licensure System to request renewal of your Professional Educator's License. Instructions and more information are available within the online licensure system. You must upload into the system the following documentation to verify your eligibility for licensure renewal:

  • Official Transcripts - Grade reports are not accepted in place of official transcripts.

  • Certificates of renewal credits and/or additional supporting documentation that shows the number of contact hours earned for professional development activities.

Form E - Verification of K-12 Educator Experience (pdf, 27kb or doc, 69kb) should be included if you have teaching experience that has not been filed with the Licensure Section.