Licensure presentation

1. Pathway to NC Licensure
A practicing Teacher’s Perspective
Mrs. Maureen Stover, M.Ed
Cumberland International Early College High School - Cumberland County Schools

2. I love to Teach because of these Amazing Kids
And they Deserve Great Teachers!

3. My Credentials
- B.S. in Biology (US Air Force Academy, 1997)
- Post-Bacc in Computer science (Air Force Institute of Technology, Univ Of CO, 1998)
- Post-Bacc in Science Education (WGU-UT, 2009)
- M. ED in STEM Curriculum and INstruction (Adams State University, 2016)
- Leadership Certificate in STEM Education (Teachers College, Columbia univ, 2016)
- MAT in Secondary Science education (WGU-NC, 2020)
Licenses: Florida: Biology 6-12, ELementary Education K-6
North Carolina: Biology 9-12, Science 6-9, Science 9-12
Teaching Experience: 8 years (6 years HS, 1 Year Elementary, 1 Year MS)
Related Educational experience: 6 Years as NSTa Educational consultant

4. My Credentials (According to DPI) ● No credit for out
of state teaching
experience
● Only educational
experience is BS
● Issued certificate
based solely on
undergraduate
degree work (no
credit for ed prep
program)
● Completed BT
program in 2019

5. Challenges to Transferring my License:
One teacher’s story
1. Process of transferring my Florida
Professional Educator’s Certificate to
North Carolina
2. Complications
3. Navigating the transfer and licensure
process as a North Carolina Beginning
Teacher

6. But as a reminder...
These kids are why I’m a teacher

7. Concerns
1. Would all prospective
teachers be willing to
“jump through hoops”
2. Even if we do not
compensate advanced
degrees can they at least
be acknowledged on a
teacher’s license
3. Clearer information about
the transfer process on
the Licensure Webpage
Retrieved from:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educators-licensure/f
orms-and-faqs

8. Positive outcomes
1. Outstanding support from my principal and Superintendent
2. Improved my teaching practice
3. Enabled me to be a fully licensed teacher on a Continuing
License
4. Fully understood NC’s BT Program which made me a better
Mentor teacher and a better Cooperating Teacher

9. In The end
Every Challenge Was Worth it Because I Get to Teach These Kids

10. Licensure Process for Out-of-
State Teachers
Thomas Tomberlin
Director, Educator Recruitment and Support

11. Contribution to NC Pipeline
• In the 2019-2020 school year, there were
approximately 7,118 new teachers
employed in NC. 1,685 (23.7%) of those
teachers came from another state.
• For the current year, there are 4,768 new
teachers hired and 1,276 (26.8%) are from
another state.

12. Complexity of Licensure Process

13. Complexity of Licensure Process

14. Considerations for Out-Of-State Teachers
• Educator Preparation Program
• Out of state license
• Level of license issued in North Carolina
• Requirements to convert to CPL
• Bachelor or Masters level license
• Years of experience/placement of salary
scale

15. Educator Preparation Program
• Other states’ EPPs are recognized by NC
as providing adequate preparation
(reciprocity).
• Licensure will accept out-of-state
preparation for a candidate if that
preparation program leads to licensure in
the state of origin.
• Out of state licensure exams are
recognized by NC (with some exceptions)

16. Out of State License
• NCDPI will accept another state’s license
as the basis for issuing an NC license.
• Candidate must have effectiveness data to
be granted a CPL.
• NC testing requirements in effect if
candidate does not have ‘comparable’ test
from another state.
• >3 yrs of certified teaching in another state
critical trigger for BTSP

17. Level of Licensure
• G.S. § 115C-270.25 requires out-of-state
teachers to provide effectiveness data
(including growth data, where applicable)
in order to be issued a continuing
professional license).
• Experienced teachers (>3 yrs) who are
issued an IPL are not required to complete
BTSP

18. Requirements to convert to CPL
• Beginning Teacher Support Program
(BTSP) if fewer than 3 years of certified
teaching (cumulative regardless of state).
• Licensure exams, including pedagogy (i.e.,
edTPA or PPAT), if comparable exams not
taken
• National Board Certification if >3 years of
experience.

19. Bachelor or Masters License
• Out of state teachers may be issued either
an A (Bachelor) license, M (masters), or D
(doctorate) level license.
• Graduate degrees must align with the
license area for the license to be
designated at an ‘M’ or ‘D’.
• License level does not necessarily relate
to salary.

20. Years of Experience/Salary
• Certified teaching experience is verified by
employer and credited 1:1 for NC salary position.
• Partial years may be combined for experience
credit.
• Graduate work must have been commenced on
or before August 1, 2013 to qualify for advanced
pay.
• Non-teaching work experience (prior to BA
degree) may be awarded (2:1) if relevant to
licensure area. Non-transferable.

21. Policy versus Discretion
• Most out-of-state teachers’ frustration is
related to Licensure Office’s adherence to
policy and not exercising judgment in
unusual cases.
• Compare discretionary versus rule-based
monetary policy.
• Consistency and uniform application
versus situational application of policy.

22. Considerations
• Out-of-state teachers are a critical
component of the teacher pipeline in NC.
• Removing policy obstacles to NC licensure
could help keep this pathway robust.
• Ease of obtaining licensure versus
ensuring consistent standards for all
licensees.
• All licensed teachers have the potential to
become a future Teacher of the Year.