TITLE

Lateral Entry Provisional License

HISTORY

Effective July 1, 1985.

MOTIVATION

The 1984 session of the North Carolina General Assembly approved an amendment, stating that: "It is the policy of the State of North Carolina to encourage lateral entry into the profession of teaching by skilled professionals from the private sector."

The State Board of Education has adopted policies to implement lateral entry which limits such licensure to individuals who have been selected for employment by a North Carolina school system.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

Major areas for which the state has established licensure

WHO OPERATES

The Local Education Agency (LEA).

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

Applicants for a lateral entry license must be employed by a North Carolina school system and hold at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the subject area they are employed to teach or hold at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have satisfied Praxis II testing requirements for the licensure area.

Ind ividuals must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale),

Or have passed the Praxis I test and one of the following:

•  A GPA of 3.0 in the major field of study or

•  A GPA of 3.0 on all work relevant to the teaching area completed in the senior year or

A GPA of 3.0 on a minimum of 15 semester hours of course work (relative to licensure) completed during the preceding five years

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

An initial license is issued for up to 2 school years. It can be extended on a yearly basis for up to 3 years, if the holder earns a minimum of 6 semester hours of appropriate course work per year.

The Praxis II subject area assessment must be met by the end of the initial two-year lateral license if the exam(s) was/were not the basis of qualifying for the license.

The individual must complete professional education and/or other requirements for clear licensure through an approved teacher education program at a participating college or through a Regional Alternative Licensing Center (RALC). The college or RALC evaluates the individual's credentials and outlines the course work necessary to earn a clear license.

Successful teaching experience in the program for initially licensed personnel will be accepted for the student teaching requirement.

Other appropriate professional training activities in this program must be reflected in the evaluation for full licensure.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

Six semester hours must be completed each year.

WHO EVALUATES

IHE or Regional Alternative Licensure Center.

LENGTH OF TIME

For a lateral entry license to remain valid an individual must meet the testing and progressive credit requirements within the 3-year limit, whether or not employment continues in a north Carolina system.