Standard Professional I License (initial license)

Issued to those individuals with less than 3 years experience who complete an approved education program.  Those seeking licensure in ESOL (English as a Second Other Language), Elementary Education or Exceptional Children’s areas that complete an approved North Carolina Education Program must also pass appropriate PRAXIS II tests in order to receive the federal “highly qualified” designation and a Standard Professional I license.  Those teachers who complete an out-of-state Education Program must be designated “highly qualified” by that state in order to receive “highly qualified” designation in North Carolina and a Standard Professional I license (evidence of “highly qualified” status may be required if not clearly indicated on out-of-state license).

License is issued for a three-year period during which time the teacher must complete the Beginning Teacher Program as outlined by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  In order to convert a Standard Professional I license to a Standard Professional II license, the license holder must complete the following;

• 3 years of teaching AND
• Be recommended by the Local Education Agency (LEA) AND
• Any Professional Development prescribed by the LEA (in Guilford County, we require two (2) continuing education units per year while in the Beginning Teacher Program) AND
• Passing PRAXIS II scores for NC OR
• Completion of NC HOUSSE (High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation) OR
• Successful evaluation in most recent year of employment in NC verifying ability to positively impact student learning and verification of the LEA to offer re-employment to the individual for the following year

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