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Licensure Office

All public-school teachers must hold a valid license for the subject or grade level they teach, or for the professional assignment they hold.

Before applying for an Initial Professional License (IPL) in North Carolina, individuals must have:

  • Earned a degree in the relevant subject area from a North Carolina accredited teacher education institution, or
  • Completed another state’s approved alternative route to licensure and earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university

Upon satisfactory completion of all program requirements and state-mandated assessments, candidates become eligible for IPL in North Carolina.

Requirements for Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Educator Preparation Program (EPP) IPL Recommendation

To be recommended for the North Carolina Initial Professional License (IPL), candidates must:

  • Have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 or a graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Maintain a 2.7 GPA (undergraduate) or 3.0 GPA (graduate) in the applicable content area(s)
  • Complete the NC Foundations of Reading or Praxis Subject Assessments (formerly Praxis II).
  • Submit qualifying scores on the edTPA, a performance-based, subject-specific assessment.

Note: The licensing process is separate from program completion and degree conferral.

Important Information

  • Complete all degree and EPP requirements.
  • Upload all required assessments into Watermark Student Learning and Licensure (SLL) and ensure they are satisfactorily evaluated before beginning the online license application.
    • Questions should be directed to your Program Coordinator.
  • Provide official documentation of all licensure exam scores before WSSU can recommend you for licensure.
  • Meet passing criteria on the LEA Certification of Teaching Capacity Form.
  • Complete the WSSU EPP Licensure Data Form prior to recommendation for the initial license.
    • Once you have applied for your Initial Professional License (IPL), you may contact the Licensure Officer to request a Letter of Verification while waiting for your official license to be issued.
    • Submit requests via email to the Licensure Officer.
    • Letters are processed within 48 hours.

Licensure Reciprocity

WSSU’s Educator Preparation Programs are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and are part of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) interstate agreement.

Graduates who complete an approved EPP at WSSU are eligible for certification or licensure in:

  • All 50 U.S. states
  • District of Columbia
  • Guam
  • Ontario
  • Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

While other states typically recognize North Carolina licensure, additional requirements—such as coursework, assessments, or teaching experience—may apply before receiving full professional certification.

For details, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s State Contacts webpage to locate the licensing agency for each state.

 Programs with Licensure Recognition

This recognition applies to WSSU’s undergraduate and graduate programs in:

  • Birth through Kindergarten Education
  • Elementary Education
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Middle Grades Education
  • Music Education
  • Secondary English Education
  • Secondary Mathematics Education
  • Special Education