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Lateral Entry

When a Local Education Agency (LEA) hires individuals who meet certain requirements set forth by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) (http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/docs/licensure/lateralentry.pdf), but do not have teaching licenses, the DPI  issues Provisional Licenses and they become "Lateral Entry" teachers. 

 

These teachers need to know what courses they must take to become fully licensed. One way to find this out is to work through colleges or universities. Lateral Entry teachers who choose to work through Appalachian State University to achieve teacher licensure should send a completed Licensure Only Admission Application to:

Bobbi Taylor
Appalachian State University Center at Hudson
2855 Hickory Blvd.
Hudson, NC 28638

 

They should also request that official transcripts from community colleges (if college credit was earned) and colleges or universities they attended be sent directly to Bobbi. It is not necessary to send transcripts from Appalachian State University; we'll be happy to pull those up for ou.

An analysis will be done for each individual by the appropriate program coordinator and a unique Program of Study will be developed. If the person agrees to that Program of Study, he/she will sign it send it to the Associate Dean at the Reich College of Education.

 

Getting "Into the System"

Then they must "get into the Appalachian system" by one of two ways depending on their personal situation:

ONLINE APPLICATION TO THE UNIVERSITY

• New Applicants-never attended Appalachian whether degree-seeking, non-degree seeking, undergraduate teacher licensure, or second degree seeking if first degree is not from Appalachian.
• Returning students who wish to be considered for the Forgiveness Policy (See Registrar's site).
• Returning students with greater than or equal to 15 semester hours of new transferrable coursework since last attending Appalachian.

DATASHEET

• Returning students who have had a “stop-out” period of at least one regular semester (fall or spring) or who withdrew from the previous semester (grades of “W” posted-viewable on Banner SFARHST).
• Returning students with less than 15 semester hours of new transferrable course work since last attending Appalachian.
• Students who have earned an undergraduate degree from Appalachian and are seeking Undergraduate Teacher Licensure (refer to ATTP office), seeking a second undergraduate degree (must be a different type than first degree such as if first degree is a BS, second degree must be a BA, BSW, BSCJ, BSN or BSBA), or non-degree seeking status.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

When you complete the ONLINE APPLICATION to Appalachian State University or when you fill out a DATASHEET to update your file at Appalachian, you may be asked to provide additional information regarding:

• Any court proceedings that have involved you.
• Explanations to any of the questions to which you answered “yes” such as, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”
•  A “Timeline” in the form of a paragraph explaining what you have been doing if there are any gaps of more than four months in your education.

 

If any of these apply to you, please answer at the time you complete your application so your process can proceed without delay.

***It is extremely important that you answer each question honestly.*** 

 

Lateral Entry teachers must then meet the obligations of full-time teachers while completing the requirements on the Program of Study toward a North Carolina Standard Professional I License.

Lateral Entry Teachers have three years to complete the necessary requirements for a Standard Provisional I License. They must take a minimum of six hours each academic year. We urge all Lateral Entry teachers to begin working on their coursework immediately after being hired so time doesn't run out. If time runs out, they will lose their jobs.

If Lateral Entry teachers successfully complete at least one year of teaching, they submit specific documentation and request a waiver of student teaching from the Associate Dean of the Reich College of Education. If the waiver is granted, it is not necessary for them to complete the traditional requirement of student teaching.

When Lateral Entry teachers complete all licensure requirements, they present their Application for a License, specified other documents, and licensure fee of $55 to the Reich College of Education. If they meet the requirements, they are recommended for licensure by Appalachian and their paperwork is sent to the Department of Public Instruction. The DPI mails the license directly to the teacher.

Lateral Entry teaching is an extremely challenging undertaking! Tthe Appalachian Transition to Teaching Program (ATTP) offers support and guidance to Lateral Entry teachers in finding courses that meet the competencies in their Program of Study.

 

 

Additional information, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at:

http://www.ced.appstate.edu/students/teaching/licensure/

 

Another route to Lateral Entry licensure is to request an evaluation from the Regional Alternative Licensing Center (RALC). The RALC evaluates transcripts and develops a Plan of Study. Then it is up to the individual to locate the courses required to meet the competencies in the plan within the three-year limit. When the RALC Lateral Entry teachers have met their requirements, they present their paperwork to the RALC and, if it is complete, the RALC recommends licensure to the DPI. The DPI sends the license directly to the teacher.

Bobbi Taylor is available to help Lateral Entry teachers who are working through the RALC.

The NCTEACH Program is another way to achieve licensure in North Carolina.