Requirements / North Carolina
80 hours every 5 years for teachers
Primary source: NC DPI "Renew or Update Your Professional Educator's License" page, with NC State Board of Education policy LICN-005 as the underlying authority document. Sub-distribution by role: K-5 teachers (3 literacy + 3 subject + 2 general), 6-12 teachers (4 subject + 4 general), Student Services Personnel including counselors (4 professional discipline + 4 general), Administrators (4 executive's role + 4 general). All roles total 8 CEUs / 80 clock hours per 5-year cycle. Conversion: 1 NC CEU = 10 clock hours (per NC DPI standard). Renewal window opens between mid-April and early May of the year the license expires. No annual minimum requirement.
Continuing Professional License (CPL) requires 8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per 5-year cycle. 1 CEU = 10 clock hours. No annual minimum. Check the sub-distribution for your grade band — the 80-hour total is not interchangeable across types. K-5 teachers must earn 3 Literacy + 3 Subject Area + 2 General CEUs; 6-12 teachers must earn 4 Subject Area + 4 General CEUs.
School counselors are licensed under the same CPL as teachers and renew with the Student Services Personnel sub-distribution: 4 Professional Discipline + 4 General CEUs per 5-year cycle (= 80 clock hours).
Administrators (principals, superintendents) hold the same CPL with the Administrator sub-distribution: 4 Executive's Role + 4 General CEUs per 5-year cycle (= 80 clock hours).
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Information current as of May 25, 2026. Verify with your state Department of Education for official licensure decisions.