The initial licensure program is a three-year period of support and assessment for beginning teachers.  The initial license, which is valid for five years, allows the teacher to begin practicing the profession on an independent basis.  At the end of the three year period, the teacher is either granted or denied a continuing license.

Required Participants:

All initially licensed teachers are required to participate in the initial licensure program.  Initial licenses are issued to teachers with less than three years of appropriate teacher experience (normally considered to be three years of public school experience) in their initial licensure area.  Teachers from states not included in North Carolina reciprocity agreements, who have not completed an NCATE-approved teacher education program, must participate in the ILP regardless of their length of experience.