Licensure Options
A Master of Arts in Teaching degree will prepare you for an initial teaching license in one of the following areas:
Elementary (Kindergarten – Grade 6) Licenses
- Elementary Education (Kindergarten – Grade 6)
Middle Grades (Grades 6-9) Licenses
- Science
- Social Studies
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
Secondary (Grades 9-12) Licenses
- Comprehensive Science
- Comprehensive Social Studies
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
K-12 Special Education (General Curriculum) License
- Special Education (Grade K-12)
Add-on License Options
In addition to the options listed above, MAT students can choose to complete an additional teaching license in K-12 Special Education (General Curriculum).
Check the Curriculum & Courses page for detailed information about course requirements for each track.
Testing and Assessment
In addition to completing your coursework, MAT students will need to achieve passing scores on licensure tests and the edTPA portfolio. MAT students should consult their MAT Handbook for current North Carolina licensure testing requirements; see UNC School of Education Guides and Handbooks.
About the edTPA portfolio
From the edTPA website:
edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from Day 1 in the classroom.
During an MAT student’s teaching experience, they gather a portfolio of materials that serve as evidence of their preparation to become a teacher. This includes an unedited video recording of them at work in a real classroom. They work with their university-based supervisor and program faculty to determine the specific requirements needed in their portfolio, which will be based on the type of license they are pursuing.
Read more about the edTPA requirements for North Carolina.
Licensure Resources
See Licensure information for detailed instructions on how to apply for a North Carolina Teaching License.