Approved Semester Credits for ncdpi license renewal

Earn Graduate-Level Semester Credits for Your North Carolina Teaching License Renewal

Affordable, fully accredited, online semester credits for NCDPI license renewal.

  • Hundreds of North Carolina teachers use Model Teaching courses every year to help them renew their NC teaching license, advance their salary, or improve their instructional effectiveness.

  • Learn more below about NCDPI license renewal requirements, and how our courses can help.

ncdpi license renewal
Home » PD Requirements By State » North Carolina Teacher Professional Development

Professional Development Courses for North Carolina Teachers

Premium yet practical online courses for North Carolina educators. Enhance your instruction, fulfill certification needs, and accelerate your professional growth.

  • Easy, Template-Based Course Format Built to Help You Renew Your NC Teaching License Quickly

  • High-Quality Courses, Full of Resources, Tools, & Templates

  • Access Your Courses Immediately, Anytime, Anywhere & at Your Own Pace

Pay for Credits As You Go

Accredited Semester Credits

Model Teaching partners with accredited universities to offer semester credit courses (semester hours).  You’ll receive an official transcript suitable for submission to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) for your renewal. Credits earned with Model Teaching are semester credits (semester hours), equivalent to 15 clock hours or 1.5 CEUs per 1 credit. (See below)

Credit Courses for NCDPI Teacher License Renewal

North Carolina educators must renew their Continuing Professional License (CPL) every five years by earning 8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or 80 Clock Hours (equivalent to 6 semester credits) within their 5-year renewal cycle.  The topics or content area for the CEUs will depend on the teaching grade level and subject area.  See below for a summary of these requirements as referenced on the NCDPI website.

What’s Required for NCDPI License Renewal

  • Complete 8 CEUs of continuing education or PD.  This equates to 6 semester credits (1 credit = 1.5 CEUs)
  • Topics and subject/grade level requirements for the CEUs:
    • K-5 Teachers: 3 in your subject area, 3 in literacy, 2 in general teaching strategies.
    • Grades 6-12 Teachers: 4 in your subject area, 4 in general teaching strategies.
    • Student Services: 4 in your professional discipline, 4 in general teaching.
    • Administrators: 4 in executive’s role, 4 in general teaching.

Acceptable Credits for North Carolina License Renewal:

NCDPI allows teachers to earn CEUs through multiple activities, including:

  • Semester Credits: Teachers may complete 6 semester credits from accredited colleges/universities related to teaching or teaching areas. This must include an official transcript and letter grade. 1 credit = 1.5 CEUs (6 credits = 8 CEUs) (what we recommend)
  • Local in-service courses or workshops (credits certified by the employing unit)
  • Classes/workshops approved by an LEA (Local Education Agency) with completion documentation

Important Terminology:

CEUs = Continuing Education Units
Semester Hours = Semester Credits. 1 credit = 1.5 CEUs
Clock Hours = 10 clock hours – 1 CEU

How Model Teaching Can Help

Model Teaching offers courses provided through regionally-accredited university partners.  Our Academic Credit University-partnered courses meet the requirements for North Carolina teacher license renewal and professional development hour requirements, as outlined by the North Carolina State Board of Education. All courses completed through our academic partners will include access to an official transcript from that educational institution, which can be submitted to any license-granting authority.  Each credit received will equate to 1.5 CEUs.

Model Teaching also offers courses that cover the NC content-area requirements, including subject-area and content-area literacy (including courses covering The Science of Reading) and general teaching strategies.  Browse our course menu or register for one of our bundle options to earn your required credits.

How Our Courses Work

Quick FAQs

All Model Teaching university partners are regionally-accredited universities that offer our courses in partnership for graduate-level, academic, and/or post-baccalaureate credit. North Carolina accepts Model Teaching credit courses to fulfill the full 6-credit requirement.  You will not be required to complete CEUs or clock hours, only the required semester credits. Also, most states and school districts allow teachers to earn this type of credit as part of advancing in the salary scale. Please check with your district’s policies regarding continuing education for salary advancement prior to enrolling.

We recommend choosing any of our regionally-accredited university-partnered courses or course bundle packs. These courses are offered in partnership with regionally accredited universities and include an official transcript.

We highly recommend any of our Build Your Own Credit Bundles, as this is the most cost-effective way to earn credits in bulk.

The most cost-effective way to earn credits is by enrolling in one of our course bundle packs (see below).

Model Teaching believes that teachers should be provided with affordable, high-quality opportunities for professional development, whether they are seeking salary advancement, renewing their teaching license, or simply improving their instructional effectiveness.  Our streamlined, standardized course structure enables us to deliver high-quality, evaluated courses to teachers at costs far below the industry standard.  Additionally, by bundling our courses, we can significantly reduce our overall costs—passing these savings on to our valued teachers.  LiveChat with us if you have any questions about how the courses work.

Once you have completed your courses and processed your credits, our university partner will notify you via email that your transcripts are ready, and you may request them. When requesting them, you can choose to have the transcripts sent directly to the NCDPI, to yourself, or both.

Please refer to our course menu for a listing of graduate-level courses. Within each course page, you will have access to a syllabus that you may download.

To read a live list of running reviews from teachers currently taking our courses, please visit: https://www.modelteaching.com/latest-course-reviews

HELPFUL LINKS FOR NORTH CAROLINA TEACHERS

North Carolina Teacher Professional Development

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) – Renewal

Additional Information for NC Renewal

Renewal cycle & timing

CPL renewals are required every 5 years. The NCDPI (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction) opens renewal applications on or after April 15 of the expiration year. You submit credits and the fee through the online system. All renewal credits must be earned by the license expiration date.

Additional requirements and specifications:

Elementary literacy CEUs must include evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies grounded in the Science of Reading

If your CPL expires, reinstatement requires 8 CEUs earned within the most recent five years before you apply.

Reference: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

*Please refer to the NCDPI for the most up-to-date and accurate information (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educators-licensure/renew-or-update-your-professional-educators-license) on North Carolina teacher recertification requirements.

What we recommend for North Carolina teacher license renewal

What We Recommend For North Carolina Teachers

Build Your Own Graduate-Level Bundle

Everything You Need for Your NCDPI Teaching License Renewal

Access Our Full Course Menu to Earn Your Required Number of Credits

  • Includes full access to all graduate-level courses from any of our university partners

  • Choose our 6-credit bundle if you need the full six credits for your renewal

  • All university-partnered courses are regionally-accredited & include an official transcript & letter grade ready for NCDPI submission

  • Great for salary advancement or North Carolina certificate renewal

Build your own credit bundle pack
Learn About The Bundle

Salary Advancement Courses For North Carolina Teachers

Model Teaching partners with regionally-accredited universities across the country to provide graduate-level courses to thousands of K-12 teachers and educators every year. Generally, school districts across the country provide various salary scale advancement opportunities to teachers that often includes participation in graduate-level professional development. Our university-partnered, graduate-level courses are an excellent and cost-effective way for you to earn the continuing education academic credit you need.

Salary Advancement Credits

Accredited University Credits with Official Transcripts

Receive an official transcript and letter-grade with every graduate-level course. All of our university partners are regionally-accredited and courses are designed primarily for teacher salary-advancement and license-renewal.

Convenient & Cost-Effective Online Courses Built for Simplicity

We make earning your academic credits easy and cost-effective by bundling our courses into packages so you can earn the maximum number of credits for a lower cost.  All Model Teaching courses provide you with relevant, implementation-focused training along with dozens of templates & tools to help you put your new skills into action.

All Model Teaching university partners are regionally-accredited universities who offer our courses in partnership for graduate-level, academic and/or post-bachelorette credit.  Most states and school districts allow teachers to earn this type of credit as part of advancing in the salary scale.  Please check with your district’s policies regarding continuing education for salary advancement prior to enrolling.

The most cost-effective way to earn credits is by enrolling in one of our course bundle packs.

Please refer to our course menu for a listing of graduate-level courses. Within each course page, you will have access to a syllabus that you may download.

Yes, all university-partnered graduate-level courses will include access to an official transcript from the university.

Yes! You may apply up to 9 credits towards an M.Ed. program through our university partner, Augustana University. Read more here >

To read a live list of running reviews from teachers currently taking our courses, please visit: https://www.modelteaching.com/latest-course-reviews

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about North Carolina teacher license renewal and NCDPI requirements

North Carolina teachers with a Continuing Professional License (CPL) need 8 CEUs, which works out to 80 clock hours of professional development over a 5-year renewal cycle. You can also cover the full requirement by completing 6 semester credits from a regionally accredited university—each credit equals 1.5 CEUs. Just make sure all your credits are earned before your license expiration date.
Once you finish your courses and process your credits, the university partner will email you when your transcripts are ready. You can then request that they be sent directly to the NCDPI, to yourself, or both. Official transcripts are required for semester credit submissions through the NCDPI Online Licensure System.
One semester credit from a regionally accredited university equals 1.5 CEUs, and 10 clock hours equals 1 CEU. That means 6 semester credits cover the entire 8-CEU renewal requirement. If you go the semester credit route, you'll need an official transcript with a letter grade from the issuing institution.
In most cases, yes. Many North Carolina school districts offer salary scale advancement for teachers who complete graduate-level professional development. Model Teaching's university-partnered courses are graduate-level with official transcripts and letter grades, which is what districts typically require. Check with your district's HR department about their specific salary advancement policies before enrolling.
You can still reinstate an expired CPL. You'll need to earn 8 CEUs within the five years immediately before your reinstatement application. Once you complete the application through the NCDPI Online Licensure System, upload your documentation, and pay the processing fee, the NCDPI will issue a renewed license with a new 5-year cycle.
NCDPI accepts a few different options: semester credits from accredited colleges or universities (with an official transcript and letter grade), local in-service courses or workshops certified by your school system, and classes or workshops approved by a Local Education Agency (LEA) with completion documentation. Completing National Board certification also counts toward your renewal credits.
Model Teaching partners with regionally accredited universities to offer graduate-level courses, and each one comes with an official transcript and letter grade. North Carolina accepts these semester credits toward the full 6-credit (8 CEU) renewal requirement. The course catalog also covers NC content-area needs—literacy courses grounded in the Science of Reading, subject-area courses, and general teaching strategies.
Bundling courses is usually the best way to save. Model Teaching's Build Your Own Bundle lets you choose courses from accredited university partners and earn up to 6 credits at a lower per-credit price. Every bundle course includes an official transcript ready for NCDPI submission, and the credits can also count toward salary advancement in most NC school districts.
Bundle Pack