Eastern North Carolina

Certification and Testing

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, corps members must pass a subject-specific exam called The PRAXIS II Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers, before entering the classroom.

All Eastern North Carolina corps members are required to complete their teacher licensure coursework within one year. All corps members participate in a customized licensure cohort with our university partner, East Carolina University (ECU). This program combines Teach For America’s required professional development with practical, applied coursework. The integrated nature of the partnership streamlines the licensure process. Corps members generally take one class per semester (3 credits each.) The cost for in-state tuition is approximately $1,000 a year, whereas out-of-state tuition is considerably higher.

There are a number of masters programs at East Carolina University that overlap with our licensure coursework for specific content areas. Teach For America is working closely with East Carolina University to further expand the options for masters programs.

At a Glance

Costs to Begin Teaching
Testing: $220 for Praxis II Exams, on average
Processing: minimal
Up-Front Certification Costs: Approximately $1000 for ECU coursework (Partial reimbursement for tuition may be available through the North Carolina Model Teacher Education Consortium.)
Certification Cost: $90 for lateral entry licensure through the district; $1,000 tuition