Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$34,386–$37,821
$34,386–$37,821
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$600–$900
$600–$900
Housing Costs (shared)
$400–$600
$400–$600
Health Insurance
$0 for individual, $500 / month for family and/or spouse
$0 for individual, $500 / month for family and/or spouse
Utilities
$100
$100
Daycare
$448–520 / month
$448–520 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
$50–$100
$50–$100
Car Required
Access to a car is essential.
Access to a car is essential.
Car Insurance
$100
$100
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$80–$160 / test (most will be asked to take test more than once)
$80–$160 / test (most will be asked to take test more than once)
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of pocket. Some testing cost reimbursed by the district.
Out of pocket. Some testing cost reimbursed by the district.
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$970–$2,800 for tuition / year
$970–$2,800 for tuition / year
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Certification gained in 1–1.5 years. For elementary school, face-to-face courses. For middle and secondary schools, mostly online.
Certification gained in 1–1.5 years. For elementary school, face-to-face courses. For middle and secondary schools, mostly online.
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Teacher Certification Information
Teach For America corps members are considered Lateral Entry teachers in the state of North Carolina, and will be issued a provisional license. All Lateral entry teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 2.5 G.P.A., a passing score on the PRAXIS II test. Teach For America corps members will have two options for full teaching certification. One option is a Teach For America three-year licensure option which requires the corps member to committee to a third year of teaching. The other option is to be enrolled in a teacher education program working towards full licensure. Charlotte corps members enroll in the teacher education program at UNC-Charlotte, our university partner.
If they choose, corps members can obtain a master’s degree during their two-year commitment in Charlotte. UNC-Charlotte offers a master’s of art in teaching (M.A.T.) degree program exclusively for Teach For America corps members. Corps members can also choose to enroll in the graduate certification/licensure program, which is completed in one year. Corps members also pay an initial application fee of approximately $60 (subject to change at the discretion of UNCC). More information about these options will be provided to corps members upon acceptance.
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.