Traditionally, public school teachers come from formal teacher education programs located in colleges and universities; however, the demand for teachers exceeds the supply of new graduates from traditional programs. To help alleviate the shortage of teachers, the North Carolina State Board of Education established non-traditional or alternate routes for qualified individuals with bachelor’s degrees to obtain a license to teach.

For information about alternative licensure opportunities available at ECU, go to the Alternate Licensure at East Carolina webpage:

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/alternative_licensure/Index.cfm.

Licensure Only
If you already have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to obtain a BK license, you will need to send a letter requesting a licensure only plan of study for Birth through Kindergarten, your official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities from which you have taken classes, and personal contact information (mailing address, telephone numbers, e-mail address) to:

Information specific to licensure only in Birth through Kindergarten
At ECU, the Birth through Kindergarten (BK) Teacher Education program is offered through the Department of Child Development and Family Relations (CDFR) in the College of Human Ecology (CHE). The BK program allows individuals to obtain credentials for working with children from birth through five years of age with and without disabilities, including those at risk, and their families. Additional information is available on the CDFR website http://www.ecu.edu/che/cdfr/index.html.

Advisers for individuals seeking BK licensure are located in the CDFR Department with offices in Rivers Building.

The early experience course for BK is CDFR 2123, Early Experience in Birth through Kindergarten Education.

BK completers who teach kindergarten must submit passing scores on a PRAXIS II specialty area exam. The test approved by the State Board of Education is ETS PRAXIS Series Early Childhood: Content Knowledge (0022).

On Campus or Online
Individuals pursuing initial licensure in Birth-Kindergarten are usually eligible for admission to an online cohort. See information under Distance Education on the CDFR website http://www.ecu.edu/che/cdfr/index.html.

Coordinators for Birth through Kindergarten Teacher Education
Program Area Coordinator             Dr. Jane King Teleki            telekij@ecu.edu
Upper Division Coordinator            Dr. Jane King Teleki            telekij@ecu.edu
Internship Coordinator                    Ms. Barbara Brehm             brehmb@ecu.edu Distance Education Coordinator      Ms. Debi Levine                  levined@ecu.edu