North Carolina Reading Licensure
The Reading Program Area in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction provides educators with the opportunity to complete the requirements for the North Carolina A-Level and M-Level Reading Licenses. The North Carolina Reading License is an add-on license; that is, it is added onto an existing teaching license. In order to be eligible to receive the reading license, one must hold a current, valid North Carolina teaching license. The reading license is a K-12 license.
Coursework and competencies for the reading license include reading foundations, diagnostic/clinical and reading assessment, word recognition including phonics instruction, content area reading instruction, language arts instruction, children’s/adolescent literature. All coursework must be approved by the Area Coordinator for Reading. Most of the required courses have both online and face-to-face sections.
According to very recent North Carolina legislation action, there are now several options for obtaining the N. C. Reading License. These options are as follows:
- For the N.C. A-Level Reading License and for those who hold a clear license in a teaching area: Successful completion of the PRAXIS “Introduction to the Teaching of Reading” examination only; no reading or reading-related coursework would be required.
- For the N.C. A-Level Reading License: Successful completion of 18 semester hours (s.h.) of approved READ designated or READ-related courses and successful completion of the PRAXIS “Introduction to the Teaching of Reading” examination.
- For the N.C. A-Level Reading License: Successful completion of 24 semester hours (s.h.) of approved READ designated or READ-related courses only. No PRAXIS examination in reading is required.
- For the N.C. M-Level (Advanced Competencies) Reading License: Successful completion of the M.A.Ed. in Reading Education degree and program. No PRAXIS examination is required.
- For the N.C. M-Level (Advanced Competencies) Reading License: If a current, valid, North Carolina M-Level license is presently held, then it is possible to add the M-Level Reading License without pursuing a degree. This involves successful completion of 18 s.h. of approved graduate level READ designated or READ-related courses and the PRAXIS “Reading Specialist” examination. Another option is to complete 24 s.h. of approved graduate level READ designated or READ-related courses; no PRAXIS examination is required.
- Please note: All coursework taken at ECU and/or through other institutions of higher education which is considered for application to the reading license must be approved by Ms. Karli A. Ruscoe, Coordinator, Office of Alternative Licensure, (ruscoek@ecu.edu) (252)328-4125.
- Please note: When selecting from the above options, please also confirm with your school system or place of employment their requirements for you, for obtaining add-on reading licensure.
Those who already have a teaching license and who wish to consider adding on a reading license through East Carolina University are encouraged to contact the Area Coordinator for Reading:
Dr. Terry Atkinson
224 Speight Bldg.
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
Telephone: (252) 328-2889
e-mail: atkinsona@ecu.edu
