Become a North Carolina Math Teacher
Math teachers educate students in general problem-solving strategies and specific mathematical concepts and operations. Read on to learn what to expect to teach at different grade levels and how to become a certified math educator in North Carolina.
Teach Math in North Carolina: Job Description, Education, and Certification
Math teachers in North Carolina can work in public and private middle schools and high schools. Those who want to teach middle school math in North Carolina must be licensed in Mathematics (Middle Grades). Those who would like to teach high school math must be licensed in Mathematics (Secondary). This article covers the educational requirements and the required assessments for traditional math teacher certification in North Carolina.
<table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> State-approved teacher education program at a regionally accredited college or university</td></tr>
<tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators <br/> Praxis PPAT Assessment;<br/>Praxis Middle School Mathematics or <br/> Praxis Mathematics: Content Knowledge and Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12</td></tr>
<tr><td> License Validity Period </td><td> 3 years; non-renewable (Professional Educator's Initial License)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Advancement Requirements </td><td> 3 years teaching and 3 subject area credits, 2 digital learning competencies, and 3 general credits (Professional Educator's Continuing License)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Mean Salary for Teachers in North Carolina (2018)* </td><td> $47,050 (Middle School)<br/> $47,580 (High School)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Growth for Teachers (2016-2026, nationwide)* </td><td> 8% (Middle School)<br/> 8% (High School)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3><p>Math teachers in North Carolina instruct in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving. In North Carolina public schools, geometry, statistics, and probability are taught in both middle school and high school. Middle school math educators will teach ratio and proportional relationships, the number system, and expressions and equations. Functions are taught in grades 7-12. High school math instructors in North Carolina may teach algebra and real/complex number systems.
</p><h3 id="section---Education">Education</h3><p>Prospective math educators must complete a bachelor's degree and a state-approved educator preparation program. Students will complete coursework, field work, and clinical practice. Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of field work prior to their student internship. They will then complete either a minimum of a 16-week internship or a one-year residency.
</p><h3 id="section---Testing">Testing</h3><p>In order to be admitted into an educator preparation program, students must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics. After completion of their clinical practice, students will take a pedagogy assessment, either the Praxis PPAT Assessment or another state-approved performance assessment, in order to demonstrate the progress they made during their clinical practice.
</p><p>Candidates for the Mathematics (Middle Grades) License will take the Praxis Middle School Mathematics assessment, which covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data. Candidates for the Mathematics (Secondary) License must take the Praxis Mathematics: Content Knowledge assessment, which covers number and quantity, algebra, functions, calculus, geometry, probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics. Candidates for the secondary license must also take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 assessment, which tests on general pedagogical knowledge. Both math assessments provide an on-screen graphing calculator.
</p><h3 id="section---CertificationAdvancement">Certification & Advancement</h3><p>The initial teaching certification for North Carolina is the Professional Educator's Initial License, which is valid for three years and non-renewable. After three or more years of teaching experience, candidates can advance to the Professional Educator's Continuing License. This license must be renewed every five years.
</p><p>Advancement and renewal requires the educator to earn renewal credits through taking college or university courses, local in-service courses or workshops, or classes and workshops approved by the LEA (Local Education Agency). Educators who teach in grades 6-12 must earn 3 subject area (math) credits, 2 credits in digital learning competencies, and 3 general credits.</p>