• North Carolina teachers can teach in other states.today image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
  
  Many institutions in North Carolina provide a degree in education. Upon graduation, students must also earn a North Carolina teaching certification, usually facilitated by the graduating institution. Most states accept North Carolina degrees and teaching certificates, with the provision that candidates follow their reciprocity rules. Some states have reciprocity agreements with the state of North Carolina, but most require job applicants to apply for and attain their state's teacher certification as well.
  
  

States with Reciprocity Agreements

• Twenty-eight states have reciprocity agreements with the state of North Carolina: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Washington, D.C., also has a reciprocity agreement with the state of North Carolina.
  
  

NASDTEC Interstate Contract

• North Carolina adopted the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Contract for Teacher Certification. Participating states allow teachers to easily transfer credentials from state to state. Other states have adopted the NASDTEC Interstate Contract as well: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., also accept the NASDTEC Interstate Contract.
  
  

Important Reciprocity Considerations

• Don't forget reciprocity rules.forget me knot image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
  
  Note that some states allow full reciprocity, while others only allow partial reciprocity. In other words, some states will permit teachers to exchange their teaching license for the new state's license, while other states may require them to fill out certain forms or even take tests before allowing them a license to teach in that state.
  
  In addition, some states will accept teachers automatically if they hold degrees from colleges accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Another option many teachers consider is to become certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), which will allow them to transfer to most states without any issues.
  
  Some areas in the United States suffer from a teacher shortage, and schools in those areas often bend reciprocity rules in an attempt to fill the positions quickly.
  
  Teachers should always check with the local school district to which they apply to find out its specific reciprocity rules ahead of time.