TEACH NC Eligibility

Getting Started

The TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Program offers a variety of different scholarships in partnership with North Carolina community colleges and 16 universities offering degrees in early childhood education and child development.

20

Scholarship Applications Available

16

Partner Universities

11

Different Scholarship Pathways

General Eligibility

Eligibility for most comprehensive scholarships includes early childhood teachers, directors and family home providers who:

Work 30 hours or more per week in a North Carolina licensed child care facility
Minimum/maximum number of hours differs for Part-Day programs, CDA Direct Assessment, Practicum Only, and Associate Scholars applicants
Scholarships also available to early education specialists working on behalf of early educators, as well as infants, toddlers, and young children or their families

Additional Eligibility Requirements

For an Administration Credential – Employment as a director/administrator
For an Early Education Certificate – Already have taken EDU 119
For CDA Direct Assessment or CDA Renewal Scholarships – Have already received their certificate or renewal certificate along with proof of payment
For Bachelor’s Degree – Have no less than 55 transferable credit hours, be eligible for university admission as an in-state student, and have worked at least 1 year in child care in North Carolina
- If only pursuing the practicum, then just the university admission and North Carolina work history requirements apply
For BA Plus – Have a bachelor’s degree and need a maximum of 45 credit hours to earn certification
- If only pursuing the practicum, then just a bachelor’s degree and university admission and North Carolina work history requirements apply
For Working Scholars – Able to enroll and complete 6 credit hours per semester at a community college or participating university toward an early childhood education or child development degree
For Associate Scholars – Be enrolled, or eligible to enroll, in a maximum of 12 credit hours per semester in a NC community college Early Childhood program
For Preschool Add-On Licensure – Be admitted into a Child Development or Family & Consumer Science program at a participating university and hold a license in Child Development, Family & Consumer Science, or Special Education
For Master’s Degree – Have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field, or bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field with at least 12 credit hours in Early Childhood Education
- Available for early childhood professionals in both licensed facilities and elsewhere in the early childhood field
For Early Care and Community Specialists – Provide a written job description, a letter of support from employer, 2 professional references, an essay demonstrating commitment to young children, and:
- Be eligible to enroll in a North Carolina community college’s early childhood associate degree program,
- Have no less than 55 transferable credit hours into a participating university’s child development program, (for bachelor’s degree) or
- Have a bachelor’s degree in any field and taking bachelor’s/graduate-level course work in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or Early Childhood Mental Health (graduate level only)
For the Leadership in Infant and Toddler Learning (LITL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate –
- Work in a licensed child care facility as a teacher or director caring for infants and toddlers or work with these individuals in a specialized technical assistance or professional development capacity.
  - Have and provide a copy of your Technical Assistance Practitioner Endorsement or your Professional Development Endorsement certificate from the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (for non-facility based professionals)
- Have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or a related field and be enrolled in the LITL program at UNC-G
- Receive approval/sponsorship from employer, and
- Submit the Intent to Apply form with scholarship application