Piedmont Alternative Licensure (PAL)

The Piedmont Alternative Licensure (PAL) program provides an accelerated professional education sequence necessary for lateral entry candidates to be initially licensed. Students take an intensive five weeks of five classes in the summer, a methods course in the fall, and a clinical practicum in the spring. Some students take additional education courses outside of the PAL core to complete their licensure requirements as well.

PAL is an accelerated program leading to licensure in one of these areas:

  • Birth-Kindergarten
  • K-12: Art, Music, Physical Education, Theatre
  • Elementary Education
  • Middle Grades: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
  • Secondary Grades: English, Science, Math, Social Studies
  • Special Education: Adapted or General

Admission Requirements

An eligible candidate:

  • receives preference if he/she is employed as a school teacher in an N.C. public or SACS-accredited institution.
  • has earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and has completed a major or concentration in an area that matches employment or intended employment.
  • has at least a 2.7 GPA on all college/university work, or has met N.C. Department of Public Instruction lateral-entry employment requirements.
  • takes and satisfies the PRAXIS criteria in reading, writing, and mathematics if required for lateral-entry employment or if GPA is below 2.7

How does the PAL candidate obtain a license?

A PAL candidate is eligible for licensure recommendation after she/he has:

  • been admitted to the Greensboro College Teacher Education Program as a PAL candidate.
  • completed successfully the sequential PAL Program courses.
  • taken and passed Specialty Area licensure exams and edTPA
  • satisfied the student-teaching/clinical practicum and technology requirements through employment or coursework.

What classes will I take as a PAL student?

The specific courses needed for each licensure area can be found on pages 107-114 in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.


What is the cost of PAL classes?

Updated tuition costs can be found here: Tuition & Fees 


Admissions

Apply Here (The completed application includes official transcripts from all degree-awarding institutions)

Request For Information Here


Faculty Contact:

Rebecca F. Blomgren, Ph.D.
Founding Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education, Director of Teacher Education, Education Department Chair, and Professor of Education
336-272-7102 ext. 5262
blomgrenr@greensboro.edu

Pamela Bennett, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Teacher Education
336-217-7264
bennettp@greensboro.edu

Joshua Fitzgerald photo

“I loved the GC Honors program and Greensboro College. I felt safe and a sense of genuine belonging at the college. I worked closely with my thesis advisor and professors who helped inspire me to define my path and passion of interest. That path has led me to my doctoral studies in Engineering Mechanics.”

- Joshua Fitzgerald, Class of ’19, Mathematics Major

Joshua currently studies astrodynamics at Virginia Tech University and is an Engineering Mechanics Ph.D. Candidate.