Modules vary in length. On average, each module takes about 1.5 months to complete (6-8 hours a week).

Each module has several units with quizzes, short assignments, discussion forums, and artifacts. Some assignments take longer than others, and some modules have more units.

Some assignments are longer than others. Some are quick content checks, and some are longer applications and syntheses. The workload varies, so some weeks you can get many assignments completed and others there will be fewer, but on average the workload is very manageable. We recommend using the assignments to complement your daily classroom practice. It helps to not think of the work as “extra” but as supporting what you are already doing in the classroom.

This is a very good question because it highlights the importance of consistency and momentum. While the pacing can vary by individual, the most successful students log in and work on the modules a little each day (30-60 minutes). By working each day, students are able to use the momentum to move forward at a quicker pace. 

Should a candidate log in once per week for 6-8 hours (perhaps on the weekend), this may certainly also prove successful. Therefore, it depends on how people work. Some work well doing bits at a time every day. Some work well working in a big block less often. The key is to make a weekly schedule that fits your specific needs and stick to it. Success is most evident when candidates block off the time and make it a habit to have P2P work time built into their schedule.

The program is 100% online, and you will have an online introduction session to meet with your facilitator and to meet other candidates. You will also attend online meetings with your facilitator throughout the program as a means to support candidates. Facilitators try to have multiple forms of communication: online individual meetings, group/cohort meetings, emails, and/or phone calls or texts if needed to give candidates the support they need. It is an online program, but this does not mean that the candidate is on their own. It is very interactive between candidates and the facilitator.

The edTPA is a performance-based assessment that teacher candidates complete during their residency program. Pathway to Practice NC candidates are supported in the edTPA submission process and are provided the $300 voucher for submission.

The edTPA was designed by the Stanford Center for Learning and Assessment Equity (SCALE) and is currently being used in 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as a summative assessment of teacher preparation. North Carolina policies can be found on this edtpa.com webpage.

The edTPA consists of three tasks which align with one cycle of instruction in which teacher candidates plan 3-5 lessons (Task 1: Planning), video record themselves teaching those 3-5 lessons (Task 2: Instruction), and analyze student work (Task 3: Assessment). For each of the three tasks, candidates write commentaries in which they justify their planning decisions (Task 1), analyze their teaching (Task 2) and use data to inform instruction (Task 3).

There is an entire Pathway to Practice NC module dedicated to supporting candidates in preparing for and completing the edTPA portfolio. The program itself is designed to prepare you for successfully completing edTPA. Many of the assignments are modeled after the edTPA tasks so you will have the skills and knowledge to meet the requirements of edTPA and to be an effective teacher.

There are steps to withdraw from the program. Please inform your facilitator and the program director if you wish to withdraw. You will need to affiliate with another EPP for your Residency License as your Residency License Supervision Agreement with Pathway to Practice NC will no longer be valid.

Pathway to PracticeNC is a self-paced program. However, there are some important expectations we have for our students. As an approved EPP, we must maintain these guidelines for our students because we must also adhere to requirements for our own licensing and accountability:

1. Make progress – Complete at minimum one module every 3 months
2. Communicate – Communicate with your facilitator and answer emails regarding your progress or submissions.
3. Be consistent with your subscriptions – Participants must be consistently enrolled in the program. A one-month break between subscriptions is permitted.

Note: Your subscription must stay current to have active status in the program and fulfill your Residency License requirement. Failure to renew your registration will prompt Pathway to Practice NC to inform your district that you are no longer affiliated.

Each assignment has a rubric with criteria. Candidates either earn a “Met” or “Not Met” for those criteria. If an assignment receives a “Not Met,” the candidate uses the feedback provided to help revise until they receive a “Met.” There are multiple opportunities to achieve success on assignments, and the scaffolding provided in the feedback provides individualized instruction to improve on the specific criteria. 

• Achieve a “Met” on all assignments and, therefore, pass all course modules.
• Pass the Praxis II (see licensure exams document)
• Pass the edTPA (38 cut score)
• Teach for 1 year of teaching on a Residency License