edTPA Information

Candidates are required to complete the edTPA specific to their licensure area. The chart below includes an alphabetized list of licensure areas and the corresponding edTPA required. For a more comprehensive list of licensure areas, please refer to the North Carolina Assessment page of the edTPA website.

Although the edTPA differs by licensure area, candidates in all licensure areas must develop and submit a portfolio highlighting the following three tasks: 

1. Planning for instruction and assessment
2. Instructing and engaging students in learning, and 
3. Assessing student learning

Each task is divided into two-to-five components. For example, during task 2, candidates must submit one-to-two video clips of themselves instructing live, accompanied by written commentary in which they describe, explain, justify and reflect upon their instructional decisions.

Note: Some states have adopted a four-task assessment for elementary education; however, the four-task assessment is not required for elementary licensure in North Carolina.

Candidates in each licensure area will receive a unique set of copyrighted materials that provide detailed instructions and other information regarding their required edTPA. Such materials include but are not limited to the following:

• “edTPA Handbook”
• “Understanding Rubric Level Progressions”
• “Academic Language”
• “Making Good Choices”
• Templates for “The Context for Learning” and “The Three Commentaries”  

Program coordinators are encouraged to disseminate the materials to their candidates by the start of Level 1: “Pre-Student Teaching.” Candidates who have not received their materials by that time should email the coordinator of their program or the edTPA coordinator. 

Each candidate’s edTPA will be scored by a trained evaluator. Most edTPAs are scored based on a total of 15 five-point rubrics. As of 2021, the minimum passing score for the 15-rubric assessment is 38; however, a two-point increase is expected for the 2021–2022 academic year. Candidates who do not earn the minimum score on their first attempt may retake the assessment.

The Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) is a subject-specific and portfolio-based assessment used by educator preparation programs to evaluate a candidate’s performance in three key areas: planning, instruction and assessment.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has mandated that all educator preparation programs require one of two performance assessments as a condition for completion and licensure. The NCCU School of Education requires candidates to complete the edTPA to fulfill that requirement.

You must complete the edTPA and earn a passing score to graduate and receive a recommendation for North Carolina licensure.

You will be expected to complete the edTPA during the final semester of your program (i.e., student teaching or internship). However, you are strongly encouraged to begin learning about edTPA tasks and expectations before that time.

You are required to complete the edTPA for your licensure area; a comprehensive list of licensure areas and their corresponding edTPA is available on the North Carolina Assessment page of the edTPA website.

You will develop and submit a portfolio that showcases your competencies in three subject tasks: planning, instruction and assessment. Each task is divided into two-to-five components that must be completed individually.

You can begin by reading the official “edTPA Handbook” for your licensure area. Once you have a basic understanding of the tasks and expectations, you should review resources such as “Making Good Choices,” “Academic Language” and “Understanding Rubric Level Progressions.”

No, you cannot. The official Teacher Performance Assessment materials are not posted online because of strict copyright laws. For this reason, the materials must be provided to you by a faculty member with access to the edTPA materials. Typically, your program coordinator or the coordinator of the edTPA will have access to the materials.

Although the official preparation materials are not freely available online, you can access other important information about the edTPA (e.g., scoring, registration or submission dates) by visiting the links on the About Page of the edTPA website.

As of 2021, the price of the full three-task edTPA is $300. However, when funding is available, the School of Education provides $100 vouchers to candidates who are completing the edTPA as a part of their student teaching or internship coursework.