WGU North Carolina, an affiliate of the competency-based nonprofit Western Governors University, has announced the availability of new Become a Teacher Scholarships. The scholarships, worth up to $2,500 per student, will be available through the application deadline of Dec. 31, 2019.

WGU North Carolina recently received approval from the North Carolina State Board of Education for all of its initial teacher licensure preparation programs and an advanced program in educational leadership. The school is the only fully online nonprofit university approved by the Board to offer programs that allow prospective teachers to earn a degree or participate in a Residency License (RL) program, previously known as lateral entry.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. teacher shortage could reach 200,000 by 2025, up from 110,000 in 2018. WGU’s innovative approach to higher education is a highly effective way for teacher assistants, career changers, stay-at-home parents, and others looking to become full-time teachers to fit a teacher licensure program into their lives.

The Become a Teacher Scholarship will help more aspiring teachers earn their license and answer the call of the classroom. Recipients will be awarded $625 per six-month term — renewable up to four terms — toward any program leading to a teacher certification. That comes out to more than 15 percent off WGU’s already-low tuition.

WGU offers 16 programs that lead to teacher licensure: 10 bachelor’s degrees, five master’s degrees, and one post-baccalaureate certification. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and recognized in all 50 states, WGU’s Teachers College is the nation’s top producer of STEM teachers and an active partner of school districts and states around the country looking to increase the number of qualified educators.

While WGU’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress, saving both time and money. Most of the coursework is completed online, with in-classroom observation and demonstration teaching completed in a local school.

“As a former teacher myself, I know how challenging and rewarding the teaching profession can be,” said WGU North Carolina Chancellor Catherine Truitt. “This scholarship will help those who have always felt the call to teach, as well as those who are interested in a career change, to earn a degree in education from WGU with as little student debt as possible.”

To learn more or to apply, visit the WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship webpage at https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuition/scholarships/general/become-a-teacher.html. For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit www.wgu.edu/north-carolina.html.