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Homeschool Requirements in North Carolina

North Carolina treats a home school as a small nonpublic school. You register it once with the state, test every year, and keep a few records at home. Here's all of it, in plain English.

Natalie Riggs

Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day

✓ Last verified against the NC General Statutes and doa.nc.gov

North Carolina home schools file one Notice of Intent with DNPE before they start. New notices are accepted July 1 to April 30.

The short answer ⚡

Yes, you file once. Before you start, send a Notice of Intent to the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). Every teacher needs a high school diploma or its equivalent. Give a standardized test every school year, and keep attendance, immunization and test records at home.

North Carolina at a glance 📋

Notify the state
Yes, once
One Notice of Intent to DNPE before you start
Notify your school district
No
The notice goes to DNPE, not your district
Teacher
Required
A high school diploma or its equivalent
Testing
Every year
A nationally standardized test; results stay at home
Subjects
None set
The home school law doesn't list required subjects
Schedule
9 months
A regular schedule for at least nine calendar months
Records
Yes
Attendance, immunization, and test results

Pick your path 🛤️

DNPE says every child of compulsory age must be enrolled in a legal North Carolina school: a public school, a conventional private school, or a home school registered with DNPE. This guide covers the home school.

At home

1. Home school

Under G.S. 115C-563, a home school is a nonpublic school with the children of no more than two families or households. The parents decide the scope and sequence of instruction and can bring in tutors. When you register, you choose whether your home school runs as a religious or non-religious school.

Good to know

2. Online and distance programs

DNPE says an online, correspondence or out of state program doesn't replace registering a home school. It counts as the curriculum you're using, so you still file your Notice of Intent.

School options

3. Public or private school

Your local public school or a conventional private school are the other options DNPE names.

Your North Carolina school year, step by step 🗓️

There's no yearly renewal. You file once, then teach, test and keep records. DNPE runs on a July 1 to June 30 year and takes new notices July 1 to April 30.

What goes in your Notice of Intent

  • Your home school's name. DNPE asks for 30 characters or fewer, and it can't be changed later.
  • Your home school's address
  • The chief administrator's name (usually you)
  • Proof that each teacher has a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a diploma or transcript
  • Whether your school runs as religious or non-religious

  1. Before you start, between July 1 and April 30: file your Notice of Intent online through the DNPE portal, on a computer rather than a phone. DNPE asks for at least five business days.

  2. Wait for DNPE's acknowledgment. Then withdraw your child officially from their old school, rather than just stopping.

  3. All year: teach on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months, with reasonable holidays and vacations, and keep attendance and immunization records.

  4. Once each school year: give each enrolled student a nationally standardized test in English grammar, reading, spelling and math. Keep the results at home.

  5. Each year: DNPE asks you to update your information in the portal. It's a request, not a law.

  6. When you stop, or before you move out of state: close your home school with DNPE.

Choosing the yearly test

  • You pick it and pay for it. Neither DNPE nor the public school provides tests.
  • There's no minimum score, and no student is exempt
  • Parents may give the test if the publisher allows it
  • Tests DNPE says families commonly use include the California Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, Terra Nova, Woodcock-Johnson, and CLT. The SAT and ACT count too.

If DNPE contacts you

  • DNPE may ask for a virtual meeting with the chief administrator and ask to see your records by email or video
  • Test results you share with DNPE aren't public records

Teen drivers

  • Since October 1, 2026, North Carolina no longer requires a driving eligibility certificate for a learner's permit or provisional license (Session Law 2026-46). Some older DNPE pages still mention it.

Turning 7 or moving

  • If your child turns 7 during the school year, register before that birthday
  • Moving inside North Carolina? Update your address with DNPE. You don't file a new notice.

Source: DNPE: How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

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Records to keep 🗂️

North Carolina requires three kinds of records, kept at your home school. DNPE may ask to see them. You don't send them anywhere unless DNPE asks.

  • Attendance records for each student, every year
  • Immunization records for each student
  • Yearly test results kept for at least a year after the test
  • A daily log, journal, or lesson plans showing what your student studiedRecommended

The law doesn't say how long to keep attendance and immunization records. DNPE recommends keeping records for good, since you'll write your own transcript and diploma.

Testing: what North Carolina actually requires 🧪

Every enrolled student takes a nationally standardized test once each school year. It must cover English grammar, reading, spelling and math. A child working below grade level can take a test at their level.

There's no minimum score, and scores don't decide whether you can keep homeschooling. Keep the results at your home school for at least a year. You send them only if DNPE asks.

What to teach 📚

North Carolina's home school law doesn't list required subjects. You decide the scope and sequence of what you teach and choose your own curriculum. The only subjects the law names are the ones your yearly test covers:

  • On the yearly test: English grammar, reading, spelling and math

On time, the law asks for a regular schedule, "excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year." It doesn't set days or hours. DNPE recommends, but doesn't require, about five hours a school day.

5 mistakes new North Carolina homeschoolers make ⚠️

  1. 1. Withdrawing your child before DNPE acknowledges your notice.

    DNPE says not to withdraw your child or start until it has acknowledged your completed Notice of Intent.

  2. 2. Trying to file in May or June.

    DNPE takes new notices and reopen requests only July 1 to April 30.

  3. 3. Filing a new notice every year, or one per child.

    One notice per household covers every child and stays open until you close your home school.

  4. 4. Skipping the test for a young or struggling learner.

    Every enrolled student is tested every school year. DNPE says the law makes no exemptions, though a below grade level test is fine.

  5. 5. Forgetting to close your home school.

    The law says to notify DNPE when your school ends. Close it in the portal when you stop, or before you move out of state.

North Carolina homeschool FAQ 💬

Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in North Carolina?

Yes. Before you start, file a Notice of Intent with the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) through its online portal. DNPE asks for at least five business days and accepts notices July 1 to April 30. Wait for DNPE's acknowledgment before you withdraw your child or begin.

Do I have to file every year?

No. One Notice of Intent covers every child in your household and stays open until you close it, so you don't renew it each year. DNPE does ask families to update their information in the portal each school year, and to report address or enrollment changes.

Who can homeschool in North Carolina?

Anyone who provides academic instruction in your home school needs at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, and you upload proof with your Notice of Intent. A North Carolina home school can include the children of no more than two families or households, and you can also use tutors.

At what age do I need to register?

North Carolina's compulsory attendance law covers ages 7 to 16. If your child turns 7 during the school year, register before that birthday. DNPE says you don't file for a child under 7 who won't turn 7 this year, or for a student who is 18 or older.

Do North Carolina homeschoolers take standardized tests?

Yes, every enrolled student, every school year. Choose a nationally standardized test covering English grammar, reading, spelling and math. You pick and pay for it, there's no minimum score, and parents may give it if the publisher allows. Keep results at home for at least a year.

What subjects do I have to teach?

The home school law doesn't list required subjects. You decide the scope and sequence and choose your own curriculum, which DNPE doesn't provide or recommend. The only subjects the law names are the ones your yearly test must cover: English grammar, reading, spelling and math.

How many days or hours do I need?

The law asks for a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, for at least nine calendar months of the year. It doesn't set a number of days or hours. DNPE recommends, but doesn't require, about five hours of instruction on each school day.

What records do I need to keep?

Keep attendance and immunization records for each student, plus test results for at least a year. They stay at your home school, and DNPE may ask to see them, sometimes in a virtual meeting. DNPE recommends keeping records for good, since you'll write your own transcript and diploma.

Get your free North Carolina checklist ✅

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Sources 📖

Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.

This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with the NC Division of Non-Public Education or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.

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