Romeschool

North Carolina homeschool requirements

To homeschool in North Carolina, file a Notice of Intent with the NC Division of Non-Public Education (a one-time filing), operate 9 months, keep attendance + a parent HS diploma, and give an annual nationally-standardized test (kept on file, not submitted).

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below

Moderate regulation Notice required Instruction time set Testing or evaluation
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North Carolina homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
RequiredWhere it goes: NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). When: Before beginning operation (and a closure notice when ending).
Required subjects
No set list
Instruction time
9 monthsOperate on a regular schedule at least 9 calendar months; keep annual attendance records.
Testing or evaluation
Yes — annualAnnual testing for every student regardless of grade; no minimum score and no state action on low scores; results are kept on file at least 1 year, not submitted.
Records
Yes — assessment results, attendance, immunizations
Parent qualifications
Required
Compulsory attendance ages
7–16
Ways to homeschool
Nonpublic home school (Notice of Intent to NC DNPE)
Law
N.C.G.S. § 115C-563 to -565
Official source
doa.nc.gov ↗

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

Yes. North Carolina requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). How: Notice of Intent filed online (school name/address, chief administrator, students). When: Before beginning operation (and a closure notice when ending). NC home schools are a type of nonpublic school. No annual renewal — the school stays open until closed. Notice goes to the state DNPE, not the local district.

What subjects does North Carolina require homeschoolers to teach?

North Carolina does not spell out a list of required subjects for homeschoolers. No statutory subject list, but the annual test must cover English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics (G.S. 115C-564).

How many days or hours of instruction does North Carolina require?

North Carolina's rule: Operate on a regular schedule at least 9 calendar months; keep annual attendance records.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina requires a standardized test. How often: Annual. What is accepted: Any nationally-normed standardized test covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics (the parent may administer it if the publisher allows). Annual testing for every student regardless of grade; no minimum score and no state action on low scores; results are kept on file at least 1 year, not submitted.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in North Carolina?

North Carolina requires these records: annual standardized test results, attendance records, and immunization records. How long, or where they go: Test results kept at least 1 year (DNPE recommends permanently). Test results are kept on file (not submitted) and provided to DNPE on request.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina sets a qualification for the parent who teaches. The chief administrator and all instructors must hold at least a high-school diploma or equivalent (GED) (G.S. 115C-564).

What ages does North Carolina's compulsory attendance law cover?

North Carolina's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 7 to age 16.

What are the ways to homeschool in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, families homeschool under this pathway: nonpublic home school (Notice of Intent to NC DNPE).

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in North Carolina, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in North Carolina, file a Notice of Intent with the NC Division of Non-Public Education (a one-time filing), operate 9 months, keep attendance + a parent HS diploma, and give an annual nationally-standardized test (kept on file, not submitted).

How to get started in North Carolina

1
File a Notice of Intent with the Division of Non-Public Education
File once, online, before your home school begins — there is no annual renewal. The notice gives your school's name and address, the name of its chief administrator, and your students, and it goes to the state Division, not your local school district. If you stop homeschooling, notify the Division that your school has closed.
Official resource (doa.nc.gov) →
2
Teach on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months
The law measures the school year in months, not in a set number of days or hours. Keep attendance records for each student every year. There is no required subject list.
3
Test every student every year
Give each student a nationally standardized test each year that covers English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. You may give it yourself if the test publisher allows. There is no minimum score. Keep the results on file for at least a year (keeping them permanently is recommended); they are not submitted, but the Division may ask to see them.
4
Meet the diploma requirement and keep records
The chief administrator and everyone who teaches must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a GED. Keep each student's immunization records alongside the attendance and test records.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Attendance and testing reminders.
If you take an ESA: Stays a DNPE-registered NC homeschooler; signs LEA Release + annual agreement; $500/student min-spend; 1099-G issued for non-tuition >$600.

Sources for North Carolina

Official source (doa.nc.gov) ↗HSLDA's North Carolina summary ↗
Statute: N.C.G.S. § 115C-563 to -565
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026

Every requirement above comes from our review of North Carolina’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with North Carolina:

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