Frequently Asked Questions about
National Board
Certification
What is National Board Certification (NBC)?
NBC is a demonstration of teaching practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. It is a symbol of commitment to excellence in teaching. Offered on a voluntary basis to teachers with at least three years of teaching experience, the system of NBC complements, but does not replace, state licensing. There are currently over 47,000 National Board Certified teachers in 50 states, overseas, and the District of Columbia.
What is the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)?
NBPTS was created in 1987 to establish high standards for what teachers need to know and be able to do, and to certify teachers who meet those standards. It is an independent, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organization governed by a 63-member board of directors, the majority of whom are classroom teachers.
What is expected of candidates for National Board Certification?
Candidates participate in an extensive yearlong assessment of actual teaching practice. Teachers applying for NBC are expected to demonstrate principled, professional judgment in a variety of situations. The performance-based assessments require teaching portfolios, which include student work, work samples, videotapes, and thoughtful, written analyses of the candidates' classroom teaching and of student learning. Candidates also complete a number of timed, written exercises designed to probe the depth of their subject matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. NBC is unique in that it assesses not only the knowledge teachers possess, but the actual use of their skills and professional judgment in the classroom as they work to improve student learning. A candidate's efforts will likely take the better part of a school year and involve a total of 200-400 hours of work.
Who is eligible to apply for National Board Certification?
A teacher is eligible if he or she holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, has taught for a minimum of three years, and has held a valid state teaching license for those three years.
What is the cost to the candidate?
The candidate fee is $2,565. The Virginia General Assembly appropriated $75,000 for each year of the 2006-07 biennium to support $1,000 of the application fee for 75 candidates. Virginia also received a grant from the U. S. Department of Education to assist in funding application fees. There are currently 362 NBC candidates who were awarded either a $2,000 or a $1,000 federal or state subsidy grant for the 2005-06 process. In addition, several Virginia school divisions are providing full or partial fee payment for approximately 50 candidates.
What is the process for applying for a grant subsidy for the 2006-07 school year?
The Division of Teacher Education and Licensure administers the subsidy grant program that provides subsidy grants to candidates using state and/or federal funds. The 2005-06 subsidy grant application process is finished with 362 candidates being randomly selected and distributed among the eight superintendents' regions: 75 candidates received a $2,000 grant; 287 received a $1,000 grant. The 2006-07 subsidy grant application process will begin in March 2006 and continue into August for teachers who plan to seek National Board Certification during the 2006-07 school year.
Which certificate areas are available?
Twenty-four certificates are being offered for the 2006-2007 process. More information on the certificates for the 2006-07 process and the NBC process itself is available on the NBPTS Web site: www.nbpts.org or by calling 1-800-22TEACH.
Does Virginia offer an incentive to National Board Certified Teachers?
Virginia is one of 48 states offering regulatory or legislative support for NBC. In addition to the candidate subsidy funding initiative, the 1999 Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in HB 2710, The Education Accountability and Quality Enhancement Act, section 22.1.299.2 to provide a National Board Certification Incentive Reward to those teachers in Virginia who have achieved National Board Certification.
How many National Board Certified teachers are in Virginia?
One hundred seventy-three teachers in the Commonwealth of Virginia became certified in 2005 bringing the total of National Board Certified Teachers in Virginia to 924. These teachers are located in the following school divisions:
Albemarle County |
Martinsville City |
The NBPTS Web site lists the National Board Certified teachers in Virginia.
Can the National Board Certification Process be used for license renewal?
National Board Certification is a catalyst for teachers’ professional growth, and candidates may use this activity toward license renewal. Candidates should contact their employing school division regarding using this activity for renewal.
Is National Board Certificate renewable?
A National Board certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of certification. NBPTS policy states that the certificate may be renewed. A renewal program and its procedures are currently under development by the NBPTS board of directors.