National Board Certification - Is It for You?

As education issues take front and center in both politics and the press, the microscope focusing on teacher quality and qualification has perhaps never been more scrutinizing. The upside is that professional development is at last wielding more influence as legislators, administrators, teachers, and the public look for ways to improve and certify teacher quality.

National Board Certification is one route that states are increasingly turning to in order to reinforce and promote rigorous standards in the teaching profession. Thirty states now officially offer assistance to teachers who want to pursue national certification, and many offer monetary rewards to those who earn the prestigious credential.

What is National Board Certification?
National Board Certification (NBC) is a voluntary professional development process by which accomplished teachers are recognized for meeting high and rigorous professional standards as developed and assessed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Emerging from the 1986 Carnegie Corporation's Report A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century, the NBPTS was organized in 1987 and currently offers national certification in more than 20 certificate areas. National Board certification differs from state licensing in that it is not required to teach by any district, is uniform across the country while state licensing requirements vary, and the standards were developed through a process of teacher input that is different from that used in state licensing(1).

Who seeks National Board Certification?
Viewed by some as the ultimate professional development activity, many teachers seek certification to demonstrate their mastery of the standards developed by the NBPTS under the leadership of its 63-member board of directors.

The awarding of National Board Certification recognizes a teacher's mastery of knowledge, skills, accomplishments, and commitment to the five core beliefs of the board:

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
• Teachers think systemically about their practice and learn from experience.
• Teachers are members of learning communities.

With these beliefs central to the work of the board, committees are appointed to develop standards for areas of certification. All standards are publicly reviewed before being adopted.

The number of teachers earning National Board Certification has increased as teacher education institutions, school divisions, teacher unions and Nationally Board Certified teachers have spread knowledge about NBC across the United States. In 2000, 4,727 teachers earned certification, up from 86 teachers in 1999, the first year certification was available. Of the approximately 3.5 million non-supervisory professional educational staff currently employed in the U.S., approximately 9,500 now hold National Board Certification. Statistics show increasing numbers of professional educators are learning about and choosing to seek National Board Certification.

How does a teacher seek National Board Certification?

Eligibility Requirements
Teachers wishing to seek National Board Certification must:

1. Have earned a baccalaureate degree.
2. Have completed three years of teaching.
3. Hold a valid teaching license or its equivalent for     school systems not requiring licensure to teach in early    childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary levels.

Fees and Certification Areas
If these eligibility requirements are met, a prospective candidate must submit an application and at least $300 of the current $2,300 fee. While the process is costly, both in terms of time and money, many states and even local systems offer financial support to help defray the costs. Additional incentives can include pay raises of up to 10 percent in some states. Contact your state department of education to research monies available to teachers seeking National Board Certification.

As part of the application process, teachers must carefully select a certificate area from those currently available. Visiting the official Board Web site will provide interested teachers with detailed information about the standards and requirements in all certificate areas.

Board Assessment
The first part of the assessment involves four to six portfolio exercises. These exercises require samples of student work, video documentation, and written analyses by the candidate of these artifacts. An additional requirement involves evidence of the teacher's work with colleagues, the community, and students' families. The portfolio takes approximately five months to compile.

The second portion of the assessment requires a candidate to report during the summer to an assessment center to complete four 90 minute written assessments. The Assessment Center Exercises require candidates to demonstrate their pedagogical content and knowledge.

Who assesses the Portfolio and Assessment Center Exercises?
Portfolio and assessment center exercises are scored by teachers who have undergone intensive training by the NBPTS and have demonstrated their understanding of the standards, the directions to candidates, and the scoring guides. Included with the detailed instructions about the two-fold assessment components to candidates are explanations, or rubrics, about how the portfolio and assessment center exercises will be scored.

Should I pursue National Board Certification?
Professional educators across the country are asking themselves this question. Undoubtedly, NBC provides teachers with definitive standards of what is considered "the best" in teaching practices in respective fields, and provides a means for teachers to demonstrate what so many professional educators do day in and day out. The process requires self-reflection, crucial to improving one's craft. Ultimately, any interested teacher should investigate the process thoroughly. The ERIC Clearinghouse for Research, located at www.ericae.net, will provide additional information, reviews, and opinions of the merits of National Board Certification.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards maintains its Web site at www.nbpts.org and can be reached at 1-800-22-TEACH. The NBPTS can also be contacted through the following information: