How to Begin the National Board Certification Process
When getting started with National Board certification, it’s essential to select the best certification area for you from the 27 available. The content area you teach and the age of your students are considerations when deciding on an area of certification. To review the certification areas, read Choosing the Right Certification Area. I recommend selecting a certification area before school starts.
After selecting a certification area, read over the requirements and decide which components you want to work on first. Candidates have three years to submit all four components. For example, components 1 and 3 could be completed the first year and components 2 and 4 the second year. Candidates can also decide to complete all four components in one year. The time frame and which components to complete is an individual decision. Once the components are submitted, candidates have two years to redo components for a higher score, if needed.
The National Board process aligns with the school year calendar, from August-May or June (the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) sets the date). The due date for components 2 - 4 is on the (NBPTS) website. Component 1, the assessment center component, can only be completed when the assessment center is open, usually from April - June. Candidates can select the testing location, and date best fits their schedule within the testing window. Often testing center dates fill up fast so scheduling a testing date in January or as soon as the testing site opens can make a difference. All important dates are on the website.
Once a certification area has been selected, set up a National Board account on https://www.nbpts.org/. There is a required $75.00 yearly registration fee. The payment balance is usually due in January; however, the date is subject to change. If assistance is needed to pay for the certification process, search for scholarships. Many school systems, unions, and companies pay for all or part of the process.
It is important to read your certification-specific instructions and standards before beginning writing. The question prompts that you respond to in your written commentary are all there—no need to guess. There is also a scoring guide. A four is the highest score you can earn for each component. All components must score higher than 1.75; that’s the floor score. Any component that receives a score of less than 1.75 must be redone. A total weighted score, on all components combined, of 110 or higher is needed to achieve certification.
Having a mentor is key to success in this process. If your school system does not offer mentoring support check https://www.nbpts.org/. They have lots of videos to walk you through the process. They also offer some mentoring opportunities.
Finally, make a plan and write it down. Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher requires commitment and planning. Many people, including me, have to write, rewrite, edit and update. Making a plan that includes all critical dates (completing forms, videotaping, draft one complete, submission date, etc.) and leaves space to rewrite will help you stay on track and reduce stress during the process.
