Our 25-26 National Board support launches on 9/13/2025!
The DPI website has important funding information for initial candidates.
Links are also available on the DPI site detailing the state criteria for the 12% pay differential. CMS currently pays the differential for NBCTs whose salary is based on the teacher payroll, but who do not meet the state criteria (facilitators, Deans, MCLs, coaches, etc.) If you have questions about whether or not your position qualifies for the differential, contact your CMS Licensure Case Manager.
Loan funding is limited. Before applying for the state loan, read the eligibility requirements on the DPI site. Candidates should read all information on this website, review our Canvas courses, and carefully review all information on the National Board website, including the Guide to National Board Certification, before applying as a candidate. Then apply through the National Board website and obtain your candidate ID number. Order only the components that you plan to complete in the 2025-2026 school year.
Then go to the loan application site to apply for the state loan, if desired. The loan application will close on January 15, 2025. However, loan funds are limited and may be depleted prior to January 15th.
After you apply for the loan, email Dr. Charlene Pittman at DPI to let her know that you applied for the National Board loan. You will also need to send her a screenshot as proof of payment of the $75 fee on the National Board website for the current school year (cycle). She will then review your application.
When you receive email notification that you have been approved for the loan, you will have 3 days to sign the online promissory note. If you do not sign the online promissory note within 3 days, you will lose the loan funding and the funds will be provided to another candidate. Be sure to check your email regularly, including your Clutter, Trash, and Junk folders, to ensure that you do not miss this email notification of loan approval. After you sign the online promissory note, the loan funds ($1,900) will be sent to you. You will be responsible for paying for the National Board components in the school year (cycle) in which you plan to complete them.
DonorsChoose is now accepting grant applications for professional development, including National Board Certification fees. You may wish to investigate this opportunity. You must complete and submit all components in the school year (cycle) in which they are ordered and purchased. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not Donors Choose will require that you complete all components in one school year. If you receive grant proceeds and already received loan funding, contact Dr. Charlene Pittman regarding implications for your loan.
You may also wish to check with your school PTA regarding possible funding opportunities.
****NC House bill H980 included a provision to pay the $1,900 fee for 1,000 qualifying candidates statewide over 2 school years. This legislation was introduced in 2019-2020. You can read the bill here. Loan funds may still be available after funds to pay fees for candidates are exhausted. Applying for the loan may make you ineligible for the outright funding if this legislation becomes law. This bill did not pass in 2019-2020. We do not know if it will be reintroduced in a future year. We do not have additional information available at this time. ****
**** A bill was introduced in the NC legislature in 2019-2020 that would move school counselors to the psychologists pay schedule and make them ineligible for the 12% pay differential. This bill did not pass. We do not know if a similar bill will be introduced in the future. No additional information is available at this time. ****
Email Christina Roth at christina.roth@cms.k12.nc.us if you have questions or desire additional information about National Board Certification and the CMS National Board Support Program.
We regret that we cannot provide support to National Board candidates who are not CMS employees.
Do you know someone who would make a great National Board Candidate? Send them this LINK for more information.