Eligibility for North Carolina's Candidates

All candidates for National Board Certification must:

• Hold a Bachelor's Degree (exception: CTE teachers must have met the NCDPI licensure requirements)

• Have completed three full years of teaching or school counseling; and

• Possess a valid teaching license, i.e. a Continuing License or Standard Professional II License

NHCS Support Sessions Offered during the 2025-2026 School Year:

• Friday, August 22, 2025 - Pre-Candidacy Seminar

• Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Beginner to Board Program Interest Meeting

  • B2B Session # 1 - Tuesday, January 20, 2026

  • B2B Session # 2 - Tuesday, February 24, 2026

  • B2B Session # 3 - Friday, March 20, 2026

  • B2B Session # 4 - Tuesday, April 21, 2026

  • B2B Session # 5 - Thursday, May 7, 2026

• Thursday, June 11, 2026 - Pre-Candidacy Seminar

Substitute Information

North Carolina provides three substitute days for state-funded candidates seeking initial National Board Certification. These days are only available for initial candidates. They are not available for retake or renewal candidates. There are a total of three days provided by the state over the initial certification period. There are not three days provided each year. In order to qualify for these substitute days, the candidate must meet the qualifications for the state loan, whether or not the candidate applied for the loan. Visit the DPI National Board Certification Page for more information about qualification requirements for loan funding and/or substitute days. 

Carefully review the substitute funding instructions if you need to apply for substitute funding.  Allow at least 30 days for processing of your substitute funding application. 

Important Reminders

It is very important that you include your state teaching license number (this is not your NCID), list NHCS as your school district, and agree to release information to third parties when you register online with National Board. Failure to allow update your information and allow third-party release will require NBCTs to pay the licensure fee through NCDPI.

The third parties are NHCS, NCDPI, and NCCAT. Your pay increase and renewal credit cannot be issued without your teaching license number, NHCS listed as your school district, and the agreement to release information to third parties. If you have already registered and did not provide this information, update the information in your online National Board account or call 1-800-22TEACH for assistance.  Review these instructions for assistance updating the third-party notification setting.