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Are you eligible?
Are you eligible?
Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. NOTE: Candidates for the Career and Technical Education certificate are required to hold a bachelor’s degree only if their state required one for their current license.
Have completed 3 years of successful teaching in one or more early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary school. You may start the process before completing 3 years.
Hold a valid state teaching license (or meet the licensure requirements established by your state for a school counselor if applying for the ECYA/School Counseling certificate) for each of the three years of employment you verify.
For World Language only: Provide official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) certified ratings of Advanced Low or higher from ACTFL speaking and writing proficiency assessments if registering as a World Languages candidate. For more information on this prerequisite for World Languages candidates, refer to the Guide to National Board Certification.
Select the right Certificate Area
Select the right Certificate Area
Certificate areas are categorized by content area and AGE range (the numbers shown are NOT grade levels).
If your teaching situation could fit under 2 different certificate areas or emphasis areas, read through the standards and directions for both. Particularly, look at the Component 1 sample questions in each certificate area - this could help you make your decision.
All directions and standards are available for FREE without registration here.
Understand the 4 Components & Deadlines
Understand the 4 Components & Deadlines
Components can be completed in any order. All 4 components must be completed within the first 3 years of candidacy, with 2 additional years available to redo any necessary components.
Component 1: Content Knowledge ... 20 - 80 hours time commitment
In this computer-based assessment, candidates demonstrate knowledge of and pedagogical practices for teaching their content area. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of the chosen certificate area. This is assessed through the completion of three constructed response items and 45 selected response items (SRIs) of which five are embedded field test items and do not contribute to the score.
Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction ... 60 - 100 hours time commitment
This classroom-based portfolio entry is primarily comprised of samples of student work and an accompanying written commentary. Candidates will submit selected work samples that demonstrate the students’ growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes the candidate’s instructional choices.
Component 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment ... 60 - 100 hours time commitment
This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between candidates and their students. Two written commentaries, in which the candidate describes, analyzes and reflects on their teaching and interactions will also be submitted. Both the videos and the written commentaries should demonstrate how candidates engage students and impact their learning.
Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner ... 60 - 100 hours time commitment
This portfolio entry requires candidates to gather information from a variety of sources about a class of students with whom they work and demonstrate their knowledge of assessments and assessment practices to effectively plan for and positively impact student learning. The portfolio will also require candidates to provide evidence of collaboration with families, the community, and colleagues and the candidate’s contributions to learning communities to advance student growth.
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