NEA: National Board Certification: Help for Prospective Candidates

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NEA, AFT Offer Guide to National Board Certification Process

If you are considering becoming a candidate for National Board Certification, check out A Guide to Understanding National Board Certification - 2008 Candidacy Cycle (PDF, 3MB, 74 pages), a joint project of NEA and AFT (American Federation of Teachers). This publication, intended to complement the materials provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, capitalizes on the experiences of those who have already earned this credential. It includes tips for staying organized, creating a schedule, understanding the National Board standards, assembling your portfolio, creating your videotapes, and documenting your accomplishments. The guide also includes exercises designed to help you practice the skills you will need to complete the National Board Certification Process. You also will find hints and advice from National Board Certified Teachers.

Covering the Cost of National Board Certification

NEA Member Benefits offers a low-cost loan program to help members cover the assessment fee for National Board Certification during 2006-2007.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards keeps an up-to-date list of scholarship and financial supports available to candidates on its Web site.

Company Funds Scholarships to Science Teachers Seeking NBC

Educators considering applying for National Board Certification (NBC) in middle school or high school science may be eligible for financial assistance from the GlaxoSmithKline Endowed Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be awarded by December 31, 2007.

With the announcement of the fund that was launched with a $1 million endowment, GlaxoSmithKline joins the growing ranks of major corporations that are support high quality teaching through the National Board Certification program.

For more information about becoming a candidate for National Board Certification, including how to seek the GlaxoSmithKline scholarships and other financial assistance resources, visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Web site here .

NEA Members Offer Tips for Candidates

Several NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification have developed a set of tips about how to prepare for the Assessment Center portion of the process. The Assessment Center portion consists of a full day of assessment exercises that are focused on content knowledge. There are six 30-minute prompts to validate that the knowledge and skills exhibited in the candidate's portfolio are, in fact, accurate reflections of what candidates know and can do. They also provide an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills not sampled in the portfolio.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Web site is the definitive source of information about the National Board Certification process. Some key areas to visit:

Candidate Resource Center -- for those just considering the process as well as those who are retake candidates
NBPTS standards -- what constitutes accomplished teaching in every subject and for students at all stages of their development
certificates -- classified by developmental level and subject area
state or local incentives -- fee support, salary supplements, license portability, etc. to teachers seeking National Board Certification.

Certification Candidates Converse Online

There are a great many online discussion groups available to candidates who want to share with and learn from their fellow candidates. The following groups -- which are not sponsored or endorsed by NEA -- are organized by specific certificate area:

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