Information About the National Board Certification
To pursue National Board Certification a teacher must hold a baccalaureate degree and have three years of teaching experience on a provisional or standards certificate (no emergency or intern certificate) in early childhood, elementary, middle or secondary schools prior to submitting an application. In addition, a teacher must hold a valid teaching license.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers 24 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels. These certificates cover 95% of preK-12 teachers. As teachers pursue National Board Certification they will be required to complete a portfolio comprised of four sections:
- Analysis and reflection of video recordings of classroom teaching practice (two portfolio entries)
- Analysis of and reflection on student work with samples (one portfolio entry)
- Documented accomplishments of work outside the classroom and evidence of how that work impacts student learning (one portfolio entry)
In addition, candidates will be required to complete an online assessment that demonstrates subject-matter expertise. For more information about National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org.
History
The Arizona Education Association was instrumental in bringing National Board Certification to Arizona. The first Arizona teacher to gain certification is the Center's own Executive Director, Kathy Wiebke, in 1996. She remembers how going through the process truly changed the teaching climate in her school. "It really strengthened my relations with other teachers," says Wiebke. "Because I needed help, for the first time we had substantive conversations about teaching and learning. Many of those colleagues have since become certified themselves."
With the program still in its infancy, Wiebke had no in-state support whatsoever. She recalls how much more difficult this made it for her: "I had so many misconceptions about the process, that I spent as much time worrying about it as I did the work." This experience has motivated her to help make it easier for Arizona's teachers today. "I want to make sure no one ever goes through the process that blindly again."
NBC gained momentum in 1997, when Arizona State University received an endowment from the Bank of America to support teachers seeking National Board Certification. Increased funding opened the door for more teachers to pursue and attain certification through an organized system of candidate support.
Nancy Shakowski, Western States Regional outreach director, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, sees the progress that has been made in the state. "None of the other Western States have pre-candidacy support to this degree, and are as organized on a statewide level to deliver a program of support. This is thanks in large part to Kathy's vision and leadership, and to the work of the Arizona K-12 Center."
There are currently 681 NBCTs in Arizona.
