What is National Board Certification?

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to identify, recognize and reward highly accomplished teachers and school counselors who meet the rigorous standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for what teachers should know and be able to do.

Who is eligible to apply for National Board Certification?

Applicants that wish to pursue National Board Certification must: Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Have completed three years of successful teaching in one or more early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary school(s) on a valid Provisional or Standard teaching certificate (emergency or intern certificates are not valid). Note that applicants for ECYA/School Counseling must have completed three years successfully serving as a school counselor in one or more early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary school(s) to meet the employment eligibility prerequisite. Hold a valid state teaching license.

How do I apply for National Board Certification?

To become an official candidate for National Board Certification, you must apply directly with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards through their website

What support can I expect to receive as a candidate for National Board Certification?

The Arizona K12 Center provides extensive support for teachers seeking National Board Certification. Guidance and support are provided by trained National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in individual schools and districts throughout Arizona.. No matter where you live or work in Arizona you have access to quality candidate support throughout your journey towards National Board Certification.

What is the fee for becoming a National Board Certification candidate?

The assessment fee for full candidacy is $1900 with each component costing $475. There is a $75 nonrefundable processing fee during each cycle you are a candidate. Teachers decided how many components they want to complete in a given year. However, all four components must be completed within a three year window.

What financial assistance is available?

Funding is available through the Arizona K12 Center. Funding assistance is dependent upon the availability of funding and eligibility requirements which may change from year to year. Funding assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Teachers that are interested in pursuing funding assistance must complete a National Board Pre-Candidacy class prior to being awarded. These classes are typically offered free of charge in school districts throughout the state, as well as through the Arizona K12 Center. Upon completion of a Pre-Candidacy class, a teacher is eligible to apply for funding assistance. Candidates that receive funding assistance from the Arizona K12 Center but do not fulfill the candidate obligations listed in the Terms and Conditions portion of their funding application are obligated to repay any monies paid on their behalf. Candidates that decide to withdraw from the process should follow the process and deadline established by NBPTS. Candidates that fail to withdraw by the deadline identified by NBPTS will be responsible for repay the Arizona K12 Center and monies paid on their behalf. Teachers who receive funding must teach for one year in Arizona after completing all four components.

How will I be notified if I am awarded funding assistance from the Arizona K12 Center?

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once your application has been received and confirmation of Pre-Candidacy Class completion has been verified, an Arizona K12 Center staff member will contact you via email. Once you have been notified about your funding assistance, payment will be made directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The funding received through the Arizona K12 Center is considered a third-party payment; therefore, it is very important that you select the option in your profile that allows third-party funders to access your information. If you do not select this option, we cannot make a payment on your behalf. Contact us at info@azk12.org or call the NBPTS at 1-800-22TEACH for help if needed. Once you have been approved for scholarship assistance, you can check the status of your payment by visiting your profile in the NBPTS Candidate Management System.

What will be expected of me if I receive funding assistance through the Arizona K12 Center?

Candidates who are eligible for and receive funding must:

• be registered to attend a National Board Institute, or must have successfully completed one within the past two years for full funding consideration,
• attend the small group meetings arranged by your Candidate Support Provider, and
• must teach in Arizona for at least one year after completing and submitting all four components.

What if I withdraw from the process after being funded?

Candidates who receive funding assistance from the Arizona K12 Center but do not fulfill the candidate obligations listed in the terms and conditions portion of their scholarship application are obligated to repay the Arizona K12 Center any monies paid on their behalf. Funding assistance recipients that decide to withdraw from the process should follow the process and deadline established by NBPTS. Candidates who fail to withdraw by the deadline identified by NBPTS will be responsible for repaying the Arizona K12 Center any monies paid on their behalf.

What steps must I take to withdraw?

Any candidate who chooses to withdraw from the process is responsible for notifying the NBPTS in writing by completing the process and forms identified in the NBPTS Candidate Management System. If funding has been received through the Arizona K12 Center, the candidate must send verification of this formal withdrawal to the Arizona K12 Center prior to the NBPTS submission deadline. Payments to the Arizona K12 Center can be made over the phone via credit card or can be sent via check to the Arizona K12 Center, 99 East Virginia, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Do I need to register for small group meetings in my school district or regional area?

It is not necessary to register via the Arizona K12 Center website for small group meetings. Small group cohorts are arranged by the Arizona K12 Center. Candidate Support Provider (CSP) contact information is provided during the funding assistance process and/or Institute experiences. Prior to the first scheduled small group meeting, you should expect to be contacted by your assigned CSP with the details of these meetings. It is important that candidates stay in close communication with their CSP, letting them know when you will not be able to participate. To find a small group near you, please contact us at info@azk12.org.

How do I register for National Board support events?

Should you elect to participate in any of our statewide candidate support events (Pre-Candidacy class, institutes, Coaching Saturdays, or National Board Workshops), you must register on or before each event deadline. To register for events, login to your Arizona K12 profile at: www.azk12.org. Once logged into your account, you can select “Event Registration” to register for individual events.

Do I need to set up an account on the Arizona K12 Center’s website?

First-time users of the Arizona K12 Center registration system must first set up an account prior to registering for an event. There is no charge to establish an account. It is important that you keep this information accurate and current. Every participant must have their own individual account.

How is information disseminated and contact made with candidates?

All information is disseminated via email and the Arizona K12 Center website. All contacts are made via email. It is imperative that we have your current email address and that you check it with great frequency both during the school and summer months. The Arizona K12 Center is happy to send emails to multiple addresses if this meets your needs.

Can I earn graduate credit as I pursue National Board Certification?

Yes, you can! Northern Arizona University has two master’s programs (Elementary Education, Master of Education and Early Childhood Education, Master of Education) with the pursuit of National Board Certification embedded in each program. For more information, visit the NAU’s College of Education website.