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National Board Certification

National Board Certification - VEA Website

The Virginia Education Association, an affiliate of the NEA, serves 132 local affiliates throughout the state of Virginia. As an affiliate network of NBPTS, the VEA provides support and professional learning for NBCTs and candidates pursuing certification to both members and non-members. A variety of candidate support services are available including NEA Jump Start workshops, cohorts, and one-on-one support provided by trained NBCT professional learning facilitators. The VEA also uses its voice as a union at the local and state level to increase awareness among policymakers and other stakeholders about the positive impacts of National Board certification on teaching quality and student learning outcomes and to advocates for incentives and supports from the state and local school divisions.

Registration for the 2022-2023 National Board Certification cycle is open!

To learn more about National Board and register as a National Board candidate, visit the NBPTS website. Registration remains open through the end of February, but remember, if you are completing a component during this cycle, you’ll need to be prepared to start when school begins this fall.

Update! Effective September 19, 2022, educators may begin their National Board certification process during the first three years of their teaching or counseling experience. Candidates still must have completed three full years of teaching or counseling by the time they complete their components, but they may begin prior to year three. For more information, refer to the National Board website or call NBPTS at 1-800-22TEACH.

National Board Results Released in December! 

On Saturday, December 10, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards notified candidates of their scores on components submitted earlier this spring as part of the 2021-2022 certification cycle. We would love to hear from you! Whether you’re celebrating certification or passing scores on individual components, or whether you did not reach your goal and are wondering, “What’s next?,” the VEA is here to support you. Click here to share your news with VEA Teaching & Learning.

NBCT PLF Community of Support 

If you are an NBCT engaged as a Professional Learning Facilitator in support of candidates or advocating for National Board Certification, you are invited to join our VEA NBCT PLF Community of Support. Connect with other Virginia NBCTs engaged in this work in the asynchronous EdCommunities discussion board, or join us for real time conversations via Zoom. For more information on how to join the community, click here.

National Board Informational Webinar

This month we are celebrating Virginia’s NBCTs! Have they inspired to begin your own National Board journey? Learn more about the process and the value of National Board Certification at one of our informational webinars in February. Select a link below to register. 

  • Monday, February 20 at 4pm
  • Thursday, February 23 at 6:30pm

NBCT Panel at VEA Teachers of Color Summit 

The VEA’s Teachers of Color Summit February 17-18 in Norfolk will kick off with a panel discussion with Virginia educators of color who have achieved National Board Certification. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear their insights and take in other engaging presentations at the summit.

We Want to Hear From You! 

Please take a moment to complete this brief member survey about National Board Certification. Your responses help us gather information about the current state of National Board Certification knowledge among our members and develop programming and services that meet member needs and add value to union membership.

  • Complete This 5-Minute Survey Here

Need More Personalized Support for Your National Board Journey?

The VEA has qualified NBCT Professional Learning Facilitators ready to provide one-on-one support. You can receive up to three hours of support each semester for free as a benefit of your VEA membership. You can purchase additional support time for up to 12 hours of personalized support during this cycle year. 

  • Request a mentor or other support here

Sign Up Now for a Candidate Cohort!

The VEA offers cohort support for National Board Candidates of all types facilitated by qualified NBCTs. Cohort participation is free to VEA members, but space is limited, so register soon to secure your space. Meetings begin the week of September 19, and candidates have the choice of attending meetings on Monday evenings or Saturday mornings. Initial candidates will meeting monthly, and MOC candidates will meet bi-monthly.

  • Click here to learn more and register today

Already a NBCT? Become a Professional Learning Facilitator!

The VEA provides training for qualified NBCTs to support candidates in a variety of ways as a Professional Learning Facilitator (PLF). Some roles available for PLFs including mentoring candidates one-on-one or as a small-group cohort leader. We are also currently seeking members to help us create content for use in our National Board programs. If you are interested in this work, please complete this application to indicate your areas of interest.

  • Apply to become a facilitator

VEA Brings National Board Support to You

Do you have a group of educators interested in learning more about National Board or in need of Candidate Support? The VEA can bring our high-quality programs such as Jump Start, MOC Jump Start, and candidate cohorts to your affiliate, school, or community. For more information or to make a request, contact VEA Teaching and Learning at akbrown@veanea.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is National Board Certification?

National Board Certification is a voluntary process developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards intended to “develop, retain, and recognize” accomplished educators as a means of facilitating ongoing school improvement. The positive impact on educators, their students, and schools has been documented in numerous research studies.

Am I eligible to become a National Board Certified Teacher?

To be eligible for National Board Certification, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (*Career and Technical Education teachers must meet this requirement only if it was required for their state teaching license requirement.)
  • Have completed 3 full years of teaching in one or more of the following settings: early childhood, elementary, middle, high school. Candidates for certification in school counseling must have completed 3 full years of teaching in one or more of these settings. Individuals who have worked part-time may be eligible provided they have worked an equivalent of 3 full-time years in the setting described.
  • Have held a valid teaching or school counseling license throughout the 3 full years of work experience described above.

Additionally, candidates for certification in World Languages other than English must obtain a ACTFL certificate with a rating of Advanced Low or higher on speaking proficiency and writing assessments.

Update! Effective September 19, 2022, educators may begin their National Board certification process during the first three years of their teaching or counseling experience. Candidates still must have completed three full years of teaching or counseling by the time they complete their components, but they may begin prior to year three. For more information, refer to the National Board website or call NBPTS at 1-800-22TEACH.

Does becoming a National Board Certified Teacher count toward renewing my Virginia teaching or counseling license?

National Board Certification is not a licensure process. Educators may be eligible for relicensure points for the work completed in the certification process. Please contact the licensure specialist in your school division.

How long does it take to become a National Board Certified Teacher?

The National Board certification process is designed for educators to work at their own pace to complete certification in 1 to 5 years. Candidates can choose how many components to complete each years, but all four components must be attempted within the first 3 years of candidacy. Candidates may re-take any components to improve their score and improve their likelihood of achieving certification.

How much does it cost to become a National Board Certified Teacher?

Candidates may select between 1 and 4 components to complete each year. They pay only for the components selected for that year plus an annual registration fee. As of the 2021-22 cycle year, the costs were as follows:

  • Annual registration fee: $75 (paid each year of candidacy)
  • Each component: $475 each (paid only for components selected during a given year)
  • Retake fees for Components 2, 3, 4: $475 per component (paid only when candidate opts to redo a previous submission)
  • Retake fees for Component 1: $125 per exercise (candidates may opt to redo one or more parts of this component)
How long is a National Board Certificate valid?

National Board Certification is valid for 5 years and may be maintained through the Maintenance of Certification process.

What assistance is available to pay for the National Board Certification process?

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers a payment plan for candidates to pay their fees over a period of several months.

Some school divisions may offer financial support to help educators pay for the certification process.

Virginia has offered grants to help cover the cost of certification in the past, but the availability of such grants will vary from year to year.

Virginia does offer a stipend to eligible educators who have successfully achieved National Board Certification which is contingent upon legislative budget approval each year. Learn more about this stipend on at the Virginia Department of Education website.

What is Maintenance of Certification?

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is the process through which an NBCT keeps their certification current after the 5-year certification period. Begun in year 4 or 5 of the NBCT’s current certificate, MOC is a 1-year process which requires NBCTs to reflect on their professional growth since their initial certification and its impact on their students. In this process, the candidate submits one portfolio comprised of two components. The process is grounded in the same foundational principles of the initial process, and candidates must maintain their certificate in the original certification area even if their teaching assignment or role has changed.

How much does it cost to maintain my National Board Certification?

The cost of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process consists of completing one portfolio (containing two components) which costs $495 plus an annual registration fee of $75. If the candidate does not successfully maintain their certificate in their first year of eligibility, they may complete the MOC process again in their second and final year of eligibility, and all fees must be paid again.

Can I Maintain my National Board Certificate if I am in another position?

Yes, but NBCTs must maintain their certificate in the original area of certification. If you have moved into a different role or have a different teaching assignment than that designated by your certificate, you will need to “borrow” a class to complete the required component elements.

What is a PLF?

A PLF, or Professional Learning Facilitator, is an NBCT or other qualified individual who has been trained to provide candidate support that is both effective and ethical. The VEA provides PLF training and pairs candidates with PLFs to support their National Board journey.

What is an NBCT?

An NBCT, or National Board Certified Teacher, is an educator who has successfully completed the National Board Certification process in one of 25 available certificate areas. Once they have achieved this certification, the educator is considered an NBCT as long as they maintain their certification through the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process.

What is the Architecture of Accomplished Teaching?

The Architecture of Accomplished Teaching is a framework to describe the practice of accomplished teaching as it relates to the Five Core Propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The Architecture of Accomplished Teaching is referenced in the National Board Certification process for each certificate area.

Is there a National Board Certificate for what I teach?

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards currently offers 25 different certificates. These are categorized by the developmental level of students and content area.

What are the Five Core Propositions?

The Five Core Propositions identify and describe what the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards asserts accomplished educators should know and be able to do.

  • Proposition 1: Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
  • Proposition 2: Teachers know the subjects to teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
  • Proposition 3: Teachers are responsible for managing students and monitoring students’ learning.
  • Proposition 4: Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
  • Proposition 5: Teachers are members of learning communities.
What are the National Board Standards?

National Board Standards for each certificate area have been developed by committees of educators recognized as highly accomplished in their respective fields, and the majority of the committee members are NBCTs themselves. National Board Standards are an integral part of the certification process and are separate from the Virginia Standards of Learning or standards established by professional teaching organizations.

What support does the VEA offer for National Board candidates?

The VEA’s Teaching & Learning department provides support for candidates through PLF mentors and small group cohorts as well as intensive workshops such as Jump Start. We also offer presentations and webinars to increase stakeholder awareness of how National Board Certification can benefit students, teachers, and schools. For more information, contact us.

Do I have to take a test to become a National Board Certified Teacher?

Candidates for their initial National Board Certification will complete Component 1: Content Knowledge at an approved testing center. While the specific requirements for the component will vary by certificate, this component requires Candidates to respond to selected response (multiple choice-style) items and created response (essay-style) items. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score on this component, they may choose to re-take all or parts of the component (re-registration and re-take fees apply).

There is no test-style component for the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process.

Are there any financial incentives to become an NBCT?

Virginia currently offers a stipend to eligible educators who have successfully achieved National Board Certification which is contingent upon legislative budget approval each year. Learn more about this stipend on at the Virginia Department of Education website.
Some school divisions offer additional stipends, bonuses, or payroll scale steps. Contact your school division to determine what incentives may be available to you.

How many teachers are NBCTs?

There are currently 3,920 NBCTs in Virginia and 130,630 NBCTs nationwide (per NBPTS, as of December 2021).

How many candidates successfully become certified?

Based on data collected since 2017, the current rate of certification among initial candidates is 70% and 99% of NBCTs who seek to maintain their certificate are successful. Learn more about certification rates here.

National Board Certification included in VEA’s Legislative Agenda

VEA announced its 2023 legislative agenda initiating legislation to improve the Virginia stipend incentive for NBCTs is among the important items included. We support legislation to scale the initial and continuing state supplement and advocate adding support to help educators pay for the certification process.

Learn more about VEA’s 2023 legislative agenda

Unfilled Positions

Teacher shortages are a serious issue across the country. Here in Virginia, there are currently over 1,000 unfilled teaching positions.

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