National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education and private corporations, and governed by a 63 member board of directors, the majority of whom are teachers. The NBPTS certificate measures a teacher's practice against high and rigorous standards. The process is an extensive series of performance-based assessments that includes teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and thorough analyses of the candidates' classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. Teachers who have participated in National Board Certification have overwhelmingly stated it is the most powerful professional development experience of their careers. They say the experience changes them as professionals and that through the process they deepen their content knowledge and develop, master, and reflect on new approaches to working with their students. National Board Certification is voluntary and open to all people who have a baccalaureate degree and three years of classroom experience in either a public or private school. It is valid for 10 years. The fee for National Board Certification is $2500.

ADVANTAGES FOR WISCONSIN TEACHERS PURSUING THE NBPTS CERTIFICATE

• Engage in the most rewarding professional development experience of your career.
• Improve student learning as you improve your command of teaching.
• Reform education by renewing yourself as a teacher and education leader
• Obtain a subsidy to offset the cost of application.
• Obtain reimbursement for the costs associated with working on the certificate.
• Obtain annual grants of $2500 for 9 years after achieving the certificate.
• Become licensed for 10 years as a Wisconsin Master Educator.
• Use your work in the National Board process in lieu of 6 credits for license renewal.

The NBPTS certificate complements, but does not replace, state licensing. It is a professional certificate increasingly used by states like Wisconsin as an option to renew a regular (professional educator) license in the corresponding area and level at the Master Educator stage.

PRE-CANDIDATE SUPPORT AND TRAINING

• Alverno College - Contact Dr. Mary Diez, Professor of Education, Dean of Graduate Studies, (414) 382-6214.
• Mount Mary College - Contact Dr. Deb Dosemagen, Chair of Education Department, (414) 256-1214.
  
• A group of Milwaukee area NBCTs have developed a support network and a website for interested candidates.
• Some of Wisconsin's National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have agreed to serve as a resource to interested teachers. You may contact them directly from this listing.
• The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) website describes periodic presentations and resource information on the NBPTS process.
• GETTING STARTED... Begin your NBPTS journey.
• Learn the Wisconsin procedures you need to follow to obtain the application fee subsidy, Wisconsin reimbursement and annual grants; and to understand Wisconsin's commitment to the NBPTS process as defined in our legislation.

For questions about this information, contact Charlene M. Koci (608) 267-9215

Last updated on 6/23/2008 3:29:39 PM