Who should apply? Teachers seeking National Board Certification must have at least three years teaching experience and a valid teaching license. Teachers who seek certification are innovators, leaders in their schools and in their communities, and people who seek new challenges. This is a difficult process requiring much writing, videotaping, reflecting, and finally, an exam. But, it also is a rewarding process—professionally and economically.

What assistance can you expect? State grants no longer exist for this process. Applicants must pay the full process fee of $2,500, plus a $65 application fee by January 31.

Albemarle County offers a Mentor Program from August through March, with regular meetings and workshops and advice to link you to online help. The county also offers $1,000 reimbursement towards the process fee to teachers who submit all portfolios and required documentation and take the online test. Please email NBCT@k12albemarle.org to get further announcements about Albemarle County’s mentor program for National Board candidates and grant money available to you in this process.

What is the financial incentive for National Board Certified teachers (NBCTs)? The state of Virginia currently awards NBCTs $5,000 the school year following successful completion of National Board Certification and $2,500 each year for the remaining nine years of certification, providing you continue to teach in public schools. Albemarle County awards NBCTs $1,000 per year, as long as you remain in the classroom. There is a renewal process after 10 years of certification.

Take One! If you are interested in this process, but are overwhelmed by the size of the task, there will be a Take One! Program this year for teachers who want to complete only one portfolio this year and the remainder of the certification next year. The process fee for Take One! is $395.

For more information, visit the National Board website.

The state contact person for this application is Eleanor Joyce at Eleanor.Joyce@doe.virginia.gov. She offers advice and posts notices about state workshops, and she can put you on a listserv for hints from others going through the process.