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The Arizona K12 Center is here to support you as you explore National Board Certification as a pre-candidate through celebrating your achievement at the annual Celebration of Accomplished Teaching and advancing your practice and leadership beyond that.
The Arizona K12 Center provides both funding assistance and candidate guidance to support you throughout the National Board Certification process.
Start your journey today
Pre-Candidacy
Begin your journey to becoming a National Board Certified Teacher with a National Board Pre-Candidacy Class. This is also the first step to being eligible for funding from the Arizona K12 Center. As a pre-candidate, you’ll gain a firm understanding of the process and be prepared to begin the candidate process toward becoming a National Board Certified Teacher.
In a National Board Pre-Candidacy Class, you will explore the National Board Professional Teaching Standards and Five Core Propositions. You will also have a better understanding of the documents, materials, and components set forth by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
This multi-week virtual course helps participants build a system of support and be prepared to pursue National Board Certification.
National Board Funding and Support
To begin the National Board Certification process, following National Board for Professional Teaching guidelines, you must meet the following requirements:
- Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Hold a valid Arizona teaching license or meet the Arizona licensure requirements.
While it used to be that you could not begin the National Board Certification process until after three years of teaching, as of September 2022, teachers can now begin the process in their first year of teaching and submit all four components. If their scores reach the level of accomplished teaching, they will earn the title of NBCT once they complete their third year of teaching.
Read more about eligibility requirements here.
The Arizona K12 Center has funding to support Arizona teachers toward National Board Certification.
Teachers who successfully complete a pre-candidacy class are eligible for funding to cover the costs of up to four components ($475 per component). The teacher is responsible for the $75 application fee for every year they are a candidate.
For the 2023-2024 cycle, funding assistance is available for first time and continuing candidates. Teachers interested in applying for the Arizona K12 Center’s funding assistance must meet the requirements set forth by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (i.e., hold a bachelor’s degree, possess a valid state teaching/counseling license for that period of time, etc.). Click here to connect with NBPTS for more information.
In addition to meeting NBPTS qualifying criteria, teachers interested in applying for funding assistance should meet the additional criteria below that aligns to their funding application level.
Requirements and Expectations
To receive funding assistance for National Board Certification from the Arizona K12 Center, you must:
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Complete a Pre-Candidacy Class through your district or the Arizona K12 Center.
- Apply for funding.
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New candidates must submit a Teachers Academy User Agreement, and all candidates must submit the funding application. More details are below.
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- Declare your candidacy at Home - NBPTS Main Site.
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Create an account with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Be sure to agree to Third Party Access and pay the annual $75 registration fee. You will also register for the components you plan to take for the year.
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Attend monthly small meetings, a National Board Kickoff, and at least National Board Coaching Saturday.
- Complete all four National Board components.
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All four components must be completed over a three-year window. You are responsible to pay your own $75 registration fee to NBPTS each year. Upon completion, send your score report to the Arizona K12 Center.
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Continue to teach in an Arizona public school for one year after submitting all four components.
In addition to these requirements and expectations and NBPTS qualifying criteria, teachers interested in applying for funding assistance should meet the additional criteria below that aligns to their funding application type.
New Candidates
- New candidates have not yet submitted any components during the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-2024 cycles.
- Must fill out a Teachers Academy User Agreement and send to kwaite@azk12.org. Please download the document before filling it out. Remember to save!
- Must attend a National Board Candidate Kickoff.
- Must attend at least one Coaching Saturday.
- Must attend the monthly small group meetings.
- Must submit a copy of your score report.
- Must teach in Arizona for one year after submitting all initial component attempts.
Continuing Candidates
- A copy of your score transcript MUST be sent to ddicus@azk12.org before funds will be approved.
- Continuing candidates have submitted at least one component during the 2021-22, or 2022-23, 2023-24 cycles.
- Successful completion of Pre-Candidacy Class and National Board Institute within the last three years.
- Must attend monthly small group meetings.
Retakes
- A copy of your most recent score transcript MUST be sent to ddicus@azk12.org before funds will be approved.
- Eligible retake candidates will receive funding to cover one component.
Funding applications will be accepted during the funding assistance window listed below, and all applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding decisions will be made within 15 business days of application submission during these windows:
Continuing Candidate Window: May 1 – October 25, 2024
New Candidate Window: May 1- October 25, 2024
To apply, please fill out the application provided following your National Board Pre-Candidacy Class. If you attended Pre-Candidacy in the past, please email Kendall Waite (kwaite@azk12.org) for the application.
Maintenance of Certification Candidate Window: May 1 – October 25, 2024
Retake Candidate Window: December 2024 – January 17, 2025
It starts with our National Board Pre-Candidacy Class, where you’ll gain a firm understanding of the process, be eligible to apply for the Center's candidate support funding, and be prepared to officially become an NBCT candidate. Our support continues with a variety of events that provide you with informational sessions, work time, and coaching support.
Paths to Certification
