1. What is National Board Certification?
- National Board Certification is an assessment of an educators understanding of pedagogy, content, and assessment of their grade/content level. Candidates complete 4 "components" (See Comp 1-4 tabs) and assessors use NBC rubrics to score each component. Candidates must meet a minimum weighted score of 110 to certify.
- In order to pursue NBC you must have a license in the state you are teaching, completed at least 3 years of teaching, and hold a minimum of a bachelors degree.
2. How much does NBC cost?
- NBC costs $475 per component. Plus an annual $75 registration fee. Candidates are only required to pay for the components they will submit each cycle. Fees are due February 28th and components are submitted in Mid May. Washoe Education Association offers members an interest free loan. If you are a WEA member, please contact Earl Spriggs @ [email protected] for more information.
3. How long do I have to complete?
- Candidates can take up to three years to complete the process. We recommend either completing the process in one year, or breaking the Components into two years, Comp 4 and 1 in the first year, and Comps 3 and 2 in the second year.
4. If I don't meet the certification score do I need to start all over?
- No, you can bank your scores and just resubmit the component that you needed additional points on.
- For Comp 1, you can break it into two tests, and only take one part or both.
5. How much time does it take to finish each component/all components?
- It all depends on how you work, however candidates consistently report that the NBC process takes approximately 250-450 hours.
6. How much does it cost to be in the cohort?
- NV NBC Cohort is free. Northwest Regional Professional Development Program (NW RPDP) and Washoe Education Association (WEA) sponsor this program.
7. How long does the certificate last for?
5 years, after 5 years you will need to renew, the renewal process is dramatically different than initial certification, it is 100% focused on the teachers growth since certification rather than evidence of student growth. Currently MOC "Maintenance of Certification" renewal process costs $495, is good for 5 years and takes approximately 30-40 hours.
8. Does renewal take as long as initial certification?
- No, renewal is a much shorter and less comprehensive process than initial certification.
9. I heard I get sub days?
- Yes, WCSD offers 3 sub days for each year of the NBC process.
- Lyon offers 2 sub days
- NWRPDP offers 2 sub days for candidates in districts that do not offer days, as allowed.
11. How do I take my three sub days for NBC?
- Enter the absence into AESOP as "school business- district funded, code 644, and type National Board in the notes section. This is the same for Washoe, Lyon and Churchill - type "National Boards Prep" in the notes box.
12. Do I have to use personal/sick days for my sub days?
- No, each candidate gets 3 sub days for each year you are pursuing Boards. These days are negotiated into our WCSD contract. If you are a rural candidate please contact the cohort director for more information about setting up a sub day. Washoe, Lyon, and Churchill offer sub days. NWRPDP will provide sub days to candidates in other districts who don't already offer them.
11. Does NBC count toward PERS?
Yes, NBC is included in your base salary. So when PERS looks at your top 3 gross earning years, they include NBC as a part of that. You do not have to be certified when you retire to have the NBC stipend count toward retirement.
12. Is the stipend safe? I heard we might lose the stipend?
Yes- the 5% salary increase is in state legislation. So unless there is a full restructure of the funding for NV schools the salary increase is safe. Even if there were a restructure, there is strong support of NBC across Nevada. The 3% WCSD teachers get is strongly supported by WEA as well.
13. Do I have to attend cohort meetings to get feedback?
- Yes, we commit to provide you with the best feedback and support we can. We prioritize our feedback to candidates who attend cohort sessions.
14. Where are all the meetings?
- All the meetings are held at Sparks High School (820 15th St, Sparks)
15. Can I work at my own pace, or do I have to do it all in one year?
You are welcome to work at your own pace. We structure the cohort to support various models of participation.
16. Will I lose my stipend if I go into administration or change grade levels/content areas?
Yes, if you leave your certified position to become an administrator you will no longer receive your NBC stipend. Deans are still considered teacher pay, so they will continue to receive their National Board incentive, but once you become an Assistant Principal and Principal, you will lose your National Board incentive. If you move grade levels you are fine as long as you stay in a teacher role. Just keep in mind that you have to pursue the MOC process with your original certificate area, so if you move grade levels or to a different role that is different than your certificate area, you will have to borrow a group of students within your certificate area when you renew.
17. Why should I join the cohort? Can't I just pursue Boards on my own?
- Yes, you can absolutely complete the NBC process without the support of a cohort. However participation in the cohort ensures you have thought partners, collaborators, access to other candidates going through the process, written feedback, individual coaching, videotaping support, access to books, cameras, and resources to help you through the process, and access to reimbursement funds when available!
- National Board Certification is an assessment of an educators understanding of pedagogy, content, and assessment of their grade/content level. Candidates complete 4 "components" (See Comp 1-4 tabs) and assessors use NBC rubrics to score each component. Candidates must meet a minimum weighted score of 110 to certify.
- In order to pursue NBC you must have a license in the state you are teaching, completed at least 3 years of teaching, and hold a minimum of a bachelors degree.
2. How much does NBC cost?
- NBC costs $475 per component. Plus an annual $75 registration fee. Candidates are only required to pay for the components they will submit each cycle. Fees are due February 28th and components are submitted in Mid May. Washoe Education Association offers members an interest free loan. If you are a WEA member, please contact Earl Spriggs @ [email protected] for more information.
3. How long do I have to complete?
- Candidates can take up to three years to complete the process. We recommend either completing the process in one year, or breaking the Components into two years, Comp 4 and 1 in the first year, and Comps 3 and 2 in the second year.
4. If I don't meet the certification score do I need to start all over?
- No, you can bank your scores and just resubmit the component that you needed additional points on.
- For Comp 1, you can break it into two tests, and only take one part or both.
5. How much time does it take to finish each component/all components?
- It all depends on how you work, however candidates consistently report that the NBC process takes approximately 250-450 hours.
6. How much does it cost to be in the cohort?
- NV NBC Cohort is free. Northwest Regional Professional Development Program (NW RPDP) and Washoe Education Association (WEA) sponsor this program.
7. How long does the certificate last for?
5 years, after 5 years you will need to renew, the renewal process is dramatically different than initial certification, it is 100% focused on the teachers growth since certification rather than evidence of student growth. Currently MOC "Maintenance of Certification" renewal process costs $495, is good for 5 years and takes approximately 30-40 hours.
8. Does renewal take as long as initial certification?
- No, renewal is a much shorter and less comprehensive process than initial certification.
9. I heard I get sub days?
- Yes, WCSD offers 3 sub days for each year of the NBC process.
- Lyon offers 2 sub days
- NWRPDP offers 2 sub days for candidates in districts that do not offer days, as allowed.
11. How do I take my three sub days for NBC?
- Enter the absence into AESOP as "school business- district funded, code 644, and type National Board in the notes section. This is the same for Washoe, Lyon and Churchill - type "National Boards Prep" in the notes box.
12. Do I have to use personal/sick days for my sub days?
- No, each candidate gets 3 sub days for each year you are pursuing Boards. These days are negotiated into our WCSD contract. If you are a rural candidate please contact the cohort director for more information about setting up a sub day. Washoe, Lyon, and Churchill offer sub days. NWRPDP will provide sub days to candidates in other districts who don't already offer them.
11. Does NBC count toward PERS?
Yes, NBC is included in your base salary. So when PERS looks at your top 3 gross earning years, they include NBC as a part of that. You do not have to be certified when you retire to have the NBC stipend count toward retirement.
12. Is the stipend safe? I heard we might lose the stipend?
Yes- the 5% salary increase is in state legislation. So unless there is a full restructure of the funding for NV schools the salary increase is safe. Even if there were a restructure, there is strong support of NBC across Nevada. The 3% WCSD teachers get is strongly supported by WEA as well.
13. Do I have to attend cohort meetings to get feedback?
- Yes, we commit to provide you with the best feedback and support we can. We prioritize our feedback to candidates who attend cohort sessions.
14. Where are all the meetings?
- All the meetings are held at Sparks High School (820 15th St, Sparks)
15. Can I work at my own pace, or do I have to do it all in one year?
You are welcome to work at your own pace. We structure the cohort to support various models of participation.
16. Will I lose my stipend if I go into administration or change grade levels/content areas?
Yes, if you leave your certified position to become an administrator you will no longer receive your NBC stipend. Deans are still considered teacher pay, so they will continue to receive their National Board incentive, but once you become an Assistant Principal and Principal, you will lose your National Board incentive. If you move grade levels you are fine as long as you stay in a teacher role. Just keep in mind that you have to pursue the MOC process with your original certificate area, so if you move grade levels or to a different role that is different than your certificate area, you will have to borrow a group of students within your certificate area when you renew.
17. Why should I join the cohort? Can't I just pursue Boards on my own?
- Yes, you can absolutely complete the NBC process without the support of a cohort. However participation in the cohort ensures you have thought partners, collaborators, access to other candidates going through the process, written feedback, individual coaching, videotaping support, access to books, cameras, and resources to help you through the process, and access to reimbursement funds when available!