National Board Certification - Home

LBUSD Sponsored National Board Program Information

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification is the nation's only advanced teacher certification. National Board Certification can offer license portability and can contribute to Continuing Education Units for educators across the state. In LBUSD, National Board Certification can also provide higher salary potential. To qualify for candidacy, educators must hold a bachelor's degree, possess a valid state teaching license and have completed three full years of teaching or counseling experience. Full or partial financial support is available for most district candidates to help pay the costs.

Currently, there are approximately 172 National Board Certified Teachers in LBUSD and over 4,500 in the state. For more information, visit http://www.nbpts.org/, call 1-800-22TEACH or contact Ryan Ung at (562) 997-8083 or by e-mail at RyanUng@lbschools.net.

Overview of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

All National Board for Professional Teaching Standards are based on five core propositions that define the skills, knowledge, dispositions and commitments that distinguish accomplished teaching.

1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
2. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
3. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
4. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
5. Teachers are members of learning communities.

National Board Certification has four components: three portfolio entries (submitted online) and a computer-based assessment. If you decide to pursue National Board Certification, your first step is to know the standards in your chosen certificate area so that you will understand how they might be reflected in your classroom teaching. (A complete list of available certifications is available on the NBPTS website.  http://www.nbpts.org/

National Board Eligibility

In order to be eligible for participation in the National Board process, candidates must possess all of the following:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• Valid Teaching Credential
• Three years of successful classroom teaching experience as a regular contract teacher
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in teaching knowledge and skills

LBUSD Funding and NB Payment Information

Candidates requesting funding assistance from LBUSD are required to participate in the pre-candidacy and candidacy program. There will be no cost to participants in the Pre-Candidacy program. Once accepted to the Candidate program, application fees must be submitted to the NBPTS by the appropriate deadlines. Candidates are responsible for payment of initial application fees (currently $550). Pending participation in the district’s candidacy program, the district will pay for the remaining application fees (approximately $2000). Upon completion of the portfolio and assessment center exercises, the district will reimburse the candidate for the $550 application fee.

You may pursue the National Board Certification without the assistance of LBUSD, however, candidate fees will not be reimbursed. All candidates earning certification will be eligible for the salary increase, regardless of participation in the pre-candidacy/candidacy program.