For Teachers National Board Certification

About
National Board Certification

National Board Certification is a voluntary advanced professional certification for PreK-12 educators that identifies teaching expertise through a performance-based, peer-reviewed assessment. Teachers are certified based on standards set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). 

For teachers who were certified in 2017 or later, National Board Certification is active for a period of five years. Prior to 2017, certification lasted up to 10 years. Current National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) nearing their certification expiration date can renew their certification for a period of five years through the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process.

National Board Certification

Earning Designations
National Board Certification and TIA

NBCTs previously designated as Recognized for their National Board Certification will be redesignated as Nationally Board Certified in fall 2026.

NBCTs candidates who achieve certification during the 2026-27 school year and beyond may be designated as Nationally Board Certified pending reauthorization by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Nationally Board Certified designation, NBCTs must:

  • Be listed as a Texas teacher in the NBCT directory
    • NBCTs with an out of state directory listing must update their information by January 31 to be eligible for a designation that school year
  • Be employed as a teacher by a Texas school district or public charter (coded with a 087 Staff Classification in PEIMS/TSDS)
  • Hold an active National Board certificate

Earning Designation Through a Local Designation System

National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) who also qualify for designation through their district’s local designation system may be put forth for any level of designation. TEA will default to the district-awarded designation, and the Nationally Board Certified designation will become inactive.

Cost of National Board Certification

The initial cost for each of the four components is $475, with the total cost for the initial attempt of all four components being $1,900. Retake attempts require an additional fee. For each assessment cycle a teacher plans to take components, a $75 nonrefundable and nontransferable registration fee is required and must be paid before purchasing a component.

Details about National Board Certification and TIA

National Board Fees
Reimbursement Through TIA

The Teacher Incentive Allotment will reimburse districts up to $1,900 for initial certification, up to $1,250 for renewal, and up to $495 for MOC. Fees are eligible if the certification or recertification was achieved following the passage of House Bill 3 in summer 2019.

Districts may apply for fee reimbursement through TIA on behalf of NBCTs who certified or recertified in 2019 or later. Districts must provide documentation of fees paid directly to the National Board and/or reimbursed to the NBCT. The annual reimbursement request window runs from January 2 through March 31.

Fee Reimbursement

Updated Legislation
HB 2 Impact on National Board Certification

House Bill 2 (HB 2) created a new level of designation for NBCTs, Nationally Board Certified, and allows the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to review the National Board Certification process for alignment with Texas standards. Following this review, SBEC may reauthorize or revoke the National Board pathway to designation.

NBCTs currently designated as Recognized will be redesignated as Nationally Board Certified in the 2026-27 school year. The allotment range for Nationally Board Certified teachers will remain at $3k-$9k.

NBCTs candidates who achieve certification during the 2026-27 school year and beyond may be designated as Nationally Board Certified pending reauthorization by SBEC.

National Board Certification FAQs

What is National Board Certification?

National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced professional certification for PreK–12 educators that identifies teaching expertise through a performance-based, peer-reviewed assessment. More than 125,000 teachers across all 50 states have achieved Board Certification.

What is required to become a National Board Certified Teacher?

The certification process is designed to collect standards-based evidence of accomplished practice. To become a Board-certified teacher, eligible candidates must demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills and practice in their individual certificate areas by completing four components. The content knowledge component is a computer-based assessment taken at a testing center; the other three are portfolio-based and submitted through an electronic portfolio system.

Component 1: Content Knowledge

Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction

Component 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment

Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner

What if a National Board Certified Teacher works in a district that is not participating in TIA?

Districts are not required to have a local designation plan to receive funding for designated NBCTs or seek reimbursement of eligible fees paid to the National Board. Eligible NBCTs may earn a Nationally Board Certified designation and generate annual allotment funding regardless of their district participation in TIA. Districts receiving TIA funds for NBCTs are required to abide by the spending requirements outlined in statute: 90% of allotment funds must be spent on teacher compensation on the campus where the designated teacher works.