National Board Certification

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification is the highest professional distinction available in education. It benefits students, teachers, and school systems by advancing the quality of teaching and learning.

National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education, and is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure. NBC has national standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. The National Board certifies teachers who successfully complete its rigorous certification process.

Bargained in our latest contract is the following language: All Hawaiʻi Teacher Standard Board licensed teachers with National Board Certification Teacher (NBCT) certification shall serve a probation period of two (2) semesters in order to gain tenure.

HIDOE will reimburse up to $1,900 for your certification costs. For fee reimbursement and pay bonus, contact the HIDOE Personnel Management Specialist at (808) 441-8437.

Resources

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Be sure to visit the Candidate Center page for resources, FAQs, and more!
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NEA resources for National Board Certification

NEA supports and promotes the national certification process to ensure teacher quality. 
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HSTA’s National Board Support Network website

Learn about the benefits of certification, the process, and candidate support programs.

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Bonus for Hawaiʻi NBCTs

After years of lobbying by HSTA, the state passed into law Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §302A-706 to provide all Hawaiʻi public school National Board Certified Teachers with a minimum of $5,000 annually for the life of the certificate.

NBCTs receive an additional $5,000 if their school meets the criteria outlined below in the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. To find out if your school qualifies for an additional bonus, please refer to your district memo or ask your school’s administration.

§302A-706 Teacher national board certification incentive program.

(a) There is established within the department the teacher national board certification incentive program to recognize and support exemplary teaching practice by supporting public school teachers who have achieved national board certification under the certification program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The teacher national board certification incentive program shall provide:

  1. A $5,000 bonus per year for each public school teacher who maintains current national board certification;
  2. $1,500 upon completing all components of the certification program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
  3. A reimbursement of the remainder of the national board certification application fee upon achievement of national board certification; and
  4. An additional $5,000 bonus per year for each public school teacher who maintains current national board certification and who teaches at:
    1. A school in a focus, priority, or superintendent’s zone, or other similar designation [currently CSI or TSI schools], as determined by the department;
    2. A school with a high turnover rate, as determined by the department; or
    3. A hard-to-fill school, as determined by the department.

(b) The incentive program shall include a mentoring component that encourages and enables national board-certified teachers to assist other teachers and share their teaching expertise.

Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association support

Jump Start

NEA National Board Jump Start is a comprehensive seminar designed to provide National Board candidates important information about the certification process, time to examine component and Assessment Center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to collaborate, gather resources and information needed to pursue certification — all in a supportive, constructive, and collegial environment.

Candidate Support Cohorts

HSTA hosts National Board Candidate Support Cohorts as a free member benefit designed for teachers seeking National Board Certification. Participants are guided through each academy (formally components) by trained NBCT facilitators. Starting in September, each cohort meets once a month face to face or virtually to meet the needs of the cohort. Each session includes a detailed review of each academy with time to ask questions. Candidates have the opportunity to share their work in progress and receive feedback from the facilitator and those in their cohort. It is recommended that candidates attend HSTA Jump Start first to establish a good starting foundation of each academy.

HSTA NBCTs

HSTA National Board Certified Teachers are automatically members of our local National Board for Professional Teaching Standards network affiliate. HSTA National Board Support Network is a collaborative network of NBCTs, candidates, and other professionals that connects participants with teacher leadership opportunities and promotes the sharing of ideas and expertise within our network.