Federal Fee Subsidies for NBPTS Candidates updated 1/13/09

Federal candidate subsidies for voluntary national teacher certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards are now available. Subsidies have been provided by Congress through a grant from the U. S. Department of Education. Instructions for applying for the 2009-2010 federal candidate subsidies through TEA/SBEC are listed below.

To apply for a Federal Candidate Subsidy you will follow these 3 steps:

Step 1.
Determine whether you are eligible to apply for certification under the NBPTS.
The NBPTS website at www.nbpts.org contains complete NBPTS eligibility information. Under NBPTS rules, to be eligible a teacher must hold a baccalaureate degree and have taught for at least three years. Public school teachers must have held a valid teaching certificate during those three years; teachers from schools where a certificate is not required (e.g., private or charter schools) must have taught for the three years in schools approved by the state.

Step 2.
Submit your candidate application to the NBPTS.
Under NBPTS rules, before you may apply for the federal subsidy through TEA/SBEC, you must initiate your application with the NBPTS, either through its online (www.nbpts.org) or paper-based process. You must have an NBPTS candidate (identification) number – issued by the NBPTS – and make the initial payment of $500 before you can apply for the federal subsidy through TEA/SBEC. Subsidy applications received at TEA/SBEC without the teacher's NBPTS candidate number will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.

Step 3.
Apply for the Federal subsidy through TEA/SBEC.
To download the Federal Subsidy Application, please click here. Fax or mail the completed application to TEA/SBEC as indicated below. The application must be completely filled out and signed or it will not be accepted for processing. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2009.

After you have submitted your application to TEA
TEA will notify you concerning the approval or denial of your subsidy request via one of your preferred methods of notification you indicated in #6 on your subsidy application. If you have been approved for the subsidy, TEA will notify the NBPTS of the approval and they will post the subsidy to your NBPTS account.

Questions?

Questions concerning NBPTS certificates, assessments, and scholarships must be directed to the NBPTS at (800) 22-TEACH (228-3224)
Check website: www.nbpts.org.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Hours for Completing NBPTS Activities
The NBPTS has been approved by SBEC to be a provider of professional development activities for CPE hours toward renewal of a Texas standard teacher certificate. Interested teachers holding a Texas standard certificate(s) should contact the NBPTS to determine what qualifies for CPE credit under NBPTS guidelines. Upon satisfactory completion of an applicable activity, the NBPTS will provide individuals with documentation of their participation and the number of CPE hours earned. NOTE: Texas teachers may earn CPE credit for certificate renewal by completing NBPTS activities such as earning NBPTS certification, serving as an NBPTS assessor, or participating in other appropriate NBPTS activities. The NBPTS website at www.nbpts.org (see “Guide to National Board Certification”) contains complete information on eligibility for NBPTS certification.

To Begin the NBPTS Application Process: To go to the NBPTS website for information or to begin your application process for the NBPTS certificate, please click here.

NOTE: Under NBPTS guidelines, teachers may not apply for the federal candidate subsidy through TEA until they have initiated their NBPTS application process with the NBPTS, through either its online or paper application process. Candidates must have an NBPTS candidate (identification) number – issued by the NBPTS – in order to apply for the federal subsidy through TEA.

Retakes. Subsidy funds may also be used for candidates retaking a portion of the NBPTS assessment if the teacher has not previously received federal subsidy funds. Subsidy funds may be used for retaking no more than two exercises, for a maximum retake subsidy of $350 per exercise.