Getting Started in New Jersey

So you're interested in pursuing National Board Certification. Good for you! There can be a large gap, however, between thinking about certification and actually pursuing it. We want you to make an informed decision before you take the next step.

• Make sure that this is the right time in your life to pursue National Board Certification by taking our Candidate Reality Checklist.
• Read through the advice from other candidates and National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).
• Review the certificate areas available through the NBPTS and decide which one most closely matches your subject matter and student age range. Make sure to review the standards for that certificate.
• Watch a few of the 55,000 National Board Certified Teachers 'Leading the Way' in their schools (9 minutes).

If you decide that you are ready, congratulations! You will want to make sure to apply for subsidy funding through the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).

In order to do so, you will need a candidate ID number, which can be obtained by completing the online application form through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) website. Do not pay the NBPTS directly. Complete the application without providing credit card information. This will allow you to receive a candidate ID number, which will be included on all paperwork submitted to the NBPTS and also on your application for subsidy funding through the NJDOE.