State

Number of National Board Certified Teachers

Incentive

Alabama

449

The Rewarding Excellence for Teachers program gives a one-time grant to the teacher’s school of $5,000 and an annual $5,000 salary increase to any teacher who achieves certification. The state also pays half the application fee.  The program also encourages teachers to become mentors and advisers to other teachers seeking certification in their communities. 

Arkansas

121

The state provides three days of release time for teachers seeking national certification and will pay half of the application fee.  Successful applicants earn a $2,000 bonus annually.

Florida

3,490

The state pays 90 percent of the application fee and provides a $150 stipend for portfolio preparation.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a bonus of 10 percent of the prior fiscal year’s statewide average teachers’ salary for the life of the certificate provided they remain a full-time classroom teacher.

Classroom teachers who agree, in writing, to provide the equivalent of 12 workdays of mentoring and related services to public school teachers within the state who do not hold NBPTS certification receive an additional 10% bonus each year these services are provided for the life of the certificate.

Georgia

806

The state provided $1,000 to 61 candidates for National Certification in 2001 and to over 100 in 2002.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a bonus of 10 percent of their salary for the life of the certificate.  National Board Certification also renews all certification fields for either the next certificate cycle or the subsequent five-year cycle, satisfying all professional development requirements.

Kentucky

348

The state pays 75 percent of the application fee of successful applicants and provides a $200 stipend and five days of release time to compile the application.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a $2,000 bonus annually for the life of the certificate.

Louisiana

169

The state will reimburse Nationally Certified Teachers the application fee and provides quarterly meetings and mentor support to applicants.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a $5,000 bonus annually for the life of the certificate.

Maryland

217

The state pays the assessment fee for public school teachers seeking National Board Certification and sponsors a network of voluntary monthly meetings held throughout the state by Nationally Certified teachers to provide structured exchanges among professionals and to offer technical, intellectual, logistical and emotional support as they progress through the assessment process. National Board Certified Teachers may receive a stipend from their employing district of up to $2,000, which is matched by the state.

Mississippi

1,474

This is the third highest population of Nationally Certified teachers in the country (behind North Carolina and Florida).  The state pays the application fee and offers support sessions to applicants.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a $6,000 annual bonus for the life of the certificate so long as they remain classroom teachers.

Missouri

136

Local school boards can, if they choose, automatically move nationally certified teachers to the top of the career ladder, which can amount to a $5,000 annual stipend for the life of the certificate.  Local boards may also reduce or eliminate the extra responsibilities otherwise required of career ladder participants (e.g., sponsoring academic clubs, after school student tutoring, etc.). 

North Carolina

5,125

The state pays the application fee, offers support sessions offered by universities, and provides three days of release time for teachers to compile their portfolios.  National Board Certified Teachers receive a bonus of 12 percent of their salary for the life of the certificate.

Oklahoma

635

The Education Leadership Oklahoma program, administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, is a scholarship fund providing support to teachers seeking National Board Certification.  Scholarship awardees receive the application fee, a $200 stipend for materials, and support training and mentoring.  Upon becoming Nationally Certified, teachers may receive a pay stipend of up to $5,000 for each year during the life of the certificate.

South Carolina

2,356

With 1,069 newly board-certified teachers in 2002, the state led the nation in per capita new certifications.  The state pays the application fee for successful applicants and offers support sessions with trained facilitators. National Board Certified teachers receive an annual bonus of $7,500 for the life of the certificate and are exempt from certificate renewal for one validity period (5 years).

Tennessee

60

The state pays up to 100 percent of the application fee.  The state also has plans to reward Nationally Board Certified Teachers with a $2,500 bonus, but to date has not funded the initiative. 

Texas

99

Texas is one of two states in the region (along with Tennessee) that does not offer a bonus for teachers who earn National Board Certification.

Virginia

419

The Commonwealth provides grants of $1,000 for 75 candidates for the initial fee for National Board Certification. Through a grant provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Virginia awarded additional $1,000 grants.  If funding is made available, teachers receive an award of up to $5,000 their first year of teaching with National Board Certification and up to $2,500 for each year after that for the life of the certificate. 

West Virginia

88

The state pays half of the application fee for every individual who enrolls in the National Board certification program and half of the fee of those who complete the program.  In addition, any teacher who achieves National Board Certification may be reimbursed up to $600 for expenses incurred while obtaining certification.  Teachers who earn National Certification earn a $2,500 bonus annually for the life of the certification, an amount which is compounded by several counties with awards ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 annually.