National Board Certification is a demonstration of an applicant’s teaching practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. When a teacher attains National Board Certification, it is a record of proof to the fact that a teacher has been assessed by his or her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning, and acts effectively with those judgments.

National Board Certification is also a recognized procedure to advance between the state licensure levels in New Mexico’s three-tiered licensure system. The portfolio teachers complete for National Board Certification meets the dossier requirement as well as eligibility to seek advancement to Level III. The rationale behind this is that NBPTS certification is evaluated in a blind review process (like the dossier) and requires intensive preparation and rigorous assessment exceeding that required by the Level III dossier. The New Mexico Teacher Competencies that the dossier addresses are aligned and again exceeded by expectations of National Board Standards. Go to Teach New Mexico to learn more about NBPTS and three-tiered licensure.

In order to become eligible to receive a subsidy equal to 50% of the application fee ($2300), New Mexico Candidates must attend one six-hour pre-candidate orientation session required by Public Education Department. Online registration is now available.

Pre-candidate Orientation Session Dates:
The Public Education Department is now taking registration on line for the Pre-Candidate class on www.teachnm.org.

Pre-Candidate sessions are limited to the first 50 participants:

• 4/22/06 in Roswell
• 4/29/06 in Gallup
• 5/13/06 in Santa Fe
• 6/10/06 in Rio Rancho

Interesting links:

» All about National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

» How to get Certified

» Candidate Resource Center