Congratulations on your decision to explore National Board certification. Because the AFT believes that teaching is at the heart of education, the single most important action we can take to promote quality teaching is to strengthen the skills, knowledge, professionalism, and recognition of teachers.

National Board certification continues to grow in importance because dedicated teachers like you embrace the challenge of examining their practice against the profession's highest standards. In recent years, several research studies have found that the practice of National Board-certified teachers has a greater impact on improving student learning than that of non-National Board certified teachers. One recent study, released in the summer of 2005, examined the impact of National Board certification on student achievement and found that NBCTs developed and implemented instructional plans and assignments aimed at fostering deeper student understanding.

The resources below may help you during the process of achieving National Board certification. We encourage you to contact your local union or state affiliate to discuss what additional support may be available to you.

• A Guide To Understanding National Board Certification: 2008 Candidacy Cycle
  This guide—produced jointly by the AFT and the NEA—capitalizes on the experiences of National Board-certified teachers and others engaged in candidate support, sharing practical advice about how to approach the National Board's assessments and how to increase the prospect of successfully completing them. 
  
• The Five Core Propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
  The Five Core Propositions of the NBPTS form the foundation and frame the rich amalgam of knowledge, skills, dispositions and beliefs that characterize National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).
  
• NBPTS Certificate Areas
  NBPTS offers 24 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels and are applicable to more than 95 percent of America's teachers. Here you can review a particular certificate's standards, portfolio instructions, assessment exercise descriptions and scoring guides.
  
• NBPTS Directory of National Board Certified Teachers
  Locate and contact certified teachers in your region.