TIA & National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs)

One path to earning a TIA Recognized designation is through National Board Certification.

National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced professional certification for PreK–12 educators that identifies teaching expertise through a performance-based, peer-reviewed assessment. National Board Certification which is available in 25 certificate areas across 16 disciplines. Teachers are certified based on standards set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). NBPTS requires teachers to have at least two years of experience as a certified teacher before registering as a candidate for National Board certification (some exceptions may apply). Teachers may pursue National Board certification independently or with the support of a district or regional cohort. On average, candidates who successfully certify take 2–3 school years to complete and pass all components. Learn more about National Board Certification here.

National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) employed as Texas public school teachers may be designated at the Recognized level notwithstanding participation in the district’s TIA system.

TIA designations for newly certified NBCTs who meet the TEA requirements will be awarded the same school year in which they certify. Designations will be valid through July 31st following the expiry of the National Board certificate. TEA will update the designation expiry date for NBCTs who recertify.

TIA stipends for NBCTs follow the same spending plan as for all other PfISD teachers designated through PfISD’s TIA Designation System with stipend eligibility in August following the school year of certification/designation.

NBCTs who qualify for designation through PfISD’s TIA Designation System may be submitted for any level of designation. TEA will default to the higher designation, and the NBCT Recognized level designation will become inactive. In the case of NBCTs with two Recognized designations, the later expiry date will apply.