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National Board Certification as Professional Development: Pathways to Success

This study shows that, compared with the costs of alternative approaches to teacher professional development, the National Board Certification model is no more costly than alternative forms of professional development and is less costly than some. There is a lack of data on program effectiveness, however, so conclusions about the relative cost-effectiveness of various alternatives should not be drawn.

Based on nine studies with estimates of per-participant costs, the cost of most other forms of professional development, as well as relevant costs for three of the four National Board Certification programs, were $1,000 to $5,500 per participant. The remaining two alternative forms of professional development and one National Board Certification program cost between $10,000 and $16,000 per participant.

One study estimated the cost of completing a master’s degree in Virginia for teachers who attended graduate school full time, during the summer or at night. The comparable estimates of the cost associated with the National Board Certification model of professional development in the four support program sites—including the value of candidates' time—is lower in every scenario.

Findings on the design and cost of the National Board Certification candidacy process and candidate support programs suggested the potential of this model of professional development. Policymakers can use this information to help make informed choices about professional development investments, and program developers and providers can consider integrating the National Board Certification model or its components into their professional development activities.

1. What factors are most significant in the preparation process, and what strategies work best for which teachers working in which circumstances?
2. What resources - time, materials, experiences, expertise, and psychological and emotional support - are essential to teachers' success?
3. What costs does effective preparation entail, and who typically bears them?
4. How do these resource requirements and costs compare to other common approaches to professional development, such as attaining a master's degree or participating in district-sponsored workshops?

• Executive Summary (PDF - 61kb) 
• Full Text of Study (PDF 3.2mb)