Portfolio and PPG Submission

• First-time Candidates: March 31, 2010
• Retake Candidates: April 15, 2010
• Take One! Participants: April 15, 2010
• Renewal Candidates: April 30, 2010

NBPTS policy is to accept submissions according to the postmark deadline. Keep your receipt in the event there is a question regarding your compliance with this postmark deadline. Note: Carriers may ship on a different day than when you gave them your box, so the postmark will be past the deadline; therefore do not wait until the last minute to ship! If you find yourself in this position, fax a copy of your receipt and a note explaining the circumstance to the NBPTS Processing Center at 1-888-811-3514.

It is acceptable to use a box of comparable size to the original kit box NBPTS sent you. Be sure the box will adequately hold and protect the materials during shipping.

Size of the original kit box: 14.5" × 14" × 2.5" deep

Certificate Area label: If you do not have a certificate area label, use a black or red permanent marker to write your certificate area name and certificate number on the box where the certificate area label should go.

ID Bar Code label: If you do not have an ID bar code label, write your 8-digit ID number on the box where a bar code label is required. Write DO NOT X-RAY! on the box. (X-ray may affect integrity of video recordings.)

Ship to:
NBPTS Processing Center
11827 Tech Com, Suite 200
San Antonio, TX 78233

Acceptable alternative packing materials are:

ID Bar Code labels: Write your 8-digit ID number on the top right corner of submission materials where a bar code label is required. Do not print your name on these materials. (Renewal candidates do not have bar code labels.)

Video Recording label: Use the blank label included with the new videotape cartridge or case you used for your video recording. Write the entry number and entry title on the blank label, and then place your ID bar code label (or write your 8-digit ID number) on the video recording label. Do not print your name on the label.

Envelopes: It is acceptable to submit materials in a white envelope large enough to contain all of the entry material or forms required. Write the certificate area, title, and number of the entry (in large letters) in the top right-hand corner of the envelope, then just below, place an ID bar code label (or write your 8-digit ID number). Do not print your name on the label.

NBPTS will not accept components, additions, or substitutions to any submission after initial receipt. The only exception is the Candidate Attestation Form, which must be sent or your submission will not be scored. You will be notified by mail if your Candidate Attestation Form is missing, and you will be given a small window of opportunity to submit that form.

You will be mailed a letter requesting authorization for NBPTS staff to insert the video into the entry envelope.

It is highly recommended that you send your submission via a traceable method.

First, you should confirm delivery with your courier and then contact NBPTS Customer Service at 1-800-22TEACH. Provide your tracking number and a case will be opened to research the status. As long as you have proof to verify your submission was sent by the deadline, NBPTS will accept the box.

If a submission is shipped after the deadline and is not accepted, then it will not be scored. If you are a candidate for National Board Certification, you can continue to take your assessment center exercises. Your assessment center scores will be banked and you will be eligible to retake the missing entries the following year as a retake candidate (as long as you are not in your third year of candidacy). You would need to reapply to retake your entries, pay the required fee, and submit your entries as required under the score banking and retake policy.

Even though NBPTS affords candidates the option to not submit 10 scorable entries/exercises, many third-party payers are more restrictive. If you accepted payment from a third party (i.e., your state, school district, scholarship donor, etc.), then you should call that party and inquire about the implications of not completing the assessment in its entirety. Many third-party payers require candidates who know they will be unable to complete all 10 components of the assessment, to withdraw prior to submitting portfolio entries or completing any assessment center appointments. Failure to withdraw from the process and failure to receive scores for all 10 components can result in the candidate having to repay the third party all fees that were paid on the candidate's behalf.

Recognizing the time and effort that is exerted into completing each component of the portfolio, it is very important that you not only confirm delivery of your portfolio box, but that you also confirm receipt of every portfolio entry submitted. NBPTS will not notify candidates when an entry is missing, so it is your responsibility to monitor your account in My Profile until you have verified that each entry envelope you submitted has been successfully received.

Acceptable alternative packing materials are:

ID Bar Code labels: Write your 8-digit ID number on the top right corner of submission materials where a bar code label is required. Do not print your name on these materials.

Video Recording label: Use the blank label included with the new videotape cartridge or case you used for your video recording. Write the entry number and entry title on the blank label, and then place your ID bar code label (or write your 8-digit ID number) on the video recording label. Do not print your name on the label.

Envelopes: It is acceptable to submit materials in a white envelope large enough to contain all of the entry material or forms required. Write the certificate area, title, and number of the entry (in large letters) in the top right-hand corner of the envelope, then just below, place an ID bar code label (or write your 8-digit ID number). Do not print your name on the label.

There are several important things to remember:

• Put the Attestation Form in the Forms Envelope (your entry cannot be scored without it!).
• Put the Candidate Final Inventory List in the Forms envelope.
• Use the Checklist in the Pack & Ship section of your portfolio or PPG instructions to ensure material is appropriately labeled and packed.
• Place your videos inside the correct video envelope.
• Have someone double-check your labeling and packing before sealing. Entry envelopes are not opened at NBPTS and are sent to scoring exactly the way they are submitted.

Before packing your recording, please watch the video to make sure it matches your written commentary for that entry. This is needed because candidates can accidentally switch the labels and submit the wrong recording for the entry. In addition, sometimes a candidate has recorded more than one lesson and submits a recording that does not reflect the focus of the commentary (we have even viewed birthday parties!!).