Score Reporting

Printed score reports are no longer mailed to candidates. A paper copy can be obtained by sending a written request with a check for the $25 to:

NBPTS

c/o Bank of America, Illinois

PO Box 99406

Chicago, IL  60693

NBCTs should receive their National Board Certification certificate sometime in late February or early March of the year following score release, depending on print and delivery schedules. The certificate is a symbol of the candidate’s accomplishment and status that they have achieved National Board Certification. When viewing their scores, it is imperative that new NBCTs confirm that their name is shown as they wish it to be printed on their certificate.

Yes. If you receive a complete score profile with 10 scores, you may be eligible to receive a transcript recommendation for 3 semester hours of graduate credit in education for completing the National Board Certification process, regardless of whether or not you achieved certification. Candidates who achieve National Board Certification are eligible for a transcript recommendation for an additional six semester hours of graduate credit in education, for a total of nine semester hours of graduate credit in education.

The 10-year period begins with the date on the candidate's score report.

It is not possible for an NBCT to change his or her score once he or she has achieved National Board Certification. Certification is awarded to candidates who meet the performance standard regardless of the final numerical score.

A number of candidates have mistakenly believed that they could have been helped by assessor feedback. Please keep in mind that our assessors do not examine the candidate’s submissions in order to provide feedback or suggestions, but they instead look only for the evidence provided by the candidate as to how his or her teaching practice meets the standards in the candidate’s field. It is therefore impossible for an assessor to identify what is “wrong,” because they’re not looking for what is wrong with an entry – they’re looking (supportively) for the clear, consistent and convincing evidence provided by each candidate. Giving someone suggestions for improvement implies that there is a template for success in National Board Certification. In fact, there are an infinite number of ways to certify and all are based on meeting the standards of accomplished teaching. More information about our processes may be found on the NBPTS Web site.

Scoring Guides and the Scoring Handbook on National Board Certification provide detailed information about the scoring process. You can also find several links to your certificate-specific scoring guide under your score profile.

The weights for your certificate area are described in the Intro section of your portfolio instructions. The weights are set at 16 percent for each of the three classroom-based portfolio entries, 12 percent for the Documented Accomplishments entry, and 6.67 percent for each of the six assessment center exercises.

No. All candidate materials submitted by the submission deadline will be scored and those scores are automatically banked. However, a Total Weighted Scaled Score will be computed only for candidates who have a score for ALL of the portfolio entries and assessment center exercises. It is possible for a candidate to meet the performance standard of 275 points or more with fewer than ten scores. However, candidates who do not have a score for each of the portfolio entries and assessment center exercises will have an incomplete score profile. National Board Certification WILL NOT be awarded to candidates with fewer than 10 scores.

NBPTS conducts a rigorous set of quality control procedures before releasing scores. If, however, you still wish to have a score verified, you may choose to use the Score Verification Service for a $75 fee per score to be verified. The Score Verification Service is available online and only for a limited period of time after score release each year. Candidates must submit their request electronically and pay the fee online using e-check, VISA, or MasterCard. All online requests for score verification must be received no later than 30 days from the date on the candidate's score report. Requests received after that date will not be processed. A response to a request will be sent to the candidate within 30 days of receipt of their completed request form and fee(s).Score verification does not include rescoring  of a candidate response.

Once the scoring process is complete, each retake candidate's original entry and/or exercise score(s) is replaced with the new score(s). The candidate's Total Weighted Scaled Score is recalculated and, if the candidate's new score then meets or exceeds the 275 point performance standard established by the National Board, the candidate is awarded National Board Certification.

Portfolio entry and assessment center exercise retake responses submitted in accordance with the National Board's rules for submission are scored simultaneously with those of first-time candidates.

You will be notified of your new scores and your recalculated Total Weighted Scaled Score on or before December 31 of the year in which you submit your retake portfolio entries and/or retake assessment center exercises.

Retake performances are received along with first-time performances and are scored simultaneously. Assessors do not distinguish between first-time and retake performances. So, although it may seem possible for retake candidates to receive their scores earlier than first-time candidates, all score results are processed together and are completed at the same time. Official score results are released at the same time only to candidates (whether first-time candidates or retake candidates) via a private, secure, online service available on the NBPTS Web site.

No. Scores are provided only to candidates. No scores are ever attached to a candidate's submission, and no scores can be accessed by assessors.

Your retake score for a complete submission always replaces your original score, even in cases when the retake score is lower than your original score. If your retake score is lower than your original score, the original score cannot be reinstated. Your total weighted scaled score will be recalculated using your retake scores.

Assessors for all certificate areas must meet the same eligibility requirements which are:

• Baccalaureate degree
• Valid state teaching (or school counselor) license
• Three years of teaching (or school counseling) experience in a pre-K through 12 setting
• Currently employed at least half-time as a teacher (or school counselor)
• Not be a current or non-achieving candidate for National Board Certification
• Successfully complete assessor training
  

“NS” is an acronym for “Not scoreable.” There could be many reasons why a score is listed as NS or is blank. Some examples of why a score is listed as NS are: 

• A candidate may have submitted an entry envelope that contained none of the required critical components. 
• A candidate may have forgotten to send a video or did not include the written commentary. 
• A retake candidate may have submitted a portfolio entry that was too similar to the prior submission. When a candidate retakes a portfolio entry, they must submit completely new analyses, student work samples and videotapes. On the whole, at least 90% of the submission must be different. For the documented accomplishment entry, candidates must submit completely new descriptions and an interpretive summary. 
• A candidate may have submitted materials for the wrong developmental level for their certificate area.
  

Beginning with the 1996-1997 assessment cycle, the NBPTS Board of Directors established a total weighted score of 263 as the uniform performance standard for awarding certification to candidates in all certificate fields and across all administration cycles.  In order to continue to ensure consistency in reporting certification decisions to candidates across certificate fields and assessment cycles, the National Board adds a 12-point uniform constant to the weighted scaled score to produce a Total Weighted Scaled Score.  A candidate must earn a Total Weighted Scaled Score that equals or exceeds 275 points to achieve National Board Certification^®.