The National Board Certification process includes assessments of teaching portfolios, student work samples, and videotapes and thorough analyses of a candidates' classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. What is unique about National Board Certification is that it assesses not only the knowledge teachers possess but also the actual use of their skills and professional judgment in the classroom as they work to improve student learning. Then the candidate has three years to try to bring up the scores. A teacher's portfolio and written examination for National Board Certification consist of a variety of exercises or entries.
All teachers receive individual score reports for each exercise.
Like other certifying bodies, the National Board does not assume responsibility to provide customized, individualized feedback. Teachers who have completed an intensive training workshop and have qualified as assessors by demonstrating an understanding of the National Board standards, the directions to candidates, and the scoring guides evaluate entries. Teachers, especially National Board Certified Teachers, are invited to apply to serve as assessors after a thorough recommendation process that includes such sources as professional organizations, colleagues, National Board Certified Teachers, and teacher recognition programs. They must be actively engaged as teachers in the field and teach students at the same level as the students taught by the candidates whose responses they score. The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards provides no samples of previously scored portfolios.