NEA members serve on the Board itself and help to set the standards for the various teaching areas and subjects for which National Certification is available. This is a professional development experience of great value. Teachers get to see the performances of a large number of candidates in a single area AND get paid for their time. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
Teachers are members of learning communities. The National Board certification process is a rigorous program that teachers voluntarily take part in. The typical National Board applicant puts in between 200 and 400 hours of their time as part of the process. National Board certification is the standard of excellence by which teachers voluntarily measure themselves. This compares to similar certification processes in other professions such as doctors, lawyers, CPA's, etc.