National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in Leadership education and training, and provides numerous benefits to employers, students and organizations. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished leaders and to generate ongoing improvement and develop organizations and individuals nationwide.

To learn more about this program, please visit the official website here.

There are many reasons to pursue National Board Certification. The National Board’s standards and assessments were created by leaders, for leaders. What do leaders themselves have to say about the value of National Board certification?

1. Have a direct impact on others. There is a decade of research to support the impact that certified leaders have on those they surround themselves with. Mentees and employees of Board-certified leaders learn and accomplish more than their peers without Board-certified leaders.

2. Relevant and impactful professional development. National Board Certification is often cited as an indicator of effective leadership. For me, it wasn’t just a certification, it was the most impactful professional development I have ever taken on, and my staff still benefits to this day.  A survey of effective leadership’ views on professional development found 94% of respondents shared that National Board Certification was among the top three most impactful professional development experiences for advancing their practice.

3. Created by leaders for leaders. Too often, professional development opportunities are not shaped by the wisdom and expertise of practicing leaders. That is not the case with National Board Certification. The National Board Standards are developed by committees of educators and leaders who are broadly representative of professionals in their field.

4. Change the way we do leadership. 91% of Leaders engaging with the National Board standards reported that it had a direct impact on their practices. These shifts include adjusting plans to meet the needs of individual, using data in new ways to assess progress, development, and goals, deepening their content knowledge. 

To begin the National Board Certification process, candidate must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and have three years of successful leadership experience.

The National Board’s describe what leaders should know and be able to do, the National Board certification process is designed to collect standards-based evidence of accomplished practice. Candidates are required to complete four components. 

Component 1. Content Knowledge is a computer-based assessment where candidates showcase their understanding of leadership practices in their specific field. They must demonstrate mastery of developmentally appropriate content essential for effective leadership within their community of practice. Component 1 is assessed through the completion of three vignettes and responses based on the three designated content areas described in the scoring criteria.

Component 2. Candidates are tasked with evaluating their individual leadership strengths and weaknesses, using this insight to design instructional activities aimed at overcoming challenges and leveraging strengths. This entry showcases the candidate's ability to self-assess, plan and implement effective strategies, and adjust based on ongoing assessment. All tasks and rubrics align with certificate area Standards.

Component 3. For this entry, candidates must record interactions with junior leaders and provide written commentary analyzing these interactions. It captures planning details, leadership practice evidence from two video recordings, instructional materials, and reflection on leadership delivery.

Component 4. Candidates must demonstrate their abilities as effective and reflective practitioners in developing others, using assessments to plan and positively impact peers and junior leaders. It offers the opportunity to showcase skills in gathering information, utilizing assessments, collaborating, and contributing to organizational growth. Submission specifics will vary by content area, aligned with certificate area Standards.

Candidates must submit all four components within one year of their candidacy. While it is possible to complete the process in as little as four months, there is a one-year window to achieve certification.