NBCT Spring 2026 Updates

• patriciamaze39@gmail.com
• brad.lewis@athens.edu

1. Successfully submit and achieve qualifying scores on 4 components.
2. Each component costs $475 to submit.
3. An additional $75 processing fee is required each time (yearly) you submit 1-4 components.
4. You must submit all 4 components within a three year period. If you do not achieve a qualifying score on a component, you can revise your work and resubmit. You get two re-submissions for each component.
5. You must complete all work successfully within a five year period to receive National Certification. If you fail to qualify in one component after five years, you must begin the entire process once again.
   
6. Scholarships are available.

• Facilitator - Ellen Thompson
• ellenthomp424@gmail.com
• Address: Morgan County Educator Resource Center (ERC)
• 235 AL Hwy 67 Decatur, AL 35603
• Beside Morgan County BOE Central Office
• Kickoff Virtual Session - August 21

• CLICK THE DATE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR EACH SESSION

• Thursday, January 29, 2026 - Writing Tips - Virtual

• Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - Comp. 1 (Computer Based Assessment - Virtual)

• Spring Professional Learning Facilitators (PLFs) Sessions Begin - March 2

• Friday, April 10 - Spring Writing Retreat

• Facilitator - Jennifer Priest
• jpriest@atim.us
• Address for Cullman Primary School
• 900 Hoehn Drive. Cullman, AL 35055
• Near Cullman High School
• Kickoff Virtual Session - August 21

• CLICK THE DATE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR EACH SESSION

• Thursday, January 29, 2026 - Writing Tips - Virtual

• Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Comp. 1 (Computer Based Assessment - Virtual)

• Spring Professional Learning Facilitators (PLFs) Sessions Begin - March 2

• Friday, April 10, - Spring Writing Retreat

• Scholarship Link (New Link will be Available by January 31, 2026)
• The application link can only be accessed through a Google related account. This is the most common problem we have each year when people try to access the link through school accounts.
• The combined family income cannot exceed $150,000. This is a legislative rule and we cannot vary from it in any way.
• The deadline for submission is midnight of March 31, 2026. All applications are time stamped and we do not accept applications past midnight of March 31. If an individual is having technical difficulty they should contact me before the deadline and we will work with them. It is amazing how many applications we receive the last day.
• All applicants will be notified of their status (scholarship or no scholarship) in early May .
• Funds will not be in their individual National Board accounts until Fall of this year and they cannot access their funds until early 2026. They may begin working on components at any time but they cannot register, submit and use scholarship funds until 2026. They should not register and pay the $75.00 fee this year unless they want to pay for the component themselves.

• Calendar & FAQs
• Application

• NEW Website
• Calendar & FAQs
• NBCT Resource Site

Any public school teacher, administrator, or board member may attend professional learning sessions hosted by an Alabama Inservice Center (ARIC). The Athens RIC (Region 2) serves all public school districts in Blount, Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, and Morgan Counties in north central Alabama.

How To Register

All professional learning sessions are listed in PowerSchool Professional Learning. Educators can register for sessions using PowerSchool Professional Learning accounts. All professional learning sessions have hyperlinked registration links. Look for the Register Here wording under each session. Contact district PowerSchool personnel or district technology administrators for assistance with accessing the platform. Retired educators no longer with a school district or without a local education agency (WOLEA) can send a support request to PLadmin@alsde.edu for assistance.

PowerSchool Credit

For your credit to show on your transcript, you need to complete the survey attached to the complete course. You can find this survey in your "Courses" tab in the "My Survey" section.

Please note, all session confirmations are sent to the email associated with PowerSchool accounts. Please verify contact information in PowerSchool (e.g. email addresses, phone number, etc.)

• COMPONENT 1: Content Knowledge. A computer-based assessment asks you to demonstrate your understanding of content knowledge and pedagogical practices for teaching your content area. You must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of your chosen certificate area. This is assessed through the completion of three constructed response exercises and 45 selected response items. (40% of Total Score)

• COMPONENT 2: Differentiation in Instruction. This classroom-based portfolio entry requires that candidates gather and analyze information about individual students’ strengths and needs and use that information to design and implement instruction to advance student learning and achievement. You will submit selected work samples that demonstrate the students’ growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes your instructional choices. (15% of Total Score)

• COMPONENT 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment. This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between you and your students. You will also submit a written commentary in which you describe, analyze and reflect on your teaching and interactions with students. Both the video and the written commentary should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning. (30% of Total Score)

• COMPONENT 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner. This portfolio entry requires you to demonstrate evidence of your abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying knowledge of your students; your use of assessments to effectively plan for and positively impact your students’ learning; and your collaboration to advance students’ learning and growth. (15% of Total Score)
  

• Great Resource for HQ Teacher Videos!
• Contact Brad.Lewis@athens.edu

• Dr. Brad Lewis - Regional Inservice Director brad.lewis@athens.edu (256) 233-6574
• Deepa Manandhar - RIC Program and Financial Assistant deepa.manandhar@athens.edu (256) 233-6576

Website: https://www.athens.edu/academics/education/in-service-center/
Location: 1115-A U.S. 31 Athens, AL, USA
Phone: 256-216-6622
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthensStateRIC
Twitter: @AthensStateRIC