Cannon-Clary College of Education

Become a National Board Certified Teacher.

National Board Certification

“Harding's National Board class with Dr. Carroll is phenomenal! The feedback and recommendations about my writing provided the focus I needed to achieve in one year. ” –Ms. Sarah Emfinger, NBCT, MAT 5th Grade Literacy Teacher Beebe Middle School

What is Harding's National Board Certification Program?

The ONLINE National Board Certification Program at Harding University is designed as a Candidate Support System to help you navigate the sometimes daunting and overwhelming world of National Board Certification. The National Board Certification graduate courses are a series of two courses that allow you to explore your path to inspired teaching and learning focused on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment.

These flexible online courses are geared toward current licensed teachers, counselors, librarians, or administrators with 3 or more years of teaching experience. The National Board Certification graduate program will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to identify your strengths and areas of growth with regard to your certificate area content knowledge and pedagogical practices that will be measured throughout the assessment.

Taken together, the two graduate courses analyze the four components of the NBPTS assessment process and provide strategic and substantial support as you become your most effective and reflective practitioner with deepened skills in becoming an agent for change and transformation for your individual students.

Why should I become National Board Certified?

  1. Receive  financial benefits as an NBCT. In Arkansas, NBCTs receive a yearly retention bonus of $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 from the Arkansas Department of Education, depending on your school and district poverty level. Many school districts pay an additional retention bonus.
  2. Advance student achievement rates as noted in numerous studies which have shown that students of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) outperform students of non-NBCTs on achievement tests.
  3. Join more than 100,000 NBCTs that represent most subject areas and developmental levels (K-12).

Harding University National Board Statistics

Harding University has had 1067 educators participate in the National Board support program.

The achievement rate of Harding's National Board candidates has been up to 80%, exceeding the national rate.

Apply Now (Spring 2020)

APPLY NOW (Beginning Summer 2020)

Admission Requirements and Part B Checklist (Spring 2020)

Application

  • If you have never taken graduate courses at Harding University, you may take up to 6 hours of credit as a "Special Student." Although no application fee is required, a Special Student Application must be submitted:

Admission Requirements (Beginning Summer 2020)

APPLY NOW 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete the CAS application and submit appropriate fee.
  • Request official transcripts (required) from all colleges attended and have them sent to GradCAS: 
    • GradCAS Transcript Processing Center 
      PO Box 9217 Watertown, MA 02471 
    • To expedite a review of your application, you may upload unofficial transcripts.
    • Note: An alumnus of Harding University does not need to request an HU transcript; records are on file. You can bypass this requirement in the Academic History quadrant.
  • Test Scores/Educator’s License Requirement
    • Upload a copy of your current valid educator license or 
    • Request one of the following test scores be sent to Harding University.
      • Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a minimum score of 380 
      • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - minimum score of 900 of combined verbal and quantitative scores
      • Praxis Subject Assessment or Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)
  • Upload a resume.

GPA REQUIREMENTS

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or 2.75 on the last 60 hours 
  • Cumulative GPA for provisional admittance: 2.35 (must maintain a 3.0 on the first 12 hours of coursework

For GradCAS application related questions: 
Phone: 857-304-2086 
Email: gradcasinfo@liaisoncas.com 

For program related questions: 
Harding University
Department of Graduate Studies in Education
Phone: 501-279-4315
Fax: 501-279-4083 
Email: graded@harding.edu 

Scholarships and Tuition Reimbursements

  • Harding offers a 40% tuition scholarship for current educators enrolled in graduate courses.

  • Arkansas Department of Higher Education also offers tuition reimbursement for up to 6 graduate hours per year through the Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP).

Required Courses & Semester Course Schedules

Our program consists of the following two ONLINE courses that rigorously prepare you for National Board Certification:

  • EDFD 6440 - Pre-Candidacy toward National Board Professional Teaching Standards 
  • EDFD 6460 - Candidacy toward National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 

Current Course Schedule:  National Board Spring Schedule

Both of these courses may be included in Harding University's programs:

Want more information about National Board certification and courses?

Request Information

Visit the following websites:

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards website

Arkansas Department of Education website

Dr. Clara Carroll's personal website


Contact:

Dr. Clara Carroll, NBCT, Associate Dean

501-279-4501

nationalboard@harding.edu or ccarroll@harding.edu

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NBCT's Graduate Credit Opportunity

NBCT's can receive up to 9 hours of graduate credit by enrolling in the courses below:

- EDFD 5400 - National Board Certification Candidacy: Demonstrating Accomplished Teaching
- EDFD 5400 - National Board Certification: Demonstrating Accomplished Teaching
- EDFD 5400 - National Board Certification: Portfolio & Assessment Preparation

The cost of each 3-hour course for the 2019-2020 year is $1,551 for each course to be registered on a Harding transcript. You would receive credit for the course(s) at the end of the semester. Since you've already achieved NB Certification, the graduate credit is for work already completed.

Application

  • If you havenever taken graduate courses at Harding University, you may take up to 6 hours of credit as a "Special Student." Although no application fee is required, a Special Student Application must be submitted:

Contact Us

Graduate Studies in Education is part of the College of Education

501-279-4315

graded@harding.edu

Fax: 501-279-4083

Mailing address:
Harding University
Graduate Studies in Education
Box 12261
Searcy, AR 72149-5615