Candidate Fee Subsidies
To apply for a federally funded candidate fee subsidy, please complete and return a Candidate Subsidy Program application (DOC; 34KB; 1p.) by November 30, 2009. Fee subsidies for 50 percent of the application fee are awarded to first-time candidates at the time the applications are received, upon availability of funds.
Fee subsidy payments are made to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) on a monthly basis, and candidates may verify payment by logging into My Profile (Outside Source) at the National Board Registration and Information Center. Fee subsidies are only available to candidates who have made an initial payment of candidate fees to the NBPTS and who have not previously received federal Candidate Subsidy Program (CSP) funding.
Candidates who have made payment in full to the NBPTS may still apply for, and receive, a fee subsidy. The NBPTS will treat a fee subsidy for a candidate who is already paid in full as an overpayment and issue a refund based on the guidelines in the NBPTS Guide to National Board Certification. You must request the reimbursement; it is not automatic.
School District Information
The process to achieve National Board certification provides high quality professional development, and school districts are encouraged to make use of state and federal funding that may be used for professional development to support their teachers. For more information see the California Department Education (CDE) Possible School District Funding Sources Web page.
Additional Resources For Fee Support
In addition to the CSP, teachers are encouraged to seek other sources for fee support. For more information see the CDE Potential Sources for Candidate Support Web page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I find out who the NBPTS Coordinator is in
my district?
If your district does not have a highly visible NBPTS program, contact the person in charge of professional development.
- If I received a scholarship from the National Board
Scholarship Program, can I also apply for a fee subsidy through
the Candidate Subsidy Program?
Yes, the two fee assistance programs have separate eligibility criteria, applications, and deadlines.
- I submitted a CSP application online but I haven't
heard if I received a fee subsidy. What happened?
CSP applications cannot be submitted online. You may have applied for a National Board Scholarship. Please call 1-888-908-3337 to follow up.
- I submitted a CSP application, and I checked My Profile.
Why hasn't a California fee subsidy been posted?
If it has been less than four weeks since you submitted your application, please be patient. Fee subsidy transmittals are made to the NBPTS on a monthly basis. If it has been longer than four weeks since your application, the NBPTS may have rejected your name for fee assistance for one of the following reasons:
- You have not made an initial payment of candidate fees. You need to immediately make a fee payment to the NBPTS.
- Your
NBPTS application indicates that you do not want your information
released to third parties. This prevents the CDE from making
a fee payment on your behalf. You need to contact the NBPTS (Outside Source) to modify your application.
- You have previously received federal CSP funding and are therefore ineligible to receive additional funding. If none of these situations is applicable to you, please contact Juliet Barbero at jbarbero@cde.ca.gov.
- You have not made an initial payment of candidate fees. You need to immediately make a fee payment to the NBPTS.
