Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

CA NBPTS Certification Incentive Program

Information regarding the California National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification Incentive Program.

Awards grants to school districts for the purpose of providing incentives to teachers who have attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and agree to teach at a high-priority school for at least five years. Additionally, any teacher who initiates the process of pursuing a certification from NBPTS when teaching at a high-priority school is eligible to receive a candidate subsidy to cover the costs of seeking certification.

California Incentive Program Information

CA National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) Certification Incentive Program Information
Overview of the NBCT Teacher Certification Incentive Program for teachers that have active (not expired) certification from the NBPTS by January 1, 2026, and are assigned to teach in an eligible high-priority school.

CA NBPTS Candidate Subsidy Program Information
Overview of the NBPTS Candidate Subsidy Program for teachers that initiate the certification process with NBPTS and are assigned to teach in an eligible high-priority school.

CA NBPTS Certification Incentive Program Webinar External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 58:41)
Webinar held October 19, 2021 as an introduction to the California NBPTS Candidate Subsidy Program and the NBCT Certification Incentive Program.

Lists of California’s 2025–26 and 2024–25 Eligible High Priority Schools. These lists are only used for the purpose of identifying schools with teachers eligible to receive the NBPTS Candidate Subsidy Award and the NBCT Incentive Award. If you don't see your school on the high-priority lists but you believe it qualifies, please email NBCT@cde.ca.gov.

If you would like to receive updates via e-mail notification, subscribe to the California National Board Incentive listserv by sending a "blank" message to: Join-california-national-board-listserv@mlist.cde.ca.gov

Resources

Guide to National Board Certification External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Overview of the NBPTS program and guide to completing certification.

NBPTS Certification Areas External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Overview of the categories for board certification.

NBPTS Certification Roadmap External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Infographic of the certification roadmap at a glance.

Related Content

Statutes of 2021, Education Code Section 44395
Assembly Bill 130, Chapter 44, Section 42 External link opens in new window or tab.

CA National Board Certified Teacher Incentive Program Funding Information:

2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
2024–25

CA National Board Certification Subsidy Program Funding Information:

Questions:   Teacher and Leader Policy Office | NBCT@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-7331
Last Reviewed: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Trending in Professional Learning
Recently Posted in Professional Learning
  • Science Laboratory Facilities (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Learn general guidelines for science and industrial technology laboratory construction under California regulations. Discover standards for lab size, ventilation, chemical storage, flexible workstations, and required safety equipment.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Discover essential guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) in science and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning environments. Learn proper standards for eye protection, hearing, footwear, and gloves.
  • Safety Data Sheets (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Learn how Safety Data Sheets (SDS) provide critical chemical hazard, handling, storage, and emergency information. Discover requirements for maintaining accessible SDSs and conducting employee training in K–12 science programs.
  • Appendix J - Acronyms (added 02-Oct-2026)
    List of acronyms used for the science safety handbook.
  • Tools, Equipment, and Machinery Safety (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Examine key safety protocols for tools, machinery, and technical education. Discover strategies for mandatory hazard assessments, power tool guarding, workpiece clamping, and essential personal protective equipment.

  • Vignette: Safety Data Sheet (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Analyze a high school chemistry scenario focused on interpreting chemical safety sheets. See how hazard matrixes, claim-evidence-reasoning writing, and pictogram analysis empower students to evaluate risk and select required protective gear.
  • California Education Code (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Explore core California Education Code mandates for school laboratory environments. See state requirements covering workstation limits, eye protection standards, animal rights alternatives, safety plans, and health instruction.
  • California Code of Regulations (added 02-Oct-2026)
    California Code of Regulations Title 8 safety mandates for laboratories. Review state rules governing fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, emergency eyewash stations, spill protocols, chemical storage, exposure plans, and first aid.
  • Health and Safety Code (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Navigate California Health and Safety Code standards for science facilities. Survey requirements detailing humane animal treatment, department inspection powers, hazardous waste transport policies, and emergency release response plans.
  • Vignette Learning to Dissect Safely in a High Scho (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Review a practical high school biology scenario detailing safe dissection practices. See how pre-lab warmups, tool demonstrations, clear group roles, and step-by-step sanitation build a culture of responsibility in secondary classrooms.