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National Board Resource Center

Application for the Illinois National Board First Time Candidate Fee Subsidy

The 2025 Spring Subsidy Application will be open from March 15, 2025 10 am- April 30, 2025 Midnight

The National Board Resource Center (NBRC) at Illinois State University (ISU) is excited to announce that the 2025 Spring window for the Illinois National Board (NB) First Time Candidate Fee Subsidy will be open from March 11th, 2025 10 am - April 30th, 2025 at midnight.

Read ALL documents below for complete details regarding the application for the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy.

**NOTE: If you choose to withdraw from the National Board program at any point during the process, it will be your responsibility to contact the NBRC office and notify staff of your intentions. Please see the Must Read document for further information.**

Important Dates

Step 1: 

Before proceeding with the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy application process it is mandatory that you read these documents:

  1. Read and understand the Guide to National Board Certification.
  2. Please read the Must Read document about the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy Application.
  3. Please verify that your information (for example, your current school information) is updated on ISBE's ELIS page - expired or outdated information causes significant delays in processing. 

Step 2: Practice Application

Be prepared when the application opens!

Complete the Practice Application before proceeding to the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy online application.

Step 3: New and Returning Candidates

March 15th, 2025 10 a.m.- April 30th, 2025 Midnight

NEW First-time Candidates 2025-2026: Complete the online Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy Application HERE (Link will be live on Saturday, March 15th, 2025, at 10 a.m.)

Returning Candidates (Previously applied for the subsidy)
Approved for the subsidy in 2022, 2023, or 2024 and 
are returning for your second or third year
Submit your required 2025- 2026 registration with our office HERE

 

  • It is best to use Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, or Safari. DO NOT use Internet Explorer

Step 4:

 

The names of the candidates who have applied to receive the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy will begin to be posted on the Eligible List weekly until the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy application closes.

Please allow 10+ business days for your application to be processed.

Candidates will be notified by email if there are issues with the application.

Step 5:

Application Closes April 30th, 2025 at Midnight

This is the last day the NBRC at Illinois State University will accept applications for the Spring 2025-2026 Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy Application. The deadline to complete the application is midnight. Funds must be disbursed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority given to educators in EBF Tier 1 school districts.

Step 6: NBPTS Registration

2025-2026 Due Date TBD

The 2025 - 2026 Registration cycle will open at the start of the new school year. 

New First-time Candidates: You will be emailed with specified instructions you will need in order to for you to create your NBPTS account -do not create your account prior to receiving these instructions that will be sent to you at the start of the new school year. 

Returning Candidates: Instructions for your 2025-2026 cycle NBPTS (1) registration fee, (2) component selection will be included in the monthly candidate newsletter sent you via email. Be sure to read these newsletters thoroughly for your upcoming deadlines to complete the registeration survey for cohort and mentor support options. 

 

Step 7: 2025-2026 List Finalized

NBRC will post the final Approved List for those after applicants have registered and created an account with NBPTS. All candidates will be sent a survey for support options via the personal email address submitted on application.

Step 8: Candidate Cohort Support and Registration for Mentor(s)

October 2025

NBRC candidate support is anticipated to begin.

Step 9:

October 2025

All component payments for New and Returning Candidates will be sent from ISBE to the National Board: TBD

Please Note: Candidates will receive an email from NBPTS when funding is available to be applied their component fees.