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National Board Resource Center

Application for the Illinois National Board First Time Candidate Fee Subsidy

The 2025 Fall Subsidy Application will be open from August 2nd, 2025 at 10am, 2025 - September 14th, 2025 - Midnight

The National Board Resource Center (NBRC) at Illinois State University (ISU) is excited to announce that the 2025 Fall window for the Illinois National Board (NB) First Time Candidate Fee Subsidy will be open from August 2nd, 2025 10 am - September 14th, 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verify that your information (for example, your current school information) is updated on ISBE's ELIS page - expired or outdated information causes significant delays in processing.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

Now Closed

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

Step 3: New First-Time Candidate Application and Returning Candidate Registration

August 2nd, 2025 10 a.m.- September 14th, 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 2023, or 2024 and 
are returning for your second or third year
Submit your required 2025- 2026 registration with our office HERE

 

Started the process before 2023? Reach out to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to confirm if you are able to continue with your certification. 

1-800-22TEACH (83224)

NBPTS Customer Service Webform Link -or- go to nbpts.org

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

Step 4: Eligible List

Updated May 21st, 2025

The names of the candidates who have applied to receive the Illinois NB Candidate Fee Subsidy will  to be posted on the Eligible List 

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

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

Eligible Applicants should not register with the National Board for Professinal Teaching Standards (NBPTS) until sent instructions by the National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University. The registeration window for the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year with NBPTS will open May 22nd, 2025. Candidates for the 2025-2026 cycle who registered their NBPTS account prior to the opening date need to contact NBPTS.org immediately to correct this. 

 

 

Step 6: NBPTS.org Registration

Opens May 22nd, 2025

The 2025 - 2026 Registration cycle with open May 22nd, 2025 with NBPTS.org. 

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 register your account prior to May 22nd, 2025. 

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. 

All Candidates should not register for the 2025-2026 year with NBPTS until given registration setup instructions by the NBRC. Candidates are responsible for ensuring their NBPTS.org accounts are prepped correctly for the NBRC to send funding for the designated components for 2025-2026. 

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

Candidates will receive a survey of interest to complete from the NBRC via email. The NBRC uses this data to hire and train NBCTs as Professional Learning Facilatators and Mentor Coaches to support candidates through the certification process. 

Candidate Workshops will be annouced at later date. 

Step 9:

October 2025

All component payments for New and Returning Candidates will be sent from ISBE to the National Board in October. 

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