Application for the Illinois National Board First Time Candidate Fee Subsidy

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verify that your information (for example, your current school information) is updated on ISBE's ELIS page - expired or outdated information causes significant delays in processing. 

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

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

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.

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 is not yet open. 

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.

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. 

All Candidates should not register for the 2025-2026 year with NBPTS until instructed by the NBRC. The 2025-2026 registeration window with NBPTS is not yet open.

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.

NBRC candidate support is anticipated to begin.

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.