NC, Wake County teachers continue leading nation in rigorous certifications

North Carolina and the Wake County Public School System continue to lead the nation with the highest number of National Board Certified teachers in the country.

Posted 10:23 p.m. Dec 9, 2019 — Updated 10:23 p.m. Dec 9, 2019

Kelly Hinchcliffe

, WRAL education reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina and the Wake County Public School System continue to lead the nation with the highest number of National Board Certified teachers in the country, according to data released Monday.

More than 22,600 teachers in North Carolina have attained national certification, which is based on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete. The Wake County Public School System is the top district in the nation with nearly 3,000 teachers who are board certified.

Certification by the National Board is the highest credential in the teaching profession, and participation is voluntary. As a part of the certification process, candidates build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Certification is currently available to educators in 25 fields.

North Carolina accounts for nearly one fifth (18 percent) of all teachers nationally who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Florida ranks second with 13,552, followed by Washington (11,368), South Carolina (9,226) and California (7,329).

North Carolina school districts continue to rank among the top 20 districts nationally for numbers of teachers with national certification: