• National Certification & Stipends

  • Under 14 Del.C. §1305 Basic salary schedule for teachers, nurses, principals, superintendents, and other administrative and supervisory employees some educators who hold national certifications may earn a salary stipend as defined in the following code:

    (l) In addition to the base salary derived from subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an employee who has achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or from an equivalent program approved by the State Board shall receive a salary supplement equal to 12% of the base salary so derived. An employee shall receive a salary supplement equal to 6% of base salary so derived for receiving any of the following national certifications:

    1. Certificate of clinical competence - speech pathologists and audiologists;
    2. Nationally certified school counselor;
    3. Board certified music therapist;
    4. Nationally certified school psychologist; and
    5. Nationally certified school nurse.

    Delaware’s Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget (House Bill 225) was signed by Governor Carney on June 25, 2019, and included funding and epilogue language to create a new $1,000 stipend for middle school or high school athletic directors who provide proof of certification as a Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).  This change became effective on July 1, 2019.

    Section 303. Section 1 of this Act makes an appropriation for Skills, Knowledge and Responsibility Pay Supplements in Department of Education, District and Charter Operations (95-02-02). Funding in this appropriation shall provide an annual $1,000 stipend for middle school and high school athletic directors who receive certification as a Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

    1. Middle School or High School Athletic Directors

     

    Employees who hold one of these certificates and wish to obtain the salary stipend must have an active account in DEEDS and submit the appropriate documentation to facilitate payment of the stipend through the State of Delaware payroll system.

    This National Certification & Stipends page includes the following sections:

     

  • DEEDS Application Process Steps

    1. Log in to your DEEDS account via the EdAccess login page.
    2. Apply for the appropriate License and Certificate(s) for the content area you want to teach.
    3. Have a credit card (not a debit card) at hand. There will be a one-time $100 application fee, which is reimbursable upon employment in a Delaware public or charter school when the educator is fully licensed and certified.
    4. Request to send all official documentation:
      • All official transcripts.
      • Test Scores (Praxis, ACTFL.) - if applicable (not required for reciprocity applications)
      • Proof of student teaching, if not on your transcript.
      • Copy of your out-of-state credential, if applicable.
      • Verification of Experience (Form E or Form E/NT), if applicable (for out-of-state reciprocity applicants)
    5. Upon receipt of all documentation, DDOE Staff will review the application and documentation.
    6. DDOE staff will update your application status within DEEDS. You can monitor the application progress by clicking the "View My Applications" button on the DEEDS Educator Dashboard. Each application is shown with progress banners to indicate where the application is within the review and approval process.
    7. If additional documentation is needed to process your application, then a red "Respond to Deficiency" button will appear on the DEEDS Educator Dashboard. You will need to respond to the deficiency from within the DEEDS application, providing whatever additional information is requested in order for the application process to continue. This is the communication between DDOE and the applicant during the application process.
    8. You may apply for employment while your License and Certificate(s) are pending. Districts and charter schools will have access to your application information via DEEDS.


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  • National Certification Documentation Requirements

    Speech pathologist; Certificate of Clinical Competence

    • Copy of a valid and current Professional License will be accepted as documentation.
    • Copy of a valid and current American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate and ASHA card will be accepted as documentation.
    • Obtain additional information from Delaware Division of Professional Regulations and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
    • Employed as a Speech Pathologist in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

    Audiologists; Certificate of Clinical Competence

    School Counselor; Nationally Certified

    • Copy of a valid and current National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) Certificate will be accepted as documentation.
      • Note: not National Certified Counselor (NCC)
    • Obtain additional information from the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. regarding National Certified School Counselor (NCSC).
    • Fully credentialed in school counseling and employed as a School Counselor in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

    Music Therapist; Board Certified

    • Copy of a valid and current Certification Board for Music Therapist (CBMT) Certificate will be accepted as documentation.
    • Obtain additional information from the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).
    • Fully credentialed in music and employed as a Music Teacher in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

    School Psychologist; Nationally Certified

    • Copy of a valid and current Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Certificate will be accepted as documentation.
      • Note: not National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
    • Obtain additional information from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
    • Fully credentialed in school psychology and employed as a School Psychologist in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

    School Nurse; Nationally Certified

    • Copy of a valid and current National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) Certificate or NBCSN card will be accepted as documentation.
    • School Nurses are also required to hold and maintain a current Registered Nurse license, recognized by the Delaware Board of Nursing, a valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED).
    • Obtain additional information from Delaware Division of Professional Regulations or the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NCSN).
    • Fully credentialed in school nursing and employed as a School Nurse in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

     

    Athletic Director; Nationally Certified

    • Copy of a valid and current certification as Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator will be accepted as documentation.
    • Obtain additional information from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
    • Fully credentialed as a Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator and employed as an Athletic Director in a Delaware public district or charter school.
    • Past documentation may be required.

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  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification

    Those wishing to seek National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification should go to NBPTS and review the requirements for their specific certificate area. A list of Delaware National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) can be found in the NBCT (National Board Certified Teachers) Directory.  If the candidate is certified in another state, you would need to check that state's list of NBCTs.

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  • Renewal of Certification through NBPTS

    Holders of National Board Certification may renew their certification by completing the National Board’s Renewal Process. Candidates who successfully renew their National Board Certification will receive a renewed Advanced License through the State of Delaware upon receipt of acceptable renewal verification.

    Holders of National Board Certification who wish to renew must do so prior to the expiration of their National Board Certification. Educators who fail to renew their National Board Certification will be issued a Continuing License and must meet the requirements of a Continuing License in the interim. Educators who elect not to renew their National Board certification or fail to meet the recertification requirements shall be issued a Continuing License and begin their 90 clock hours.

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  • Nationally Board Certified Teachers New to Delaware

    Provided that all licensure requirements are met, an educator who holds current National Board Certification will receive an Advanced License upon applying for licensure/certification in the State of Delaware. This license will be valid for the duration of the educator’s National Board Certification (up to ten years). Such educators should follow the same process as other first-time applicants for Delaware licensure/certification, the only exception being that they will submit copies of their National Board Certificates with their other documentation, in accordance with the Documentation Guidelines. Experience documentation will not be needed unless required for an additional certification.

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  • Salary Stipend History

    2008 - Beginning May 21, 2008, a moratorium was implemented for all new participation in NBPTS certification and all national certification supplements.

    2016 - Beginning July 1, 2016, any educator or related service specialist listed in 14 Del C §1305(l) who has achieved a NBPTS certificate or other national certification since May 21, 2008, shall receive an annual salary supplement of $2000. Any teacher or specialist in areas specified in 14 Del C §1305(l) who obtained NBPTS or other national certification in another state, may be eligible for this annual salary supplement upon employment in a Delaware district/charter school.

    Any educator who achieved national certification between May 21, 2008 and June 30, 2016, is not eligible for retroactive funding, but may be eligible for the appropriate annual supplement for the remainder of the certification and may continue to receive it as long as the certification is kept current through the appropriate national organization. Any teacher or specialist currently receiving a stipend for a national certification under 14 Del C §1305(l) shall continue to receive it as long as the certification is kept current through the appropriate national organization.

    The Department of Education shall provide districts and charters with guidance for the processing of the annual salary supplements.

    2019 - Delaware’s Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget (House Bill 225) was signed by Governor Carney on June 25, 2019, and included funding and epilogue language to replace the $2,000 annual salary supplement for national certifications with the percentage stipend authorized in Delaware Code and also created a new $1,000 stipend for middle and high school athletic directors.  These changes became effective on July 1, 2019.

    NATIONAL CERTIFICATION

    Any educator or related service specialist listed in 14 Del C §1305(l) who achieved national board certification during the moratorium period between May 21, 2008, and June 30, 2019, is not eligible for retroactive funding.  National certifications covered include the following per 14 Del C §1305(l):

    • Teachers who hold National Board Certification (NBPTS) – 12%
    • Certificate of Clinical Competence - Speech Pathologists and Audiologists (ASHA) – 6%
    • Nationally Certified School Counselor (NBCC) - 6%
    • Music Therapist—Board Certified (CBMT) - 6%
    • Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NASP) – 6%
    • Nationally Certified School Nurse (NBCSN) – 6%

     

    ATHLETIC DIRECTORS

    The new, annual $1,000 stipend will be issued to employed middle school and high school athletic directors who provide proof of having received certification as a Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Athletic Directors who hold multiple certificates or serve multiple schools are only eligible for one $1,000 stipend.

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Last Modified on July 19, 2022