Candidate loans and scholarships
The Montana Professional Teaching Foundation provides between 10-20 scholarships per year for Montana teachers interested in pursuing National Board Certification. The scholarships pay up to $1,250 per candidate. The full fee for National Board Certification candidacy is $2,500.
Scholarships are now available for the 2012-13 school year. The Montana Professional Teaching Foundation will award as many as thirty $1000 federal subsidy scholarships to Montana teachers who wish to pursue National Board Certification during the 2012-13 school year.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a teacher must have taught a minimum of five years in an accredited Montana school and be currently employed as a Montana classroom teacher.
If you are interested in receiving an application packet for this scholarship, please contact Marco Ferro at mferro@mea-mft.org or at 1-800-398-0826 and simply request that you be added to the National Board Certification Scholarship mailing list. An application packet will be sent to you immediately.
All candidates must complete a National Board Certification application on-line at www.nbpts.org, prior to becoming eligible for the MPTF subsidy scholarship. MPTF must receive a printed copy of your on-line application, submitted with your completed scholarship application.
NEA loans: NEA has developed a member benefit program to provide low-interest loans to MEA-MFT members who pursue National Board Certification. Contact Marco Ferro at the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation: mferro@mea-mft.org.
Other scholarships and support: Several scholarship opportunities become available during the course of any year for teachers interested in pursuing National Board Cerficiation. To determine if you are eligible for scholarship assistance, check the National Board's Candidate Resource Center at: www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/fees_financial_support/scholarships
Banking scores and retake scholarships: MPTF is pleased to offer retake scholarships for Montana teachers who do not become certified after their first effort. Because all candidates can "bank" their scores, "retakes" typically involve retaking no more than 2-3 sections of the National Board Certification process. The fee for each section is $350. MPTF will provide one $350 scholarship per retake candidate.
Retake candidates interested in receiving this scholarship assistance should contact Marco Ferro directly at mferro@mea-mft.org.
National Board Certification: More About the Process
National Board Certified Teachers in Montana
Candidate Support & Assistance