At American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (American Board / ABCTE), we offer a flexible pathway to teacher certification for aspiring educators. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, we provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to enroll with American Board below.
How to Enroll with American Board
- Check State Requirements: American Board certification is accepted in 15 states, so the first step is to verify whether your state recognizes this certification. You can find this information on our website or by contacting your state’s Department of Education.
- Choose a Subject Area: American Board offers certifications in 10 subject areas. These include Elementary Education, English, Math, Science, Special Education, and others. It’s important to note that some states, like Ohio, offer their own list of subjects. We spell out unique state situations like this on our website; but, in general, most states offer the core subjects through American Board. Select the subject you’re most passionate about and plan to teach.
- Create an Account and Use Your Free Trial: Create an account by visiting our website, or simply click here. You’ll be given a 7-day completely free trial of the program. Use this time to explore the study materials and make sure American Board’s program is the one for you. Then, you can register for the certification program by choosing your subject area and paying the enrollment fee.
- A quick note about our enrollment fee. Unlike other alternative programs that ask you to pay a small amount up front but cost several thousand dollars upon completion, American Board’s one-time fee of less than $2,000 covers the cost of the entire program. This includes a full year in the program, as well as your final exam costs.
- Prepare for the Exams: We require passing two exams: the Professional Teaching Knowledge (PTK) exam and a subject area exam. Study resources are available through your program portal, including practice tests and study guides.
- Complete Certification: After passing the required exams, you will receive your teaching certification, allowing you to apply for a teaching license in participating states.
Final Thoughts
American Board’s certification program is streamlined, but it’s not easy. You’ve got to have strong content knowledge and be willing to work to learn pedagogy. You can hear from program graduates about their experience here. Start your journey to becoming a certified teacher with American Board today!
