The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards was established in 1987 as the teaching profession’s vehicle for defining and recognizing accomplished teaching. National Board Certification, which is built upon National Board Standards and the National Board’s Five Core Propositions, is the profession’s mark of accomplished teaching. To date, more than 112,000 teachers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have achieved National Board Certification. There are 25 areas in which teachers can certify. A guide to finding the right certificate for candidates can be found here: Choosing the Right Certificate: Information by Certificate Area.