Early Childhood/Generalist
Credential: Early Childhood/Generalist
Credentialing Agency: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Early Childhood/Generalist certification is appropriate for teachers of students ages 3-8 who engage their students in all subject areas addressed in the Early Childhood Generalist Standards. Regardless of assignment, all Generalists practice in a manner designed to advance student learning in two or more subjects. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, have a minimum of three years of teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level, and where it is required, hold a state teaching license. Candidates must pass a computer-based assessment and submit three portfolio entries.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Early Childhood/Generalist
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: state teaching license
- Experience: 3 years
- Education: Bachelors
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 5 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
1525 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 465-2700
Fax: (703) 465-2715
Contact Page
Credential Pre-requisite REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a valid state teaching or counseling license. Exception: If the candidate is teaching where a license is not required, he/she must have taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the state.
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Candidates must have a minimum of three years teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level.
Written Exam
Content knowledge is assessed through the completion of approximately 45 selected response items and three constructed response exercises.
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Child Development, Equity, Fairness, and Appreciation of Diversity (30%)
- Fostering Cognitive Development
- Fostering Language Development
- Fostering Moral and Ethical Development
- Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions Related to Equity, Fairness, and Diversity
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Knowing and Integrating Subject Matter: Language and Literacy, Technology, Resources (35%)
- Language and Literacy; Listening and Speaking; and Writing
- Technology
- Learning Materials and Resources
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Knowing and Integrating Subject Matter: Science, Social Studies, Arts, Health, Physical Education (35%)
- Science
- Social Studies
- Visual Arts, Music, and Drama
- Health and Physical Education
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Constructed Response: Literacy
- In this exercise, candidates will use their knowledge of reading development to plan an appropriate instructional strategy that builds on a student’s strengths in reading to foster the student’s reading development.
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Constructed Response: Analyzing Student Work in Mathematics
- In this exercise, candidates will use their content and pedagogical knowledge of math to identify a major math misconception or error in a given student’s work, identify appropriate concepts/skills needed for the student to solve a problem accurately, provide an instructional strategy to address the student’s misconception or error, and provide a rationale for the strategy.
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Constructed Response: Children's Play
- In this exercise, candidates will use their knowledge of children’s play to identify significant aspects of child development and ways to support that development through your role as the teacher
Performance Exam Requirements
In addition to the computer-based assessment, candidates for National Board Certification are required to complete three portfolio entries, which are submitted online.
The topics for the portfolio entries are as follows:
- Differentiation Instruction
- This classroom-based portfolio entry is primarily comprised of samples of student work and an accompanying written commentary.
- Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
- This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between the candidate and his/her students.
- Effective and Reflective Practitioner
- This portfolio entry requires examples of assessments used for formative and summative purposes.
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Early Childhood/Generalist examination:
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Best Sources
- Candidate FAQs
- Candidate Resources
- Early Childhood Generalist Standards
- Early Childhood/Generalist - Component 1
- Early Childhood/Generalist - Component 2
- Early Childhood/Generalist - Component 3
- Early Childhood/Generalist - Component 4
- Guide to National Board Certification
- NBCT Certification Renewal - Profile of Professional Growth
- Renewal at a Glance
- Renewal Guide to Board Certification
RECERTIFICATION
Early Childhood/Generalist
Renewal Period: 5 years