All Washington State National Board candidates have access to cohort facilitators, who are experienced NBCTs that have received training through OSPI.

Universities, school districts, local educations associations, non-profits, and ESDs hire facilitators to support candidates through the certification process.

• 2021-22 OSPI Approved Support Providers
• School District Supports

Planning to facilitate a cohort virtually? Please review our Guidelines for Ethical Online Candidate Facilitation. This document provides baseline guidance for ethical facilitation in an online setting - support providers are encouraged to build off of this for their own cohorts. 

Facilitator Training

To ensure consistency across the state, NBCTs are asked to participate in Facilitator Training prior to hosting a cohort group. Additionally, OSPI will only approve cohorts that are facilitated by trained facilitators. This training hones facilitation knowledge and skills, provides a deeper understanding of the revised National Board process, as well as develops skills in working with adult learners. Typically, OSPI co-locates Facilitator Training with WEA Jump Start sessions during the summer. Due to the ongoing pandemic and safety concerns, Facilitator Training will be hosted online this year.

OSPI's Regional Coordinators lead Facilitator Training.

Current Training Options

This year, training is entirely online and free of charge.

Clock hours are free through OSPI. Facilitator Training will also include a virtual Pre-Training component that is required for all attending the in-person event. The purpose for the Pre-Training is to equip facilitators with a baseline of prior knowledge to avoid the sit-and-get structure and provide more time for discourse among participants during training.

Training options for 2021 have now closed - training is typically held in the summer and registration will open in the spring.

For any questions about Facilitator Training, please contact Steven Mueller.