RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - North Carolina continues to set the standard for nationally board certified teachers, according to new data from the organization that gives out the credential.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards says the Tar Heel state has 20,611 teachers who've earned the designation. In 2014, 527 teachers joined the certified group. One in five state teachers are certified.

State Superintendent June Atkinson commended the newly-certified teachers in a news release: “North Carolina teachers continue to pursue this credential, and our students benefit from teachers who are engaged, interested in strengthening their craft and willing to model lifelong learning for their students.”

Florida is the next closest state (13,637) followed by South Carolina (8,820), Washington (8,196) and California (6,249).

In addition, five North Carolina public school districts placed in the Top 20 districts nationally for the total number of National Board Certified Teachers: Wake County remained first with 2,455, Charlotte-Mecklenburg is fourth with 1,995, Guilford County is 9th with 778, Winston-Salem/Forsyth is 16th with 541, and Buncombe County is 17th with 520.

North Carolina supports teachers pursuing National Board Certification by providing low-interest loans to pay the $1,900 assessment fee and three paid release days from normal teaching responsibilities for new candidates to develop their portfolios. Also, the State Board of Education awards a North Carolina teaching license to out-of-state teachers who are employed in North Carolina and who possess National Board Certification.

National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession and participation is voluntary. Teachers achieve certification through a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. As a part of the process, candidates build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Certification is currently available to educators in 25 fields.