281—84.3 (256) Registration fee reimbursement program. If funds are appropriated by the Iowa legislature, the department shall administer a registration fee reimbursement program.
	 84.3(1) Eligibility. Teachers seeking reimbursement shall apply to the department within one year of registration with NBPTS. Teachers eligible for the registration fee reimbursement program shall meet all of the following qualifications:
	  a.   	 The individual has all qualifications required by NBPTS for application for certification.
	  b.   	 The individual is a teacher.
	  c.   	 The individual is employed by a school district in Iowa.
	  d.   	 The individual receives a salary as a classroom teacher.
	  e.   	 The individual completes the department’s application process, which includes submitting verification of NBC registration.
	  f.   	 The individual has not received reimbursement from this program at any previous time.
	 84.3(2) Registration fee reimbursement. If funds are appropriated by the legislature, all teachers who apply to the department shall receive registration fee reimbursement. If, however, in any fiscal year the number of eligible teachers that apply for the reimbursement exceeds the funds available, the department shall prorate the amount of the registration fee reimbursement among all eligible teachers.
	 84.3(3) Reimbursement. Teachers determined eligible shall receive reimbursement in the following manner:
	  a.   	 Initial registration fee reimbursement. Each eligible teacher shall receive an initial reimbursement of one-half of the reimbursement fee charged by NBPTS or, if necessary, a prorated amount upon submission to the department of the NBC registration confirmation form provided to each teacher by NBPTS.
	  b.   	 Final registration fee reimbursement. The final registration fee reimbursement of one-half of the reimbursement fee charged by NBPTS or, if necessary, a prorated amount shall be awarded when the eligible teacher notifies the department of the teacher’s certification achievement and submits verification of certification. If an eligible teacher fails to receive certification, the teacher can receive the remaining reimbursement if the teacher achieves certification within three years of the initial NBC score notification.
	 84.3(4) Withdrawal from NBC process. A teacher who has received the initial registration fee reimbursement from the department and withdraws from the NBC process shall reimburse the department the amount received from the department within 30 days of receiving any fee reimbursement from NBPTS if the reimbursement from NBPTS is equal to or greater than the amount received from the department. If the reimbursement amount from NBPTS is less than the amount the teacher received from the department, the teacher shall reimburse the department any amount received from NBPTS.