(AP) -- South Carolina is third in the nation in the number of teachers who hold a prestigious national certification.
Data released Wednesday by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shows nearly 500 South Carolina teachers earned its certification this year.
That brings the state's total of National Board Certified teachers to 7,784, behind only North Carolina and Florida.
South Carolina has paid annual $7,500 bonuses for 10 years to teachers who earn the designation. The recession prompted legislators earlier this year to limit the bonus to those already in the system.
The certification involves tests, video recordings of lessons and examples of student work. The two-part process can take up to three years.
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