After years of talk and stalled efforts, the creation of a national certification program for principals is finally under way, with plans to launch the initiative formally in 2011. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)--which is spearheading the venture that will mirror the now 20-year-old advanced-certification program it runs for teachers--announced last week that it has completed work to define what skills and characteristics school leaders need to be effective. It is in the final stages of crafting specific standards for principals. The nonprofit organization has raised roughly $3 million to help pay for developing the certification program so far, including a $1 million appropriation from Congress and $1 million in funding from the Chicago Public Education Fund. As is true for the teachers who pursue voluntary national certification, the NBPTS program for principals is intended for those with at least a few years of experience who can prove a high level of accomplishment. With work on the draft standards nearly complete for principals, the board will begin next to design the assessment that will measure how accomplished principal-candidates actually are. However the final assessment looks, it will be as rigorous and thorough as that given to candidates for national teacher certification, said Joseph A. Aguerrebere, the executive director of the Arlington, Virginia-based national board. For example, principals will have to show evidence that they are succeeding in raising achievement and will have to answer "tough questions" about their work.