COLUMBIA - South Carolina ranks third in the nation for the second year in a row for teachers gaining their profession's top credentials.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards says 867 S.C. teachers earned national certification during the past school year, according to board spokesman Jimmy Minichello.

The certification means teachers have demonstrated strong teaching skills and solid knowledge in their content area.

A total of 3,225 S.C. teachers now have the certification. Five years ago, the state only had five national board certified teachers.

South Carolina trails North Carolina and Florida in the number of teachers who earned the certification in the past year. North Carolina had 1,522 teachers earn the certification, while Florida had 1,448.

S.C. teachers are rewarded for their certification with an extra $7,500 a year in pay for the life of their 10-year credentials. The state also covers the $2,300 application fee for certification if the candidate is successful.

The state budgeted more than $36 million on the program this year.

"It's a good program, it's certainly made a difference with teachers" and in classrooms, Gov. Mark Sanford said.

But in a tight budget year, Sanford said, "The question is simply: Can we afford substantial expansion of that program versus a number of other priorities?"

State Sen. Mike Fair, a member of the Senate Education Committee, questions the level of funding for the program because there have been no solid studies on whether the certification produces better performance in the classroom.

"Is it meaningful other than for the teacher's résumé?" said Fair, R-Greenville, who wants to see action on the issue when the legislature reconvenes next month.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, supports the program and said the money is necessary to improve teacher quality.

"An evaluation of this program would tell you it's working," he said.

The North Carolina-based National Board for Professional Teaching Standards judges teachers on videotapes of their action in the classroom, intensive critiques of their performance during the school year and a written exam. It takes one to three years to complete.

State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum said the rigorous process shows how the teachers become better instructors.

All states except Alaska have implemented policies and regulations to recruit, reward and retain teachers with the certification, according to the board.