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Become a Certified Member

Only current certified members may use the credentials below. To stay current, renew your membership yearly.



Categories of Certified Membership


ALTA certification is determined by successful completion of all requirements, including acceptable performance on a comprehensive national registration examination administered by ALTA. All minimum requirements must be met as stated in ALTA Bylaws.

The exam measures an individual's knowledge of and skills in Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) and verifies that the individual has achieved the highest level of competency in the field of dyslexia education. Nine standards are evaluated on the exam:

  • language development
  • the structure of the language
  • dyslexia, written language disorders, and other related disorders
  • psycho-educational tests and informal assessments
  • diagnostic and prescriptive MSL strategies to improve reading, spelling, and written expression
  • relevant research in instructional practice
  • 504 and IDEA laws which guide professional conduct and advocacy for students
  • ethical standards of the profession
  • awareness of effective professional written and oral communication with parents, colleagues, and other professionals.

The events calendar lists dates and locations for the administration of the exams.

Additional Membership Categories


Membership Specifications


There are seven (7) categories of membership:

Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP)

  1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  2. Completion of teacher level training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program
    1. "Comprehensive teacher level training" shall be defined as a course under the supervision of an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner that includes a minimum of 45 instructional hours, a minimum of 60 clinical/ teaching hours, a minimum of 5 demonstrations, clinical/teaching documentation, and proof of the individual's progress and competence.
    2. Acceptable performance on a teaching level comprehensive examination administered by ALTA.
  3. Completion of 10 CEUs (1 CEU = 1 hour at an approved ALTA event) per year. See CEU Policies & Procedures for detailed information.
  4. Membership dues for CALP Members are $75 annually - your first years dues are $150 which includes the exam. 

(A Certified Academic Language Practitioner, CALP, is eligible to become a CALT upon fulfilling the requirements stated in Article III., Section 2., b.)



Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner (ICALP)

Individuals who have met the minimum guidelines for Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner, please LOGIN and start the application process by going to your profile page and changing your membership level to ICALP.  You will be directed to the ICALP Application.

Please note the following must be attached with your application:

    • copy of letter showing successful completion of the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE at Practitioner or Therapy level
    • certificate of completion of coursework, clinical teaching hours and minimum requirements for Instructor of Practitioner from an IMSLEC accredited training course signed by the Course Director and/or overseeing ICALP/QI
    • documentation of completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited public or private institution of higher education (IHE)
    • documentation of 600 academic language teaching hours beyond CALP certification (use attached form) and check the one time the curriculum was taught all the way through
    • a minimum of two (2) lectures (reading and spelling) presented to a class by the intern as recommended by the intern’s supervising Certified Instructor. (Additional and/or Video recorded lectures may be requested.)  VIDEOS MAY BE REQUESTED.  ONLY SEND IF REQUESTED.
    • lecture notes/outline of the two lectures submitted
    • written critiques of submitted lectures by the supervising Certified Instructor
    • copies of five (5) guided evaluations of practitioner trainee demonstration/observation lessons with comments written by the Instructor of Practitioner intern and signed by the supervising Certified Instructor
    • copies of five (5) independent evaluations of practitioner trainee demonstration/observation lessons with comments written by the Instructor of Practitioner intern
    • submit five (5) examination questions for Practitioner level 
    • read five (5) current (published within the previous two years) research articles and provide bibliography


    1. If you are approved as an ICALP, these are the annual requirements for certification at this level:

    2. Completion of 10 CEUs (1 CEU = 1 hour at an approved ALTA event) per year and submission of supporting documentation. See CEU Policies & Procedures for detailed information.
        Current ICALP dues are $100 annually.


      Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)

      1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
      2. Completion of comprehensive therapist training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program.
        1. "Comprehensive therapist training" shall be defined as a course under the supervision of a Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists and Practitioners that includes:
          1. a minimum of 200 instructional hours, a minimum of 700 clinical/ teaching hours, a minimum of 10 demonstrations, clinical/teaching documentation, and proof of the therapist's progress and competency. [The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires a minimum of 700 clinical/teaching hours and a minimum of 10 observations before granting the credential of Licensed Dyslexia Therapist.]
      3. Acceptable performance on a comprehensive examination administered by ALTA.
      4. Completion of 10 CEUs (1 CEU = 1 hour at an approved ALTA event) per year. See CEU Policies & Procedures for detailed information.
      5. Membership dues for CALT Members are $75 annually - your first years dues are $150 which includes the exam. 



      Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists and Practitioners (QI)

      Individuals who have met the minimum guidelines for Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists and Practitioners, please LOGIN and start the application process by going to your profile page and changing your membership level to QI.  You will be directed to the QI Application.

      Please note the following must be attached with your application:

      • Completed application for QI membership
      • A copy of CALT certificate
      • A copy of ALTA membership card
      • Copy of letter of successful completion of the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE at Therapy level
      • Certificate of completion of minimum requirements for Instructor of Therapy from an IMSLEC approved accredited training course signed by the course Director and/or overseeing QI
      • A copy of graduate degree from a regionally accredited public or private institution of higher education (IHE)
      • Documentation of 1400 academic language therapy teaching hours and therapy situations beyond CALT certification signed by overseeing QI (use attached form)
      • A minimum of three (3) of lectures (reading, spelling, and one topic chosen by the intern) presented to a class by the intern as recommended by the training course director. Additional and/or video recorded lectures may be requested.  VIDEOS MAY BE REQUESTED.  ONLY SEND IF REQUESTED.
      • Lecture notes/outline of the three (3) lectures submitted
      • Written critiques of submitted lectures by the supervising Qualified Instructor
      • Copies of ten (10) guided evaluations of trainee demonstration/observation lessons with comments written by the Qualified Instructor intern and signed by the supervising QI 
      • Copies of ten (10) independent evaluations of trainee demonstration/observation   lessons with comments written by the intern
      • Five (5) final exam questions for introductory students
      • Five (5) final exam questions for advanced students
      • Five (5) current (published within the previous two years) research articles and provide bibliography 

      If you are approved as an QI, these are the annual requirements for certification at this level:

      Completion of 10 CEUs (1 CEU = 1 hour at an approved ALTA event) per year and submission of supporting documentation. See CEU Policies & Procedures for detailed information.

      Current QI dues are $100 annually.


      Trainee Affiliate

      1. This level of membership shall be open to individuals who are currently attending an IMSLEC accredited training course and who have met the following requirements:
        1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
        2. Active, non-conditional participation in a comprehensive Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) practitioner or therapist level training as verified by the director of the training center. (See Policy and Procedures for minimum requirements for CALP/CALT training.)
        3. Acceptance and signature on application form indicating compliance with ALTA ethics and agreeing to represent themselves solely as trainee affiliates until successfully fulfilling the requirements and applying for CALP/CALT membership.
      2. A member's status as a Trainee Affiliate will be reflected on her/his membership card. The Trainee Affiliate must communicate her/his level of membership to prospective parents/students before providing instruction and/or accepting any form of remuneration.
      3. If at any time the Trainee Affiliate is no longer attending an IMSLEC accredited training course, or is placed on conditional status by the training course, she/he must surrender her/his membership card to the ALTA national office and may no longer represent herself/himself as a member of ALTA. Dues will not be refunded.
      4. Membership at the Trainee Affiliate level can be held for a maximum of four years.
      5. Current Trainee Affiliate dues are $35.00 annually.
      6. Trainee Affiliates are not eligible to be listed in the ALTA Public Directory.



      Retiree Member

      1. This level of membership shall be open to individuals who have been ALTA members in good standing for at least twenty (20) years or who have reached the age of sixty-five (65) and are no longer actively providing services for remuneration. Click Apply Now to see the full list of requirements for this level. If you are a current ALTA Member wishing to change your membership level to Retiree Member, please login and change your membership level - once approved you will be notified.


      Honorary Lifetime Member (Current / Past ALTA Member)

      1. This level of membership shall be open to individuals who are retired from working in the field of dyslexia and who have met the following requirements:
        1. Five years of membership in good standing with ALTA
        2. Documentation of service to ALTA
        3. Documentation of service to the field of dyslexia

      Please click the link below for the application and to view the full requirements for membership as an honorary lifetime member.



      Honorary Lifetime Member (Non-ALTA Member)

      1. This level of membership shall be open to individuals who are active or retired from working in the field of dyslexia and who have contributed significantly to the field of dyslexia.

      Please click the link below for the application and to view the full requirements for membership as an honorary lifetime member.


      Membership Renewal Policy


      Dues notices are mailed the first of March and are due March 31st of each year. Dues that are not received are subject to a 20% late fee.

      Lapse of one or two years — If membership has been allowed to lapse for one to two years, that membership may be reinstated by paying the lapsed dues plus the current dues.

      Lapse of three or more years — If membership has been allowed to lapse for three or more years, that membership may be reinstated through the following process: payment of Registration Examination fee, successful completion of the Registration Examination, and payment of current membership dues.

      Additional questions may be addressed to the ALTA National Office.


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