Registration Exam Procedures
ALTA certification is determined by the successful completion of all requirements, including acceptable performance on the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE). All minimum requirements must be met as stated in ALTA Bylaws.
The ALTA Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education 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.
Eight standards are evaluated on the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE:
- Language development
- Knowledge of structural linguistics
- Knowledge of dyslexia and related disorders
- Psycho-educational test data and informal assessments
- Diagnostic and prescriptive MSLE strategies to improve reading, spelling, and written expression
- Federal laws which guide professional conduct and advocacy for students
- Ethical standards for the profession (ALTA Code of Ethics)
- Effective oral and written communication with colleagues, parents, students, and other professionals
ALTA Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education Registration Process:
A. The applicant must supply documentation of his/her qualifications which includes, but is not restricted to the following information:
- Personal data
- Education
- Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training
- Supervised teaching experience
- Statement that applicant has read the ALTA Mission Statement and Bylaws and agrees to abide by them
- Falsification or misrepresentation by an applicant of his/her qualifications or of any of the information requested is grounds for denial of the certificate of registration.
- Applications will be declared void and the fee forfeited if there has been no response for one calendar year despite reasonable requests from ALTA for communication.
B. The Academic Language Therapy Association considers the application and requests more information if needed.
C. Upon satisfactory completion of the application, the Academic Language Therapy Association declares the applicant a candidate and eligible to take the examination.
D. The candidate is sent notice of eligibility for the examination with specific time and site information.
E. The candidate presents additional means of identification to the proctors at the examination site.
F. Completed examinations are processed by the ALTA Registration Examination Committee. The candidate will be informed in writing of the results of his/her examination.
G. If the candidate passes the examination, his/her candidacy will be presented to the Academic Language Therapy Association Membership Committee. Upon final approval, the candidate will be sent confirmation of eligibility for ALTA membership. When the Membership Committee receives the applicant’s ALTA credentialing fee, notification of membership and a registration certificate will be sent to the applicant.