Become a Member/Apply For Certification Exam

The Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) is the professional credentialing organization that establishes rigorous standards,
assuring the highest quality services to those individuals with dyslexia. 

 Apply below to become a certified member at the respective level:

• Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP)
• Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
• Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner (ICALP)
• Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists and Practitioners (QI)

Additional Membership Categories

• Trainee Affiliate
• Retiree Member
• Honorary Lifetime Member 

Candidate Resources

The Candidate Handbook will provide you resources from applying to sitting for the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE at the CALT or CALP level.

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CERTIFIED ACADEMIC LANGUAGE PRACTITIONER (CALP) REQUIREMENTS:

• “Comprehensive Teacher Level Training” shall be defined as a course under the supervision of an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner (ICALP) or Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT-QI) that includes:
• Completion of comprehensive teacher level training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program that must include:
  • Minimum of 45 instructional hours,
  • Minimum of 60 clinical/ teaching hours, and
  • Minimum of 5 demonstrations. 
  • Clinical/teaching documentation must be signed by the supervising instructor with the instructor’s proof of credentials.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Acceptable performance on a teaching level comprehensive examination administered by ALTA. The Academic Language Therapy Association Competency Exam for Multisensory Structured Language Education is available to applicants, at the CALP level, with a minimum of 9 months from the beginning of training, and a maximum of 2 years from the completion of CALP training.
• Applicants who are deemed ineligible for ALTA Certification or who voluntarily withdraw their application will receive a refund of the initial application fee, less a $50 non-refundable processing fee. 
• Applicants will have 30 days from the initial application submission date to complete any required paperwork as listed above. If the applicant fails to provide the required documents within the 30 days and additional $25 processing fee for each consecutive 30 days will be applied. 

The ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE costs $150. A candidate will have up to one year to complete the exam, with an unlimited number of retakes at a fee of $150 per retake. After one year, the applicant will be required to reapply.

Current CALP dues are $75 annually.

CERTIFIED ACADEMIC LANGUAGE THERAPIST (CALT) REQUIREMENTS:

• “Comprehensive Therapy Level Training” shall be defined as a course under the supervision of a Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT-QI) that includes:
• Completion of comprehensive therapy level training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program that must include:
  • Minimum of 200 instructional hours,
  • Minimum of 700 clinical/ teaching hours, and
  • Minimum of 10 demonstrations. 
  • Clinical/teaching documentation must be signed by the supervising instructor with the instructor’s proof of credentials.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. As of May 1, 2023, a master’s degree will be required before a CALT certification is completed.
• Acceptable performance on the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE. The ALTA exam is available to applicants, at the CALT level, with a minimum of 2 years from the beginning of training, and a maximum of 5 years from the completion of CALT training.
• Applicants who are deemed ineligible for ALTA Certification or who voluntarily withdraw their application will receive a refund of the initial application fee, less a $50 non-refundable processing fee. 
• Applicants will have 30 days from the initial application submission date to complete any required paperwork as listed above. If the applicant fails to provide the required documents within the 30 days and additional $25 processing fee for each consecutive 30 days will be applied. 

The ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE costs $150. A candidate will have up to one year to complete the exam, with an unlimited number of retakes at a fee of $150 per retake. After one year, the applicant will be required to reapply.

Current CALT dues are $75 annually.

Are You Currently an ALTA Member Looking to

Become an ALTA Certified Instructor?

Trainee Affiliate

1. This level of membership shall be open to individuals who are currently attending an ALTA Pre-Approved (IMSLEC) Training Course or ALTA Instructor-Led Training Program and who have met the following requirements:
   1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
   2. Completed the Trainee Affiliate Verification Form to verify 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. 
   3. Acceptance of compliance with ALTA ethics and agreeing to represent themselves solely as trainee affiliates until successfully fulfilling the requirements and applying for CALP/CALT membership found on the application. 
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 ALTA Pre-Approved (IMSLEC) Training Course or ALTA Instructor-Led Training Program, 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 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 contact the main office for more information.

Honorary Lifetime 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.