MLTI-NM offers two levels of certification through the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTAread.org):
- The Teaching Level
- The Therapy Level
Both levels begin with an intensive 10-day summer program via Zoom. The summer course is typically in early June.
Teaching Level: Graduates of this one-year course (summer and two semesters) will have demonstrated an understanding of the structure of the English language, the principles and practice of multisensory teaching, and will have demonstrated competence in teaching Sounds In Syllables to students with dyslexia and related challenges. MLTI-NM will certify these graduates at the Teaching Level. They are then eligible to take the ALTA exam and become a Certified Academic Language Practitioner.
Minimum Requirements
- 120 hours of classroom instruction from MLTI-NM instructors
- 60 lessons of at least 45 minutes each, over a minimum of 9 months teaching one or more dyslexic students
- At least 5 observations of the trainee teaching (filmed lessons) with written feedback
- Pre/post testing, initial and final reports written on all students
- Assignments, monthly quizzes, and exit exam.
Therapy Level: This two-year course of study is for the professional preparation of Dyslexia Therapists and their ultimate registration, through a national exam, as a Certified Academic Language Therapist, or CALT. Trainees at this level must hold a Master’s Degree before becoming certified by MLTI-NM.
CALTs are specially trained to treat children and adults with written language learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, developmental reading disorder, and other related learning problems. Training goes beyond the teaching level course and includes a second year of academic instruction, clinical training, and clinical supervision.
The work and hours completed in the Teaching Level are included in the Therapy Level.
Minimum Requirements
- 200 hours of classroom instruction
- 700 hours of supervised clinical teaching
- 3 therapy situations, including advanced levels of instruction
- 10 observations with consultation and/or written feedback
- Pre/post testing, initial, annual, and exit reports on all students
- Demonstrated production of sounds and therapy level clinical skills
- Assignments that include a written paper, book reviews, research studies, quizzes, an exit exam, and a case study of the trainee’s primary demonstration student.
Dyslexia Therapist Certificate: Upon successful completion of all requirements, the trainee will be given a Dyslexia Therapist Certificate by MLTI-NM. That person is then eligible to sit for the therapy level exam administered by the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTAread.org). Those passing the exam may join ALTA and become nationally registered as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT).
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