Become a CALP, CALT, or QI

The Region 8 ESC Dyslexia Training Program is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC), meets the requirements for Texas licensure, and meets the criteria for membership in the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).

DEGREE REQUIREMENT

Completion of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required to start the training program. A Master’s degree from an accredited university is required before eligibility to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level in order to be conferred as a Certified Academic Language Therapist.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING

Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)

Graduates of the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program with a Master’s degree from an accredited university are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level to become Certified Academic Language Therapists. Graduates have up to five (5) years upon completion of Dyslexia Therapist Training to take the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level.

Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate

Graduates of the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate. Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidates have up to five (5) years upon completion of Dyslexia Therapist Training to obtain a Master’s degree from an accredited university. If a Master’s degree is not obtained within the allotted time, individuals will become Certified Academic Language Practitioners (CALP).

Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT)

Certified Academic Language Therapists in good standing may be eligible to apply to become Licensed Dyslexia Therapists, as defined by Texas HB 461. For more information, visit the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.

GRADUATE-LEVEL CREDIT

Graduates may receive up to fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level credit toward a Master of Education degree in Special Education with a Dyslexia Emphasis, with an optional Educational Diagnostician Certification through Midwestern State University (MSU) Texas https://msutexas.edu/ (online program).  For more information, please contact:

Ms. April Crutcher,  Special Education Program Coordinator april.crutcher@msutexas.edu (940) 397-4816 

Dr. Kym Acuna, Graduate Department Chair kym.acuna@msutexas.edu  (940) 397-6220

 Dr. Edward Schulz, Professor and teaches several of the required courses. edward.schultz@msutexas.edu (940) 923-6128 

GRADUATE-LEVEL CLINICAL TRAINING AND SUPERVISED INSTRUCTION IN:

• Oral and written language development

• Knowledge of structural linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, alphabetic principle, syllabification, orthography, etc.

• Knowledge of dyslexia and related disorders

• Diagnostic, prescriptive, multimodal, structured language education approach to teach reading, fluency, comprehension, spelling, and written expression

• Knowledge of psychoeducational tests and interpretation of report data

• Administration of informal assessment tools

• Federal and state laws guiding professional conduct and advocacy for students

• Ethical standards of the profession

• Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, a multimodal, structured approach to teaching developed by Scottish Rite for Children

• Classroom strategies and techniques used for students with dyslexia

• Effective communication strategies with students, parents, colleagues, etc.

• How to conduct parent and teacher information seminars

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS 

• 1st Year—Introductory Training Course
  Cost includes professional development and an introductory materials kit.

  • Introductory Summer Course—Two (2) weeks

  • Four (4) Introductory Seminars throughout the school year

  • Attend one (1) approved dyslexia-related conference

  • Submit five (5) recorded introductory demonstration lessons

  • Teach three (3) groups using the Take Flight curriculum

• 2nd Year—Advanced Training Course
  Cost includes professional development and an advanced materials kit.

  • Advanced Summer Course—One (1) week

  • Four (4) Advanced Seminars throughout the school year

  • Attend one (1) approved dyslexia-related conference

  • Submit five (5) recorded advanced demonstration lessons

  • Continue teaching three (3) groups using the Take Flight curriculum