One of the primary ways the Academy pursues its mission is by a Certification Program of individuals who apply for Academy membership. An applicant submits specified credentials and documentation that are reviewed against the criteria and standards set by the Academy for four different levels of membership.

Academy certifies Individual Members at one of three levels: Associate, Certified, and Fellow. These three levels represent a continuum of increasing training, experience and professional competency. In addition, there is a Subscriber level of membership for persons who have taken a basic introduction to the Orton-Gillingham Approach but who have yet to undertake training and practice required to become a member of the Academy. The Academy also has Institutional Members whose Orton-Gillingham instructional programs have been accredited by the Academy. (See Accreditation Program) For further information, please visit our section on Training Programs and Courses.

BEFORE APPLYING

Persons contemplating application should begin by reading NOTICE TO APPLICANT and then by proceeding to the appropriate membership level.

Please note that the documentation called for in these application forms relies heavily upon training provided by Fellows of the Academy.

Applications for membership at the Associate, Certified, and Fellow levels are reviewed twice a year.

Learn more about the required and recommended reading for applicants.

Fully completed applications and required Letters of Support received by the Academy office no later than January 10 will be considered in the first review cycle; those received no later than June 20 will be considered in the second review cycle.

All Application forms by the Academy are available in PDF form and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Associate Level members have met the following requirements:

Bachelor's degree

Orton-Gillingham coursework totaling a minimum of 60 hours

Orton-Gillingham supervised practicum experience, teaching one-to-one, totaling 100 hours over a minimum period of eight months to one year

10 entire 40-60 minute lesson observations by a Fellow (on-site or video and if videoed, unedited)

Evidence of completion of Academy-required readings at the Associate Level

Associate Level members may tutor individuals using the Orton-Gillingham Approach while continuing to work with supervision by a Fellow.

Persons contemplating application should begin by reading NOTICE TO APPLICANT and then by proceeding to download the appropriate membership documents.

Download all the forms required for Academy membership at the Associate Level.

This includes an Application form, the forms required for two Letters of Support and the required Check List.

Certified Level members have completed all the requirements for Associate Level. The Certified Level member has also fulfilled the following:

An additional 100 additional hours of Orton-Gillingham coursework (for a total of 160 hours)

An additional 200 hours of Orton-Gillingham supervised practicum experience (for a total of 300 hours) over a two year period

10 entire 40-60 minute lesson observations by a Fellow in addition to those in the Associate Level for a total of 20

Evidence of completion of Academy- required readings at the Certified Level

Certified Level members are qualified to tutor individuals and teach small groups using the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

Persons contemplating application should begin by reading NOTICE TO APPLICANT and then by proceeding to download the appropriate membership documents.

Download all the forms required for Academy membership at the Certified Level.

This includes an Application form, the forms required for two Letters of Support and the required Check List.

Fellow Level members have completed all the requirements stipulated for the Certified Level. Fellow Level members have also fulfilled the following:

Master's degree or the equivalent; an additional 90 hours of coursework (for a total of 250 hours)

An additional 300 hours of Orton-Gillingham supervised practicum experience (for a total of 600 hours) with a minimum of six years as a practitioner

Documentation of observations while teaching coursework to practitioners at the Associate and Certified Levels and while supervising such practitioners

Evidence of completion of Academy-required-readings at the Fellow Level and evidence of continuing professional development

Fellows are qualified to train and supervise others in the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

Persons contemplating application should begin by reading NOTICE TO APPLICANT and then by proceeding to download the appropriate membership documents.

Download all the forms required for Academy membership at the Fellow Level.

This includes an Application form, the forms required for two Letters of Support and the required Check List.

Subscriber Level members have completed, as a minimum, one of the Academy's Subscriber courses:

10 hour Online Subscriber Course developed by the Academy

Subscriber course offered by team of Academy Fellows at International Dyslexia Association conferences

Subscriber courses offered by Academy Fellows around the country

A Subscriber course provides an initial overview of the nature of dyslexia and of the principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach. Also eligible to become Subscriber members are persons who have taken or may be taking Orton-Gillingham training from an Academy Fellow that exceeds this minimum. The Subscriber member is not a practicing professional of the Orton-Gillingham Approach. One must complete the initial coursework and practicum requirements set by the Academy at the Associate level of membership to practice using the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

 

Persons contemplating application should begin by reading NOTICE TO APPLICANT and then by proceeding to download the appropriate membership documents.

Download application form the Subscriber Level.

This includes an Application form.

ONLINE Subscriber course

Learn more about the Online Subscriber Course.