Who may apply for trainer certification?
Trainer certification candidates are individuals endorsed by a local or state-level adult education or literacy organization. Once ProLiteracy receives an organizational endorsement, the trainer will be notified and may begin the certification process. Click here to register a trainer for certification.

For how long am I certified?
Trainers receive certification for a four-year term. At the end of this term, they apply for recertification.

What happened to supervising trainers?
Two important goals of the revised trainer certification system are to increase accessibility to certification and to make it more relevant to people who train literacy tutors and/or instructors in a variety of contexts. To accomplish this goal, we no longer require trainers' apprenticeships with supervising trainers. As a result, the new system does not include certification for supervising trainers.

ProLiteracy America has introduced a Trainer Mentor Network that draws upon the experience, knowledge, and dedication of experienced trainers, many of whom have experience as former supervising trainers. You can access this network through the "Find a Trainer" section of this website. This feature allows new trainers to locate experienced trainers who are willing to offer guidance.

Do I have to take a training workshop?
No, trainers are not required to take any specific training workshop. Certification is based upon a trainer's demonstration of competency in content knowledge and training skills. Trainers may pursue multiple paths for developing these competencies, which may include formal learning opportunities such as courses or workshops.

I'm currently certified by ProLiteracy America. What happens to me?
As the new trainer certification system is phased in, trainers whose certification was up-to-date as of December 30, 2005, will continue to be certified by ProLiteracy America until the end of their three-year certification term. Trainers who are up-to-date with their certification meet the following three criteria:

• They actively train,
• They are approved by a local adult education or literacy organization, and
• Their ProLiteracy America individual affiliation is current. These trainers can access the online certification features by submitting a $25 processing fee. (This fee is waived if certification expires in 2006.)

I applied to be an apprentice trainer through the previous certification system. Do I need to start all over?
Apprentice trainers who have not met all certification requirements by January 1st will need an organizational endorsement to enter the new trainer certification system. Once ProLiteracy receives their endorsement and processing fee, trainers will have 18 months to complete the following certification requirements:

• Sign a trainer ethics statement
• Receive an acceptable rating on trainer observation rubric/tool Note: ProLiteracy has revised the training observation tools for use after January 1, 2006. ProLiteracy will accept the Trainer Evaluation and Summary of Tutor Evaluations (Forms 5a and 5b) after January 1, 2006 only if the evaluated training was conducted prior to January 1, 2006.
• Submit participant evaluations showing average or above average ratings for a tutor-training workshop facilitated in the last year
• Obtain a passing score on a content exam

Are certified trainers required to be ProLiteracy members?
No. Certified trainers are no longer required to maintain individual ProLiteracy America affiliations. Membership is encouraged, however, since it provides access to useful publications such as LitScape and Network News, participation in advocacy efforts, and discounts on training and conference fees.

Who is the organizational representative?
ProLiteracy America's Trainer Certification System supports the belief that local/state organization representatives have the authority and responsibility to recommend individuals for national certification or recertification.

Certification candidates must receive an endorsement from their local/state organizations in order to complete certification requirements. For the purposes of endorsement, ProLiteracy America defines an organizational representative as someone who:

• Provides leadership to the organization (e.g., executive director, board member, volunteer coordinator)
• Has knowledge of the organization's training goals, program, and/or curriculum
• Is not the trainer being endorsed

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