Frequently Asked Questions

International Tutor Program Certification (ITPC)

1. How do I get my tutor program certified?

Follow the submission instructions for new applications. Two reviewers will assess your materials and provide feedback. CRLA provides certification training and guidelines at its annual fall conference and at some of its other CRLA local/regional conferences.

2. I am starting a new tutor program at my school. How do I start?

Read through the tutor program certification application to determine what constitutes a strong program. Here are other suggestions: order the newly revised CRLA Tutor Training Handbook from the CRLA website, talk with directors of certified tutor programs in your area, look at the new application submission process, and consult one of the many tutor training books mentioned in A Selected Bibliography for Tutor Training and Supervision.

3. What is the usual turn around time for the reviewers to respond to a certification packet once it is received?

The new online process should streamline review time for certification packets provided the infomation provided is well-organized and complete. Turn around time for is expected to be within one month.

4. When should I apply for certification?

We accept applications at any time of the year. We strongly suggest that the program have a track record before an application is submitted. That experience will make it easier to describe how the training is conducted rather than how it may be conducted in the future.

5. Can I use a purchase order or charge card?

CRLA is not equipped to accept Purchase Orders. At this time it does not accept charge cards. School or personal checks are accepted. A receipt will be sent upon request.

6. How long is the certification valid?

Your original certification is valid for one year and can be renewed for three years.

You can then apply for re-certification which will be valid for five years and apply for re-certification every five years after that to maintain your program's certification.

7. How do I renew or re-certify my tutor program certification?

For new programs on a 1 year certification, will receive a reminder three months prior to complete the simple online renewal update form.

For programs on the 3-year renewal or on a 5-year re-certification, six months prior to expiration of certification, ITPC will mail a re-certification reminder.  All forms for recertifying programs are located on the website.

8. Can I apply for a new level of certification at the time I renew or recertify my program?

No, to gain certification for a new level you must send in a new application to be evaluated (following all the guidelines for a new application), but you can send in the new application at the same time as your recertification so that you will only pay for 2 levels at once.

Example: If you send in one level for recertification and one new level application at the same time you will pay $150 for 2 levels. If you send in your one level recertification ($100) and later send in your new level application($100) you will pay $200 rather than the $150.

9. Can I modify the sample certification sent to me for my tutors?

Yes, we will send you a certificate in powerpoint which will be ready for you to type in the name of your institution, program, and program director/coordinator. In addition you can choose to modify the certificate template to include your school logo, center logo, or school or center colors.

10. Can an institution be certified under one application for tutoring and mentoring or is it two separate entities?

You will need to make two separate applications. The International Tutoring Program Certification Program (ITPC) and the Internation Mentor Program Certification Program (IMPC0 are separate programs within CRLA. Just as it is possible for one institution to have more than one program each with its own certification. Some universities have had as many as four different tutor training programs certified with CRLA.

11. Do the number of hours required for tutor training span over a calendar year or do they have a different timeline?

We certify your program, and then you certify your tutors as they met the criteria set by the CRLA guidelines. We would suggest that your tutors meet the requirement of training within a semester or a year, depending on your program and the guidelines you set.

12. If our program is approved, will the training and tutoring experience that the tutors received earlier in the year count towards certification?

Yes, it can be. CRLA considers the certification to be able to be retroactive for up to a year from the date of approval as many of the programs start planning and preparing for certification with a program already in place..

13. Our tutors do self-paced exercises for part of their training. Is this all right?

This is fine as long as the tutors do no more than 40% of the total training time as individualized training for Level 1. The rationale is that this is an interactive job, so the training should also be interactive. We recommend that you provide general training of the group before classes start or at the beginning of the semester to cover this requirement and then allow your tutors to complete their training using individualized training modules (whether on computer or alone with videos) during the semester.

14. I'm a student and I want to become CRLA certified.

CRLA certifies programs, not individual tutors. In other words, CRLA certifies that a particular tutor training program is qualified to issue CRLA certificates to individual tutors at a certain level. The responsibility for tracking an individual tutor's training and tutoring hours and issuing certificates when a tutor qualifies lies with the tutoring program certified. Each institution must keep a record for each of its certified tutors that is subject to review by CRLA if the need arises.

If you are seeking certification as a professional tutor, please contact the Association for the Tutoring Profession, for more information on tutor certification.

We encourage your comments, email the webmaster, Corrine Johnson.
Last updated July 04, 2008