ADA Accreditation

ADA Accreditation applies to dyslexia specialist certification programs — the professional courses that train teachers, tutors, and specialists to work with learners who have dyslexia or dyscalculia. Accreditation by the American Dyslexia Association signifies that such a program meets rigorous standards in research-based content, practical applicability, and professional ethics. For educators and families it shows what a certificate is actually worth; for the organizations that run these courses it defines the standard they are measured against.

On this page

1 Why It Matters 2 What We Look For 3 The Accredited Program 4 How to Apply 5 Step 1 Application
1 Recognition

Why ADA Accreditation Matters

ADA-accredited programs are built on a foundation of quality, consistency, and practical relevance. Accreditation tells educators, schools, and families that a program has been reviewed against a shared standard rather than marketed against one.

Instruction aligned with current scientific understanding of dyslexia

Practical tools that can be applied immediately in real educational settings

A consistent framework based on the cognitive foundations of attention and of reading, spelling, writing, and/or calculating

A trusted and internationally recognized credential

A professional pathway aligned with the ADA’s mission to support individuals with dyslexia

2 Standards

What We Look For

Four qualities carry the most weight in an accreditation review. They describe what a graduate of the program should actually be able to do.

A Standardized Assessment

A research-supported screening instrument that helps identify dyslexia-related challenges with clarity and consistency, so that support begins from evidence rather than guesswork.

A Structured Method

A coherent approach to the foundational skills behind literacy: attention, visual perception, auditory processing, and spatial orientation.

Immediate Practical Application

Methods and exercises an educator can start using right away with learners of all ages, not theory that waits for a later course.

International Recognition

A credential that is respected and accepted worldwide through ADA partnerships across 65+ countries.

3 Currently Accredited

The Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program

An internationally recognized professional training for educators, specialists, and tutors who want to make a meaningful and immediate difference in the lives of learners with dyslexia.

This updated and expanded program reflects decades of research, practical experience, and global collaboration, bringing together the proven strengths of the AFS-Method, the standardized AFS-Dyslexia Test, and the pedagogical expertise of the Dyslexia Research Center USA and its partners.

Who Should Enroll

Classroom teachers, special education professionals, learning specialists, tutors and educational therapists, psychologists and school counselors, and homeschool educators.

Free Preview Lesson

The first lesson is available at no cost. Educators consistently report that Lesson 1 alone gives them insights they can begin using immediately. See it at dyslexiacertificate.com.

4 For Program Providers

How to Apply for ADA Accreditation

Accreditation is open to organizations that run a dyslexia specialist certification program. The process begins with Step 1, an initial inquiry and preliminary curriculum review. Step 1 allows the ADA to determine whether a program is eligible to proceed to a full accreditation review.

Submission of an application does not guarantee accreditation and does not imply approval.

Your Organization

Legal name, address, country or state of registration, website, and a primary contact person.

Your Program

Name, delivery format (online, in person, or hybrid), typical duration, and the languages of instruction.

Curriculum Overview

A brief description of up to 500 words: educational goals and target audience, structure, and the intended professional outcomes for graduates.

Required Documents

Detailed curriculum outline, lesson objectives and learning outcomes, assessment and examination methods, instructor qualifications, and a program structure and duration overview.

Before You Submit

Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Programs delivered in languages other than English may be submitted, but all curriculum materials, assessments, and supporting documentation must be provided in English for the purpose of the accreditation review.

What Happens Next

After submission and payment of the review fee, the ADA conducts a preliminary curriculum review. Applicants are notified in writing whether they are approved to proceed to Step 2, the full accreditation review. Approval to proceed does not itself constitute accreditation.

5 The Form

Step 1 Application

Download the application form, complete every section, and return it with the required documents to Office@American-Dyslexia-Association.org.

ADA Accreditation, Step 1 Application Form

Initial Inquiry and Preliminary Curriculum Review. PDF, 5 pages.

Download the Application Form

Review Fee

The Step 1 initial inquiry and preliminary review fee is USD 2,000, non-refundable. The fee covers administrative and expert review costs, and payment is required before the review begins.

Terms and Conditions

By submitting an application, the applicant organization acknowledges and agrees to the following:

  • No guarantee of accreditation. Submission does not imply approval or guarantee accreditation at any stage.
  • Non-refundable fees. All accreditation-related fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the accreditation process.
  • ADA discretion. The ADA retains sole discretion to approve, deny, defer, or discontinue the accreditation process at any time.
  • Scope of Step 1. Step 1 is a preliminary review only. Approval to proceed does not constitute accreditation.
  • Confidentiality. All submitted materials are treated confidentially and used solely for accreditation review purposes.
  • Accuracy of information. The applicant certifies that all information submitted is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.

Questions about accreditation?

The American Dyslexia Association Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Osprey, Florida. We are glad to answer questions about the accreditation process before you apply.

Contact Us The AFS-Method