Dozens of private organizations offer tutoring certifications for individuals and organizations. Often, a private company will require a process of certification before employment. Some national organizations offer tutoring certifications that are widely recognized. The American Tutoring Association and National Tutoring Association have certification programs for individual tutors who are willing and able to complete the application process. For older tutors, the College Reading and Learning Association offers certification for college tutoring programs.
Certification programs for individuals often require an applicant meet basic standards, such as a college degree or some years of experience. Some certification programs may require references, a resume or other application materials. Most tutor certification programs perform a criminal background check. For program certification or for higher levels of individual certification, tutors may be required to attend tutor training, complete online workshops or pass tests in the subject to be tutored.
Certification affirms to employers and parents that a tutor is safe, experienced and educated. Training and informational workshops help tutors improve their skills, avoid potential problems and learn how to behave professionally. A certified tutor often commands a higher fee or may work for a more prestigious tutoring company. Individuals may list tutoring certifications on their resumes, while tutoring organizations can point to a program certification as a mark of quality.
Tutor certification is a costly process to individuals and organizations. Most certifying associations require a yearly fee to maintain current certification. Fees cover initial application processing, background checks and annual reassessment. Certification may also require a significant time commitment to training and testing. Research any tutor certification organization thoroughly before beginning the application process. Assess all one-time and ongoing fees and weigh them against the possible benefits of the certification. Once you have an established clientele, it may be costly and unnecessary to maintain a current tutoring certification.