Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program
In Partnership with Region 13 ESC

Applications for the 2027 Cohort open September 2026

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) through the Dyslexia Center of Austin’s IMSLEC-accredited Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program.

Our application process is designed to help us get to know you and ensure you have the support needed to be successful through this comprehensive, two-year graduate-level training program.


APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Complete the Application
Submit the Dyslexia Center of Austin Application.

Step 2: School Support Form (School-based Educators Only)
If you will be working in a school setting, ask your principal to complete the School Support Form.

Step 3: Submit Required Documents
Email the following to Kelly O’Mullan at kelly@dyslexiacenterofaustin.org.

  • Official college transcript (highest degree earned), sent directly from your university

  • Two professional letters of recommendation. If you work in a school setting, one letter must be from your principal.


Important Information

  • Introductory Summer Course: July 12-30, 2027

  • Training Location: Region 13 ESC, 5701 Springdale Rd., Austin, TX 78723


225+ Trained since 2014 | IMSLEC-Accredited | Take Flight Curriculum | ALTA CALT Eligibility | Texas LDT Pathway

Become a Certified Academic Language Therapist
Transform the lives of students with dyslexia through evidence- and research-based structured literacy instruction.

The Dyslexia Center of Austin’s IMSLEC-accredited Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program is a rigorous, two-year, graduate-level professional learning experience to prepare individuals to become Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT) and, for those who qualify, Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapists (LDT).

Since 2014, the Dyslexia Center of Austin has trained more than 225 educators to become dyslexia experts, equipping them with the knowledge, clinical expertise, and confidence to provide life-changing intervention for students with dyslexia.

Participants are trained using Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia (Take Flight), developed by the Scottish Rite Children. This comprehensive Tier III structured literacy intervention equips educators to teach students ages 7 and older with dyslexia using explicit, systematic, multimodal instruction grounded in the science of reading.

Why Choose Our Program?

As an International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC)-accredited program, our training:

  • Meets the highest standards for multimodal structured language education.

  • Meets the training requirements for eligibility to pursue Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)

  • Satisfies the educational requirements for Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT) licensure.

  • Combines graduate-level coursework with supervised clinical teaching, expert mentoring, and ongoing feedback from our experienced Qualified Instructors.

  • Is delivered entirely in person, providing meaningful collaboration, hands-on learning, and a supportive professional community throughout the two-year journey and beyond.


Tuition & Program Materials

Your tuition includes all professional development, Take Flight materials kits, and ongoing mentorship throughout the program.

  • Introductory Year: $3,500
    Includes the Introductory Materials Kit

  • Advanced Year: $2,000
    Includes the Advanced Materials Kit


Degree Requirement

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning the Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program.


Certification Pathways

Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)

Participants who successfully complete the Dyslexia Center of Austin’s Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program and hold a master’s degree are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam—Therapy Level to pursue certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT).

Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate (CALT-C)

Participants who successfully complete the Dyslexia Center of Austin’s Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program who hold a bachelor’s degree are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam—Therapy Level to earn the Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate (CALT-C) credentials.

CALT—Cs have five years from completing the training program to earn a master’s degree from an accredited university and transition to Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). Individuals who do not earn a Master’s degree within that timeframe will be recognized as a Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP).

Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT)

Graduates of the Dyslexia Center of Austin’s IMSLEC-accredited Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program who maintain Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) certification in good standing may be eligible for licensure as a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist under Texas House Bill 461.

As of June 17, 2026, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) requires applicants to:

For complete licensure requirements and application information, visit the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.

Graduate-Level Clinical Training

The Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program combines graduate-level coursework with supervised clinical teaching, preparing participants to become highly skilled dyslexia therapists through evidence-based structured literacy instruction. Develop your expertise in:

Language and Literacy

  • Oral and written language development

  • Structural linguistics, including phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, orthography, syllabication, and the alphabetic principle

  • Reading, spelling, written expression, fluency, and reading comprehension

Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention

  • Characteristics of dyslexia and related learning disorders

  • Diagnostic, prescriptive, multisensory Structured Literacy instruction

  • Administration of informal assessments

  • Interpretation of psychoeducational evaluation reports

Take Flight Curriculum

  • Intensive training in Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, the research- and evidence-based intervention developed by Scottish Rite for Children

Professional Practice

  • Classroom accommodations and instructional strategies for students with dyslexia

  • Effective communication with students, families, and school teams

  • Parent and educator presentations

  • Federal and state laws, advocacy, and professional ethics


TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Year 1—Introductory Training

  • Three-week Introductory Summer Course

  • Four seminars throughout the school year

  • Teach at least three Take Flight dyslexia therapy groups

  • Submit five recorded demonstration lessons

  • Attend one approved dyslexia-related conference (5-6 CE hours)

Year 2—Advanced Training

  • One-week Advanced Summer Course

  • Four seminars throughout the school year

  • Continue teaching at least three Take Flight dyslexia therapy groups

  • Submit five recorded demonstration lessons

  • Attend one approved dyslexia-related conference (5-6 CE hours)

Clinical Experience

A hallmark of the Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program is its extensive supervised clinical experience. Over the course of the two-year program, participants accumulate more than 700 hours of clinical teaching, providing dyslexia intervention to students using the Take Flight curriculum.

Throughout this experience, participants receive ongoing coaching, observation, and individualized feedback from Qualified Instructors, allowing them to refine their instructional practice and apply evidence-based structured literacy techniques in authentic teaching settings. This intensive clinical experience develops the knowledge, instructional expertise, and confidence needed to become highly skilled Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT).

Graduate-Level Credit Opportunities

The Dyslexia Center of Austin's IMSLEC-accredited Take Flight Dyslexia Therapist Training Program is recognized by partnering universities for graduate-level credit. Both current trainees and program graduates may have the opportunity to apply completed coursework toward a master's degree, subject to each university's admission and transfer credit policies.

Midwestern State University (MSU Texas)

Eligible trainees and graduates may be eligible to receive up to 15 graduate credit hours toward a Master of Education in Special Education with a Dyslexia Emphasis, with the option to pursue Educational Diagnostician Certification. To learn more about MSU Texas's online graduate programs, please contact:

April Crutcher
Special Education Program Coordinator
april.crutcher@msutexas.edu

King’s College

Eligible trainees and graduates may also be eligible to apply graduate-level credit toward a Master of Education in Reading or a Master of Education in Special Education. For more information about King's College online graduate programs, please contact:

Judie Burridge
Graduate Admission Counselor
judieburridge@kings.edu

Graduate credit is awarded at the discretion of each university and is subject to the institution's admission, transfer credit, and degree requirements.