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Association for the Coaching and Tutoring Profession

Certifications

The ACTP offers different certification pathways for tutors and coaches to assist in professional development, skill enhancement and to spur innovation in our members. 

Tutoring Certifications

Tutor and Tutor Trainer certifications provide guidelines with which to explore the philosophy and application of tutoring. The ACTP certification demonstrates that individuals have engaged in developing skills and strategies aligned with best practices. Practical tutoring and training skills, a professional practice, and knowledge of underlying theory all support facilitation of learning for students and tutors.

Coaching Certifications

Academic Coach and Peering Coaching Program Certifications provide individuals and institutions with topics and guidelines to form the foundational knowledge needed to be successful in the field. Training topics for all certifications are centered around the five core competencies of coaching: Fundementals, Screening and Orientation, Approaches for Individuals, Assessments, and Ethical and Professional practices.

Select Your Certification Interest to find out more

  • Tutor
    Certification
  • Tutor Trainer
    Certification
  •  
  • Academic Coach
    Certification
  • Peer Academic Coaching
    Program Certification

Tutor Certificates

We offer three levels of certification

Tutor certification requirements include tutor experience, training and recommendations. Tutor training topics are aligned with best practices, and include not only a focus on practical skills, but professional practice and underlying theory, which provide a basis for ongoing independent development and learning.

Level I – Apprentice Tutor requirements provide opportunities to develop an understanding of foundational principles, theories and ethics for a collaborative tutor practice, and core skills to facilitate a successful tutorial.

Level II – Advanced Tutor requirements provide opportunities for more in-depth exploration of theories and principles that can inform strategies and approaches to meet the specific needs of the tutee and promote independent learning. 

Level – III Master Tutor requirements provide opportunities for advanced understanding, and ability to apply theories, skills and knowledge in a specialized area.

Tutor Certification Requirements

Apprentice Advanced Master
Hours of Training 10 20 30
Experience Hours 25 50 75
Recommendations 1 1 2
Membership Required Required Required
Certification Fee $20 $30 $40

Qualifying Activities and Documentation

Training
or
CEUs

Attendance/completion certificates, transcript, or other documentation of content and hours for courses, trainings, seminars, webinars, workshops or ACTP Annual Conference session attendance.

Tutoring Experience

Tutor logs, center scheduling reports, or other documentation of hours for individual, group or synchronous online tutoring, or in-class tutoring assistance

Recommendations

A letter from a supervisor, trainer or coordinator who has knowledge of or has observed your tutor practice

ACTP Membership

ACTP Membership is acquired through one of two methods:

1) Attendance at the yearly conference confers membership for one year from the conference date.
2) Membership can be purchased directly through our membership page.

Certification
Fees

Fees must be paid before the application can be completed. Fee payments may be done through paypal from the certification page.

Certification Process

1

Become a Member

From our membership page. If you are already a member, login or reset your password here. (coming soon)

2

Download and review:

Tutor Certification Information & Worksheet (coming soon)

3

Gather Relevant Documentation

Please contact the Certification Chair with questions about requirements or documentation.

4

Purchase and Submit Application

Select the appropriate certification level, fill out the required information, and upload supporting documentation.

5

Application Review

Your application will be reviewed by ACTP Certification Committee members. You may be contacted to clarify information on your application or documentation. In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. The review process typically takes 3-5 weeks.

6

Receive Your Certification!

Once the review process is complete, you will receive an email communication of the committee’s decision. If approved, the email will include a digital certificate that you can print.

Training Topics

*indicates a required topic

Tutoring and the Tutor Role*

ACTP Tutor Ethics and Philosophy*

Responsibilities and Documentation

Metacognition*

Learning Preferences

Critical Thinking

Goal Setting & Planning*

Beginning & Ending Sessions*

Communicating & Active Listening*

Engaging the Learner & Checking for Understanding*

Providing Feedback*

Modeling

Resources & Referrals

Frequently Asked Questions

Continuing Education Units (CEU)

Examples of CEUs include conference workshops acquired at the ACTP annual conference, CRLA, NCLCA, NADE or other applicable conferences including state and local events. CEUs may include training or sessions attended at the home institution but must be approved by the ACTP certification committee. Please provide documentation of session attendance with certificates or copies of agendas or conference programs.

Each application will be reviewed by 3 ACTP certified Master Tutor Trainers and/or the ACTP tutor certification coordinator. 

The certification for all levels is valid for a 3-year period. During this time, individual may submit higher level certifications which will restart the 3-year timeline.

The certification process requires logging into our member area. If you need help retrieving your log in credentials, please go here.

Bulk certifications may be purchased by institutions by contacting the tutor certification chair.

Purchase memberships, pay certification fees, and fill out a single supervisor recommendation form.
With EACH of your tutors, review the certification worksheet (coming soon) and provide the tutor with supporting documentation or access to supporting documentation for training and tutoring hours.

You will be provided registration codes for each of your tutors along with instructions for beginning the submission process. Ask each of your tutors to submit their own individual application with the supporting documentation form through our certification portal (coming soon)

If you have questions about the certification process or need clarification, please contact us.

 

Alternatively, if you plan on attending our Annual ACTP Conference, there are a couple of opportunities to learn more about and assist you in the certification process. A session to learn more about requirements and documentation is always scheduled during the conference. In addition, there will be additional opportunities to consult one-on-one with a certification committee member.

Ready to Apply?

Click the button below to begin the application process today!

Open Soon
Open Soon

Tutor Certification Chair

Christine R. Andrews M.Ed

Tutor Certification Chair

Tutor Trainer Certificates

We offer two levels of certification

Tutor Trainer certification requirements include tutoring and training experiences, professional development, and recommendations (recommendation letters are not required for recertification within a year of prior certification end date). Tutor Trainer professional development topics are aligned with best practices and include not only a focus on practical skills, but professional practice and underlying theory, which provides a basis for ongoing independent development and learning.

Level I – Associate Tutor Trainer requirements provide opportunities to learn skills and knowledge that allow for the facilitation of engaging, effective training, and to effectively coordinate tutors and tutoring programs.

Level II – Master Tutor Trainer requirements provide opportunities to delve deeper, apply theory and pedagogy, develop and facilitate engaging, effective training and training programs.

Tutor Trainer Certification Requirements

Associate Master
Hours of Training
Conducted 		100 200
Hours of Tutoring
Experience 		25 50
Approved CEU's 5 8
Recommendations 2 2
ACTP Membership Required Required
Certification Fee $75 $150

Qualifying Activities and Documentation

Training Conducted

Documentation of hours of training, teaching, and/or coordinating.

Tutoring Experience

Tutor logs, center scheduling reports, or other documentation of hours for individual, group, synchronous online tutoring, or in-class tutoring assistance.

Continuing
Education
Credits

Attendance/Completion certificates, transcripts, or other documentation of content and hours for courses, trainings, seminars, webinars, workshops, or ACTP Annual Conference Session attendance

Recommendations

Letters from supervisors, colleagues, or other relevant individuals who has knowledge of, or has observed your training practice.

ACTP Membership

ACTP Membership is acquired through one of two methods:

1) Attendance at the yearly conference confers membership for one year from the conference date.
2) Membership can be purchased directly through our membership page.

Certification
Fees

Fees must be paid before the application can be completed. Fee payments may be done through paypal from the certification page.

Steps to Certification

1

Become a Member

From our membership page. If you are already a member, login or reset your password here. (coming soon)

2

Download and review:

Tutor Trainer Certification Information & Worksheet (coming soon)

3

Gather Relevant Documentation

Please contact the Certification Chair with questions about requirements or documentation.

4

Purchase and Submit Application

Select the appropriate certification level, fill out the required information, and upload supporting documentation.

5

Application Review

Your application will be reviewed by ACTP Certification Committee members. You may be contacted to clarify information on your application or documentation. In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. The review process typically takes 3-5 weeks.

6

Receive Your Certification!

Once the review process is complete, you will receive an email communication of the committee’s decision. If approved, the email will include a digital certificate that you can print.

CEU Topics

Coordinating & Supervising Tutors

Conflict Management

Operations & Documentation

The Learning Cycle

Experiential Learning

Assessment & Evaluation

Creating Training for ACTP Training Topics

Training Facilitation Skills

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Continuing Education Units (CEU)

Examples of CEUs include conference workshops acquired at the ACTP annual conference, CRLA, NCLCA, NADE or other applicable conferences including state and local events. CEUs may include training or sessions attended at the home institution but must be approved by the ACTP certification committee. Please provide documentation of session attendance with certificates or copies of agendas or conference programs.

Each application will be reviewed by 3 ACTP certified Master Tutor Trainers and/or the ACTP tutor certification coordinator. 

The certification for all levels is valid for a 3-year period. During this time, individual may submit higher level certifications which will restart the 3-year timeline.

The certification process requires logging into our member area. If you need help retrieving your log in credentials, please go here.

If you have questions about the certification process or need clarification, please contact us.

 

Alternatively, if you plan on attending our Annual ACTP Conference, there are a couple of opportunities to learn more about and assist you in the certification process. A session to learn more about requirements and documentation is always scheduled during the conference. In addition, there will be additional opportunities to consult one-on-one with a certification committee member.

Ready to Apply?

Click the button below to begin the application process today!

Open Soon
Open Soon

Tutor Certification Chair

Christine R. Andrews M.Ed.

Tutor Certification Chair

Academic Coach Certification

ACTP certifies both peer coach training programs as well as professional coaches who wish to expand expertise in academic coaching.  The certification exemplifies a higher standard among academic peer coach training programs as well as a professional coaches in higher education. Certificate completion indicates an academic coach / peer coach training program has met a level of expertise otherwise not noted.

The ACTP certification demonstrates to students, staff, faculty, parents and university officials the program/coach has:

  • Met educational and training requirements
  • Obtained experience in the field of coaching
  • Gained noteworthy training from experienced professionals
  • Accountability to an enforceable ethics code
  • Commitment to continuing education and dedication to the coaching field

Academic Coach
Certification Requirements

Associate Master
Hours of Training 16 30
Hours of Coaching
Experience 		25 50
Approved CEU's 15 21
Letters of
Recommendations 		2 2
ACTP Membership Required Required
Degree Level Bachelor's Master's
Certification Fee $150 $250

Requirement Details

Hours of
Training

Training can come from a variety of sources; coach development courses, workshops, seminars, webinars, conference sessions, coach orientation events, and Annual ACTP conference session attendance

Hours of Experience

Coaching can take a variety of forms: individual, group, or online.

Hours must be in a professional setting, logged, and signed off by a supervisor.

Supervisor Recommendations

Two letters of recommendation are required.

1) A letter from a direct supervisor.

2) An individual with first-hand knowledge or observation of your coaching in practice.

ACTP Membership

ACTP Membership is acquired through one of two methods:

1) Attendance at the yearly conference confers membership for one year from the conference date.
2) Membership can be purchased directly through our membership page.

Certification
Fees

Fees must be paid before the application can be completed. Fee payments may be done through paypal from the certification page.

Steps to Certification

1

Become a Member

From our membership page. If you are already a member, login or reset your password here (coming soon).

2

Review:

Academic Coach Certification Information & Worksheet (coming soon)

3

Gather Relevant Documentation

Please contact the Certification Chair  with questions about requirements or documentation.

4

Purchase and Submit Application

Select the appropriate certification level, fill out the required information, and upload supporting documentation.

5

Application Review

Your application will be reviewed by ACTP Certification Committee members. You may be contacted to clarify information on your application or documentation. In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. The review process typically takes 3-5 weeks.

6

Receive Your Certification!

Once the review process is complete, you will receive an email communication of the committee’s decision. If approved, the email will include a digital certificate that you can print.

Academic Coaching Competiencies

The ACTP’s Core Competencies were developed to support greater understanding about the skills and approaches used to support academic coaching and current best practices.  

These competencies and the ACTP’s definition of coaching were used as the foundation for the development of the competency grid.  The ACTP defines coaching as a working alliance with students in a manner that supports their academic and life success. The Competencies are grouped into five clusters and are weighted based on the percent of hours a certified coach requires.



Competency Definition Minimum Percentage of Total Hours
FUNDAMENTALS IN COACHING SKILLS (FCS) These coaching behaviors focus on the basic coaching alliance, helping skills, coaching plans and other essential issues concerning the coaching process 25%
SCREENING AND ORIENTATION IN COACHING (SOC) These coaching behaviors focus on motivation level, informed consent, coach/student roles, and general parameters for establishing the coaching process 15%
COACHING APPROACHES FOR INDIVIDUALS (CAI) These coaching behaviors pertain to specific skills aimed at facilitating the student’s goals for the coaching process, including monitoring progress, decision-making and use of resources 25%
ASSESSMENTS IN COACHING (AC) These coaching behaviors assess coaching goals, student strengths and personality assessment tools used to address issues within the coaching process 25%
ETHICAL and COACHING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN COACHING (ECP) These Coaching behaviors focus on codes of ethics, advocacy, continuing education and personal barriers to the coaching process. 10%

Training Topics

Minimum Hours for each section are included

What is a Coach?

Differences Between Coaching, Counseling, Tutoring, and Mentoring

Theoretical Foundations of Coaching:

     Positive Psychology

     Appreciative Inquiry

     Solutions-Focused Coaching

     Cognitive Behaviorism

     Transitions – Schlossberg’s Transition Theory

     Chickering and the 7 Vectors

Safe Environment

Stratagies in working with diverse populations

Cultural Competencies

Establishing trust and rapport

Beginning and ending a session

Appreciative Inquiry

Communication Skills; Active listening, paraphrasing and powerful questions

Motivational Interviewing

Using the Coaching agreement and establishing a coaching alliance

Agenda, goal setting and prioritization

GROW Model

Review Progress and student accountability

MBTI

Learning Styles

GRIT

Locus of Control

Motivation

Self-Efficacy

Self-Esteem

Strong Interest Inventory

Confidentiality

Code of Ethics

Documentation

Tracking

Professional development and coaches self-assessment

Student assessment of the coach

Outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

Continuing Education Units (CEU)

Examples of CEUs include conference workshops acquired at the ACTP annual conference, CRLA, NCLCA, NADE or other applicable conferences including state and local events. CEUs may include training or sessions attended at the home institution but must be approved by the ACTP certification committee. Please provide documentation of session attendance with certificates or copies of agendas or conference programs.

Each application will be reviewed by 3 ACTP Certified Master Coaches and/or the ACTP Coach Certification Chair. 

The certification for all levels is valid for a 3-year period. During this time, individual may submit higher level certifications which will restart the 3-year timeline.

The certification process requires logging into our member area. If you need help retrieving your log in credentials, please go here. (coming soon)

Bulk certifications may be be purchased by institutions by contacting the tutor certification chair.

Benefits for coaching programs that wish to certify multiple coaches simultaneously:

Purchase memberships, pay certification fees, and fill out a single supervisor recommendation form.
With EACH of your coaches, review the certification worksheet (coming soon) and provide the coach with supporting documentation or access to supporting documentation for training and coaching hours.

You will be provided registration codes for each of your tutors along with instructions for beginning the submission process. Ask each of your coaches to submit their own individual application with the supporting documentation form through our application portal (coming soon)

If you have questions about the certification process or need clarification, please contact us.

 

Alternatively, if you plan on attending our Annual ACTP Conference (hyperlink to ACTP conference page), there are a couple of opportunities to learn more about and assist you in the certification process. A session to learn more about requirements and documentation is always scheduled during the conference. In addition, there will be additional opportunities to consult one-on-one with a certification committee member.

Ready to Apply?

Click the button below to begin the application process today!

Open Soon
Open Soon

Coach Certification Chair

Jan-Profile

Jan Hoffman

Tutoring Certification Chair

Peer Academic Coach
Program Certification

Our new Peer Academic Coach Program certification is still under development. We will update this page with new information as it is available.

Required Trainings To Be Provided by the Program

Minimum Hours for each section are included

What is a Coach?

Differences Between Coaching, Counseling, Tutoring, and Mentoring

Theoretical Foundations of Coaching:

     Positive Psychology

     Appreciative Inquiry

     Solutions-Focused Coaching

     Cognitive Behaviorism

     Transitions – Schlossberg’s Transition Theory

     Chickering and the 7 Vectors

Safe Environment

Stratagies in working with diverse populations

Cultural Competencies

Establishing trust and rapport

Beginning and ending a session

Appreciative Inquiry

Communication Skills; Active listening, paraphrasing and powerful questions

Motivational Interviewing

Using the Coaching agreement and establishing a coaching alliance

Agenda, goal setting and prioritization

GROW Model

Review Progress and student accountability

MBTI

Learning Styles

GRIT

Locus of Control

Motivation

Self-Efficacy

Self-Esteem

Strong Interest Inventory

Confidentiality

Code of Ethics

Documentation

Tracking

Professional development and coaches self-assessment

Student assessment of the coach

Outcomes

Other Peer Tutor Requirements

  • 25 Total hours of experience
  • GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • At least 30 completed course credit hours
  • Two references from faculty, former supervisors, or staff

Coaching Certification Chair

Jan-Profile

Jan Hoffman

Coaching Certification Chair

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