Become a Certified Academic Language Therapist.
A graduate program for educators ready to lead in dyslexia intervention — built on the Science of Reading, centered on the Take Flight curriculum, and delivered with a Christ-centered purpose through Lipscomb University's College of Education.
Program Overview
A clinical path into literacy leadership
Offered in exclusive partnership with the Hoover Learning Group, this program blends advanced coursework with immersive clinical training for graduate-level educators who want to become true literacy leaders and expert interventionists.
The curriculum is grounded in the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy principles and centers on the highly acclaimed Take Flight dyslexia intervention. The need for skilled dyslexia therapists is critical, across Tennessee and nationwide — this program prepares candidates to meet it with dignity and purpose.
If you're a graduate learner seeking advanced knowledge of dyslexia characteristics across the lifespan, and you want to master evidence-based intervention and earn your CALT certification, this program is built for you.
Who Should Apply
The program prepares future therapists, literacy scholars, and leaders with a Christ-centered mindset to serve those with reading challenges purposefully.
RTI specialists
Special Education Teachers
Instructional Coaches
Reading Specialists
Literacy-focused classroom teachers
Educational leaders supporting readers
Program Outcomes
What you'll be able to do
Across a two-year sequence, you'll finish with real-world, applicable skills to lead in therapeutic settings.
Clinical & Capstone
Theory becomes practice
Two components bridge advanced coursework with real-world impact for the students you'll serve.
"Over two years, our instructors train educators in Take Flight — an accredited dyslexia intervention created through the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia — so every therapist delivers consistent, high-quality instruction."
-Natalie R. Hoover
FAQs
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The program runs on a two-year sequence, with in-person coursework each summer and online coursework in the fall and spring semesters in between.
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No. A CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist) credential isn't required to apply — the program is designed to prepare you for that certification. If you already hold one, upload it with your application so we can factor any prior CALT credits into your plan of study.
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Both. The program follows a hybrid format: in-person classes in the summer, and online classes in the fall and spring.
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You'll complete a supervised clinical experience working directly with students navigating dyslexia or reading difficulties — delivering structured literacy lessons, analyzing assessment data, and receiving coaching and feedback from qualified supervisors.
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Reading specialists, special education teachers, instructional coaches, RTI specialists, classroom teachers passionate about literacy, and educational leaders supporting struggling readers.
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Lipscomb's Graduate Financial Aid office can walk you through payment options, aid types, and additional resources for graduate students
Ready to become a literacy leader?
Review the graduate application timeline, gather your transcripts, and start your Dyslexia Therapy application with Lipscomb's College of Education and the Hoover Learning Group.