The TLA Network offers a Certification in Transformative Language Arts Foundations. This certification is an introduction to TLA in theory and practice with opportunities for reflecting and acting on ethical work and sound facilitation, community networking, and TLA in action. 

Benefits

• TLA in Theory & Practice: Learn about Transformative Language Arts in the world, and how it relates to your community, livelihood, and passions
• Ethics and Values: Through the “TLA Foundations” online class, explore the ethical dimensions of the work, study, activism, and/or art that calls to you, and how you can practice TLA according to your values.
• TLA in Action: Through writing and/or facilitation related to TLA, you learn more about embodied and enacted TLA.
• Community & Networking: By attending a Power of Words conference, or participating in two online classes, you find community, opportunities, connections, and greater knowledge of TLA’s place in your world.
• Introduction to Right Livelihood: Throughout many aspects of this certification, you’ll discover more about how to enhance your own right livelihood (making a living through good work that helps others, and fulfills your calling). We often offer online workshops that enhance livelihood, as well.

Requirements

If interested, please submit a short application.  Once approved, you have two years to complete these requirements. NOTE: these requirements apply to anyone accepted into this certification after 1/9/20. People previously accepted and in process are grandmothered into older requirements (two instead of three required classes and other minor changes):

1. Successfully complete three online classes*: the TLA Foundations online class (“Changing the World with Words: Foundations of TLA”) and two other online classes (or several shorter classes) adding up to at least eighteen weeks. (You can count up to six weeks of classes taken within one year of applying for certification.)
2. Attend one conference or take additional (to requirement #1) online classes, adding up to at least twelve weeks (our on-line classes range from 1 week to 6 weeks long). (You can count a conference you attended within two years of beginning certification.)
   
3. Write at least five blog posts relating to TLA for the TLA Blog (see guidelines here) OR facilitate a workshop in your community at least two hours in length. In some cases cleared with the certification committee, you may facilitate a shorter workshop and write one or two blog posts.
4. Membership current in the TLA Network.
5. Complete a short self-evaluation that includes short discussion of your background, goals, and your vision of TLA in your life and the world. 
6. One-time $75 administrative fee. Within a few months after acceptance, fill out a certification plan, including which options you’ll be pursuing. (Note: Fee covers processing your application and is non-refundable).
   

*Successful completion entails finishing at least 80% of all assignments, which include posting responses to exercises, questions, and each week, responses to at least three peers’ posts.

Once you complete the requirements, you will receive a certificate, verifying that you have completed the TLA Foundations certification. 

Caveat: This certification is an introduction to TLA in theory and practice. It does not qualify people who complete the certification in any way except as someone who has studied TLA, reflected deeply on TLA in theory and practice, and participated fully in TLA-related projects, events and/or publications. 

Who Would Benefit From This Certification?

• Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychoanalysts, Pastoral Counselors and other health professionals who wish to bring TLA practices into their counseling practices

• Teachers in language arts and related fields who want to help their students find more of their voices and visions through TLA

• Community workshop facilitators, visiting artists, and artists-in-residence who want to enhance their facilitation of writing, songwriting, expressive arts, drama therapy and community theater, collaborative arts, storytelling, and integrated arts

• Writers, storytellers, musicians, artists, activists, community leaders, performers and others who are ready to discover ways to interface their art with their community