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, community networking, and TLA in action. To learn more, read our answers to common questions about the certification here, and also learn about how a partnership with Goddard College benefits people who receive the certification.

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 publishing in Chrysalis: A Journal of TLA or the TLA Blog, you gain experience and knowledge of TLA in action.
• 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, and now offer the Right Livelihood Professional Training.
  

Read more in this TLA Network blog post.

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”), one of "The Art of Facilitation" classes ("Roots and  Blossoms" or "Facilitating Community and Change"), and another online class (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 have something you wrote published in or serve for a year on the editorial collection of Chrysalis: A Journal of Transformative Language Arts, OR facilitate a workshop in your community at least two hours in length and document it here. 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. More information in this blog post.

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. During the “Changing the World with Words” class, participants do learn about other organizations and institutions that offer certification in such things as facilitation, poetry therapy, drama therapy, etc.