Accent Reduction Certification

ARTA Certification FAQs

Certification: General Questions

What will certification and membership cost?
Self-Paced Training Course: varies, depending on where and how long you complete it.

No, they will be due over the course of time. It will depend on how you pace yourself. The first fee at the start of phase one. The Assessment, LMS and Observation fees are due at the end of phase two, and the Reporting and Coaching fee is due during phase three.  The semi-annual membership dues will occur while working towards your completion of all three phases.

Does the certification program have a time limit?

Yes. You must complete Level 1 Level 2 within 3 months of taking your Self-Paced Training Course. For example, if an individual finishes the Self-Paced Training Course in January 1, 2023, they will need to upgrade to their Level 2 by April 1, 2024.

Separately, you have 90 days to complete live sessions of coaching training in Level 3-4.

How long will the certification process take?

Time varies, depending on how much time you have and how much training you’ve had. Many people complete the certification process within 6 months after completing the Self-Paced Training Course.

I have prior education/experience in accent reduction training. Is there a fast track to certification for me?

We are thrilled to have people pursue certification who have prior education and experience in training, as well as those with no prior education and experience. However, our certification standards require that each applicant must complete all three phases of the ARTA Certification process. Additionally, the Self-Paced Training Course required for ARTA certification must be completed through an ARTA Certified Training Center or other ARTA Certified Training source.

 *If you have taken training through one of our Training Centers (please see list here) in the past, please email [email protected]. We can help clarify how that specific training fits into the certification process.

Can I become certified if my corporation has a corporate trainer?

The corporate sponsor is indispensable in the training and development of accent reduction. We believe our trainers must pursue the closest possible connection to their organization for accountability and financial support. In light of the importance of financial oversight, we require our trainers to serve under a program manager qualified leadership during their training. At ARTA, we hold a view, recognizing that while corporate trainers  may aid the trainer in a myriad of ways, ARTA requires that a supervisor/manager meet specific qualifications. Because of these beliefs, both of which are reflected in our guiding documents, we cannot certify an individual who has joined certification with an organization that has the role or title of corporate trainer, regardless of their oversight responsibilities.

Can I become certified if I am a Corporate Coach (CC)?

As state governments continue to encroach upon the rights of individuals and groups, ARTA recognizes that this is particularly noticeable within the approval and accreditation of government vendors. As trainers, we affirm that it is inconsistent to withhold diverse morality and mandates in training and consulting, in deference to state statutes and codes of ethics which regulate ethical principles and truths. With these concerns in mind, ARTA welcomes those currently holding state licensure for professional speech therapy to engage in our Phase 1 training, to further discern the segmental and prosodic underpinnings that distinguish ARTA accent reduction from other approaches. Since training is fundamentally phonetic in nature, ARTA reserves the right not to approve current Licensed Speech Professionals, Licensed Educators, or those holding equitable licenses for coaching services, from continuing the certification process due to the growing ethical and moral restrictions placed upon state licensed practitioners. However, those who have completed Phase 1 and wish to continue in progression with ARTA certification may make an appeal for consideration with the ARTA Membership Services department.

Can I share content that I purchased on the ARTA Store with others?

You may share purchased ARTA Store content with family members, clients, and groups in your organization or school for educational purposes. If you share the material with others, they are not permitted to share the material again (e.g. if you share the material with your colleague, he is not permitted to share the material with his clients without first purchasing it himself). 

Watching the Self-Paced Training Course via a purchased audio or video recording will not count toward certification. If you show the material in a organization or school setting, you are required to make a verbal or written statement to those watching the training that it will not lead to certification. 

ARTA Certification Process

Phase 1: General

Why am I getting an error message that says “Invalid entry” when I try to complete the Contact Details section in the certification dashboard?

That particular error message “Invalid entry,” means that you have entered text in a box that requires a number only. You might look back through the pages and be sure that you do not have anything like that. The most common error is in the Education page for the Graduation Year, but it could be others as well.

Phase 1: Self-Paced

What if I watched videos that someone else shared with me? Do they count toward the Self-Paced requirement?

Watching the Self-Paced Training Course via a purchased audio or video recording will not count toward certification. If you show the material in an organization or school setting, you are required to make a verbal or written statement to those watching the training that it will not lead to certification. 

Why am I getting an error when I try to submit my Self-Paced information in the certification dashboard?

There are a few reasons why it might not be working:

1. if there are any required fields not completed

2. if the wrong kind of information is entered into a field (i.e. text in a field that requires only a number such as the Year Completed box)

3. by clicking the close button or off of the screen without hitting save/next/continue

4. it could be slow to respond when you click on the button (you will need to wait and let it reload before clicking again or navigating away from the page)

5. not using the Google Chrome browser (Safari, IE, and others do not seem to work as well).  

6. It might also be helpful to log out and log back in again.

If it is not one of these 6 things, then do you see any error messages pop-up? (if so, please screenshot those and send by email to [email protected]).

Phase 1: Training Observation

Is the Training Observation requirement measured as 10 hours or 10 sessions?

You must complete at least 10 sessions that add up to at least 10 hours of observed training. For example, if you observed 8 sessions that added up to 12 hours, then you are still lacking 2 more sessions to fulfill this requirement.

 What if I cannot remember specific details that are required on the Observation Log? (i.e., watched videos or did it over time)

You will need to enter each session, name of trainer, and length. There is no exception for Mp4’s or online videos.

Phase 1: Approved Reading

Can I use audio recordings to fulfill the reading requirement?

Yes, but… The reading is meant to help give you a good phonetic training and vocal pedagogical foundation, which you will also use to help you work through the exams in Phase 2. Having a digital downloaded copy that you can highlight and look up page numbers in will be helpful since you must footnote any citations you may use in your answers on the exams.

*The book for Speak With Distinction by Edith Skinner will not fulfill that requirement. That is the only exception.

Can I get a PDF copy of the ARTA Statements and Affirmations that I signed in Phase 1?

We do not have PDFs of our documents available, but you may access them on the main website under Leadership -> About Us

What if I do not fully agree with the ARTA Standards?

If you cannot in good conscience sign that you are in full agreement with the statements (that is, your pedagogy are completely in line with ARTA), then you should not pursue certification. ARTA certifies according to these Standards so that anyone who seeks out one of our trainers, knows exactly what they believe.


Phase 2: Exams

Which exam should I complete first?

We recommend completing the Level 1 Exam first, and then the Training Exam. It is wise to complete the pedagogical exam first. Good foundation leads to good training.

What will the graders be looking for on the exams?

On the foundation exam, the grader will be noting the applicant’s understanding of in line with ARTA’s Standards and his ability to communicate it clearly. On the trainer’s exam, the grader will be observing how the applicant applies the class Slides to a variety of training issues in line with ARTA’s Standards.

The instructions say that each answer must be between 1-1.5 pages, how important is that?

The graders will send back any exams for rewrites that are too short or too long based on the requirements. The goal is to be sure you are able to explain your answers well enough (at least 1 page) and yet to be able to answer them succinctly (less than 1.5). The graders have 44 – 66 pages to grade based on this range. With this in mind, it is best to stick to the instructions.

What if I disagree with a particular method? (i.e. stressing instead of intonation, head voice instead of chest voice, Phonetics instead of ConverSAID syntax, etc.)

The purpose of the exams is to be sure that the candidate truly believes and practices vocal pedagogy and training according to the Standards of Methods and Practices of ARTA. If the essay exam questions reveal a disagreement with ARTA’s standards, opportunity for growth, learning, and coming in line with these standards will be allowed though a chance for rewrite upon grading. However, if the candidate’s pedagogy differ from ARTA standards and he or she does not desire to change the positions to be in line with ARTA standards, then ARTA cannot certify that individual. Though we would encourage continued growth and training, ARTA is not able to certify anyone outside of the guiding documents.

What are the different grades for the exams?

Your exams are graded on a pass or rewrite basis. If the applicant will need to submit a rewrite our graders will give input to help deepen the candidate’s understanding of the topic. They will be available for further discussion, when necessary. The candidate will be given as many tries as needed, as long as there is evidence that he or she is working hard to continue learning and understanding.

Can I access Phase 2 ahead of time to prepare?

No, you will not be able to access Phase 2 ahead of time. Once you have reached that part of the process you will be given access to all the instructions you need, and forms for you and those who will be filling out the evaluations for you.

I received my rewrites back, but I can’t see my grader’s comments, what should I do?

It could be a couple of things. If you are looking at the files on a mobile device (phone, tablet, etc.), you will not be able to see the comments. You will need to open the files on a laptop or desktop computer in order to see the comments on the right-hand side of the exams. If you are already on a computer, it may be that you need to change your settings to see the Comments. If after trying these things you still do not see the comments, please feel free to email your grader or our office at [email protected]

I uploaded my rewrites; how do I know if they were received?

When you upload your exams into the dashboard, they are automatically uploaded in our system. You can tell if they have been uploaded from your dashboard. If you are wondering if your grader has started regrading them, then you will need to reach out to him directly. Your trainer’s information is listed on your Phase 2 dashboard.

Phase 2: Evaluations

What evaluations will be required in Phase 2?

You will be required to have 3 evaluations submitted on your behalf:

Colleague Evaluation – This is an evaluation of you from someone close to you. It can be a friend, co-worker, ministry partner, etc.

Boss/Supervisor Evaluation – This is an evaluation of you from a Boss/Supervisor of the organization where you are an employee.

Membership & Authority Letter – This is a letter from a representative of your (secretary, etc.), on letterhead and submitted digitally, showing that you are both a member in good standing and under the authority of your senior trainer.

How do I access the Evaluations in Phase 2?

You will not be able to have access to the evaluations and grader payment until you have completed and uploaded your exams. Be sure to read the Phase Overview/Instruction and watch the Phase Tutorial in each phase to make sure you know how to complete each item correctly and in the proper order. 

How do I check the status of an evaluation?

To check on the status of your evaluations, you may log in to your dashboard and check the status in the same place where you sent out the requests. If it does not show completed, that means it has not come back clear yet and you will want to follow up with the person you sent it to (may have them check junk/spam mail).  You can also resend the request from there as well, either to the same person/email address or to another person/email address.

Can I access Phase 2 ahead of time to prepare?

No, you will not be able to access Phase 2 ahead of time. Once you have reached that part of the process you will be given access to all the instructions you need, and forms for you and those who will be filling out the evaluations for you.

Phase 3

How will I connect with a training director?

Step-by-step instructions are provided in Phase 3. Working from a list of Trainers you will begin to email one at a time asking them to coach you. You will be able to reach out to them through the contact information provided. Once you have connected and communicated with your coach through the proper steps you may begin working on those hours!

How will I connect with trainees?

While we can’t give you any specifics because every context is different, we know that some have gone to some creative lengths to reach out for trainees. Some have posted on facebook that they are working on become a certified trainer and that they are offering free training to locals. Others have emailed people, some have contacted other local organizations to offer training, and surely there are many more that have tried other things. Trainers may also have other recommendations for getting trainees and will likely be your best source for ideas since they are working with you individually.

Can I complete this phase even if I am not in the United States?

Yes! You may complete this process remotely. In fact, it is usually completed remotely even for those in the United States. You will be in contact with your training director through email and possibly phone.

Can my spouse and I train together for coaching?

No. ARTA does see great wisdom in team training, but for the purpose of certification, your training director must determine that you can bear the entire load of preparing for and conducting the training session. For the training case you submit for coaching, you should be the only trainer participating in the session. You may have an individual sit in on the sessions with you to observe, but you must be leading and directing the session.

New Member/Renewals

What is required to become a new member or renew membership?

After the candidate has completed all the membership requirements the candidate must complete the final steps to become a certified member of ARTA and to renew membership semi-annually. These requirements include:

1. Signing the Membership Covenant

2. Request a Boss/Supervisor Authority Form be completed on his behalf by his boss, supervisor, or managing authority

3. Complete the Background Check Form (every 5 years)

4. Pay the current semi-annual membership dues

How do I get my membership renewal certificate?

On your Member Account page, there are two different ways that you can get your certificate. First, you may download a digital copy of your certificate at any time throughout the year by clicking on the “Generate Digital Certificate” button. This will provide you with a PDF copy for you to download/save/print, etc. Second, you may also request a physical copy to be sent to you. This option is only available during the Renewal Period (October through March). You may request the physical copy by clicking on the button, “Request Physical Certificate.” This request will be batched with other member requests at the beginning of each month and sent off to the print shop for processing and shipping. The address that your certificate will be sent to is your main account address under the “Update Contact Details” button on your account page. Please download your physical certificate. (to avoid delays in shipping from USPS delivery).

What is the Membership Renewal period? When is the deadline for renewal?

Each year, the renewal period for membership opens up after the ARTA Annual Webinar which always takes place on the first Wednesday of October. After the webinar, you will then see the Membership Renewal section open up under your Member Account page. The deadline to complete all of the renewal steps is December 31. Beginning January 1st and until March 12th, you may complete the renewal process with an additional $75 Late Fee automatically applied.  After March 12th, any Member who has not completed the renewal process by the deadline automatically gets switched from Current to Expired member and will not be a Certified ARTA Trainer for that year.

What if I do not renew my membership by the deadline?

The status of any Member who has not completed the renewal process by the deadline automatically gets switched from Current to Expired member and will not be a Certified ARTA Trainer for that year. See the “Expired Member/Reinstatement” section below for questions about the reinstatement process.

Where can I purchase ARTA logo apparel?

You may click the following link to order ARTA logo apparel: ARTA Apparel


Certified Membership

How do I change/update my details on the Find a Trainer Directory?

In order to make yourself visible on the directory, and to choose what information you provide on the directory, you can log into your member account, click on the “Directory/Map Details” button and enter the information there. Changes to this information may take up to 24 hours to change on the Find-A-Trainer map.

What are the membership levels?

After you complete the certification process, you will become a certified ARTA Trainer and can renew your membership semi-annually.

Level 1 – completed the certification process

Level 2 – Level 1 members who “have a Bachelor’s degree” and “hold training in a separate office address outside of the home address.”

Licensee – Level 2 members who have completed and passed Licensee applications, exam process, and coaching. For more information on becoming a Licensee, click here.

What are the benefits of being a Certified ARTA Member?

• Training under key leaders in accent reduction
• Accountability for accent reduction training
• Endorsement from the largest accent reduction association in the world
• Recommendation on our Find a Trainer on-line map
• Networking with like-minded accent reduction trainers
• Exclusive invites to our Live training webinars
• Discounts on registration for ARTA events 
• Free Members Resources online through your Member Account

Where can I purchase ARTA logo apparel?

You may click the following link to order ARTA logo apparel: ARTA Apparel


Expired Member/Reinstatement

How do I go about reinstating my membership?

Once you are ready to complete the membership steps (same as New member and Renewal), you can follow the Membership Reinstatement process on your Member Account page on the website. If you have been expired for less than two years, the process will be quicker, but if you have not been a member for two years or more, then your reinstatement request will be submitted to the Board of Directors for a vote at their next scheduled quarterly meeting before being able to complete the rest of the reinstatement process and become a current member again.