How to become a dyslexia assessor

Become a full dyslexia assessor and become eligible to apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC)

SpLD Assessment is a highly regulated area which is currently governed by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC).

The Department for Education (DfE) requires that specialist teachers or support tutors who undertake specialist assessments are competent and qualified to do so.

Watch our short video ‘How to Become a Dyslexia Assessor: A simple guide’.

Changes to legislation in 2019 mean that any diagnostic report written at any time by an APC holder can be used to apply for DSA. This means that reports now have a longer lifespan and those commissioning a report may expect to use this report over a longer period and for several purposes. Details can be found on the SASC website.

Dyslexia Action and Real Training offer the following courses/pathways you can follow to enable you to become a full assessor and eligible to apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).

Please note the following important information:

You should already be qualified as a Specialist SpLD teacher/practitioner BEFORE you can carry out training to become a specialist assessor. In the pathway you can opt to study either the Dyslexia Action Level 5 Diploma route or the Level 7 Certificate route. You do not have to complete the Level 5 Teaching route before moving to Level 7 Teaching Certificate if you meet the entry requirements for Level 7 in the first instance (full details can be found through the links below
The Level 5 Diploma does not carry masters university credits so if you wish to complete a full MEd (180 masters credits) in the future you should opt for the Level 7 route rather than the Level 5
You can only refer to yourself as a specialist teacher if you already hold a teaching qualification, if not you would refer to yourself as a specialist practitioner.

Option one - those not currently holding any SpLD qualifications

Study and gain the Dyslexia Action Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma – Specialist Assessment and Teaching for Literacy-Related DifficultiesIn order to achieve this qualification, you will have to complete the following modules (two years study):

DAPP21-01 Literacy Acquisition – Underpinning Theory (30 credits)
DAPP21-02 Specialist Literacy Teaching – Linking Theory to Practice (30 credits)
DAPP21-03 Psychometric Assessment of Literacy-Related Difficulties (30 credits)
DAPP21-04 Psychometric Assessment of Cognitive Processing (30 credits)

Clickhere for further information and a programme brochure.

Option two - those who currently hold an eligible Level 5 SpLD teacher/practitioner qualification or those holding a Level 7 SpLD teacher/practitioner Certificate

To follow this pathway route you should already hold either a Level 5 SpLD teacher/practitioner or a Level 7 SpLD teacher/practitioner qualification (if over 5 years old) which is eligible for Associate (ADG) membership of The Dyslexia Guild or equivalent membership with a recognised professional body, plus:

Real Training’s Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET)

Real Training’s Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) this course meets the requirements set out by the JCQ which covers access arrangements and form 8s.

and

Hold current registration with the British Psychological Society Register of Qualifications in Test Use (BPS RQTU) as Test User.

In addition to the above requirements you would also need to gain:

Real Training’s Dyslexia – Professional Report Writing Course (DPRW)
Please note to enrol in the DPRW module, it is mandatory to have completed CCET or CPT3A, be registered with the BPS and hold Associate (ADG) membership with The Dyslexia Guild, ATS/APS with the British Dyslexia Association or Associate membership with PATOSS.

Option three - those who currently hold an eligible Level 7 SpLD teacher/practitioner qualification (under 5 years old and gained with Dyslexia Action)

To follow this pathway route you should already hold a Level 7 SpLD teacher/practitioner qualification (under 5 years old) which is eligible for Associate (ADG) membership of The Dyslexia Guild or equivalent membership with a recognised professional body, plus:

Gain Dyslexia Action Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate – Specialist Assessment for Literacy-Related Difficulties

In order to achieve this qualification, you will have the option to complete the following modules you will have to hold the above, plus:

DAPP21-03 Psychometric Assessment of Literacy-Related Difficulties (30 credits)
DAPP21-04 Psychometric Assessment of Cognitive Processing (30 credits)

Click here to visit the Level 7 programme page and view the programme brochure noting the following:

If you are applying for the Postgraduate Certificate Specialist Assessment for Literacy-Related Difficulties (modules 03 and 04 only) you must first clarify you have the correct entry criteria BEFORE you can apply. If you have not had this confirmed please contact trainingcourses@dyslexiaaction.org.uk in the first instance including a copy of your SpLD certificate awarding you recognition of prior learning for Modules 01 and 02.

If you already hold Real Training’s Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) or Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) and hold current registration with the British Psychological Society Register of Qualifications in Test Use (BPS RQTU) as Test User you can follow option two above

How to become a dyslexia assessor who can gain an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC)