Become a Certified LSL Specialist!

The AG Bell Academy maintains a Certification Handbook that outlines all the requirements for certification as a LSLS Cert. AVT or LSLS Cert. AVEd. Those seeking certification and their mentors are encouraged to read the Certification Handbook at the beginning of the certification process and to refer to it often during the certification process.

Additionally, the certification process and examination are founded on two primary documents:

• Nine Domains of Knowledge for LSLS Certification
• Principles of Certified LSL Specialists

Those seeking certification and mentors should be familiar with both of these documents.

Certification Requirements and Process

• Enrollment in the LSL Registry: A professional must apply and be accepted for enrollment in the LSL Registry. Once enrolled, a professional completes and uploads documentation related to the certification process over their certification period.
• Academic: Current minimal requirements include a professional (bachelor’s degree) in audiology, speech-language pathology or education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Credentials: License or other official documentation (including certification) that allows the professional to practice in their geographic area.
• Mentoring by a certified LSL Specialist: A primary mentor should be identified at the beginning of a professional’s certification process. A professional can have more than one mentor during the 3- to 5-year certification period, but should always have one professional who acts as the primary mentor. The primary mentor can change up to three times (for a total of 4 primary mentors) during the certification process period, if needed. Most professionals have one primary mentor with whom they partner and participate in a mentor-mentee relationship across the certification process, however the Academy recognizes the need for flexibility due to life changes or for personal reasons. Mentoring occurs throughout the 3- to 5-year certification period and specific documentation must be completed as part of the mentor-mentee process. Twenty (20) hours of an aspiring LSL Specialist’s auditory-verbal sessions must be observed (either directly or via live/recorded video) by the primary or other mentor. All mentors must have current LSLS^® certification in order to act as mentor. The mentor who observed each session must complete a Mentor Observation (F-1) Form for each hour-long session.
• Attachment E: Checklist of Mentored Sessions
• Attachment F-1: Mentor’s Observation Form
• Attachment F-2: Applicant’s Self-Evaluation
• Professional learning and experience:
• Complete 10 hours of observation of certified LSL Specialists providing auditory-verbal practice engaged in sessions with a child/family/caregivers/others.
• Participate in eighty (80) hours of continuing education. Fifty percent (50%) of these hours may be earned prior to a professional’s certification process. Of the 80 hours, up to ten (10) hours can be documented observations of certified LSL Specialists. These 10 hours are in addition to the 10 hours indicated in section A, which means that a professional could participate in a total of 20 hours of observation.
• Complete 900 hours in the past 36- to 60-months providing auditory-verbal practice to children (and families) who are pursuing a listening and spoken language outcome. Up to ten percent (10%) of these hours can be gained with adults who are enrolled in rehabilitation with a new hearing device or devices and for whom use of auditory-verbal strategies is appropriate. Up to one-hundred fifty (150) of the 900 hours can be gained through activities other than direct service (e.g., participation in planning meetings, audiology appointments, parent support meetings).
• Attachment C-1: Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
• Attachment C-2: 10 Hours of Structured Observations Log
• Attachment C-3: 10 Hours of Live or Recorded Structured Observation Verification Form
• Attachment D: 900 Hours of Professional Experience
• A signed commitment to one of the two sets of LSLS Principles (LSLS Cert. AVT or LSLS Cert. AVEd).
• Attachment B: (AVT) Attestments
• Attachment B: (AVEd) Attestments
• A passing score on the LSLS Certification Exam (English or Spanish).
• Written description of the aspiring LSL Specialist’s auditory-verbal practice near the conclusion of the certification process and in anticipation of being awarded LSLS certification.
• Letters of support/recommendation from two professionals familiar with the aspiring LSL Specialist’s auditory-verbal practice and two parents who have been served by this professional through auditory-verbal practice (4 letters in total).

Download the Certification Handbook to review full details of the eligibility requirements.

After Enrollment in the LSL Registry

Once approved for enrollment in the Registry, a professional seeking certification will be able to begin documenting their certification process in the LSL Registry. Additionally, following approval of enrollment in the LSL Registry, a professional is eligible to make a request (through the Registry) to take the exam at any point they feel ready during the 3-to-5-year certification process. The Academy uses a third party test vendor, Kryterion, Inc. and their test platform (which is located outside of the LSL Registry) for the LSLS Certification Examination.

All requirements, including a passing overall score on the LSLS Certification Exam, must be met before LSLS certification is awarded. Following the completion of all requirements (which are verified by the Academy’s review of documentation that has been uploaded in the LSL Registry), a professional would complete one final step, which is to make a request in the Registry for an “award of certification.” A professional can anticipate receiving a certificate, which is the official Academy document that indicates that this professional is now a Certified LSLS Cert AVT or LSLS Cert. AVEd, within two to four weeks of the request for award of certification.