NEW INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
FOR LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE SPECIALISTS
ANNOUNCED BY THE AG BELL ACADEMY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Through an evidence-based process of research and analysis, the AG Bell Academy has developed an International Certification Program for Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS).

With the guidance of Prometric psychometricians, the following actions were taken.

First, Prometric conducted an audit for the existing Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist® (Cert. AVT®) credential with the intention of bringing this certification into alignment with the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards. As a result of the audit, the recommendation was made for a job analysis to be conducted. The purpose of the job analysis was to validate the important tasks and knowledge needed for competent performance by listening and spoken language professionals.

The job analysis consisted of several activities: survey development; survey dissemination; and a compilation of survey results. The survey was forwarded to professionals in the field of listening and spoken language and a detailed statistical analysis of the survey responses was conducted.

Thirty-six percent of all Cert. AVTs® completed the job analysis survey. The respondents were balanced evenly across the number of years in the profession, work setting, primary responsibility, and credentials (e.g. Cert. AVT®, teacher of the deaf, speech-language pathologist, and audiologist).

The evidence revealed that the task and knowledge domains surveyed were comprehensive and relevant for today's listening and spoken language professionals.

The index of agreement values for the designated subgroups indicated an extremely high degree of overlap. In fact, there were no statistically significant differences in the tasks, skills and knowledge among any of the subgroups.

Subsequently, another task force was convened to work with psychometricians from Prometric to develop the test specifications based on the job analysis results. Inspection and discussion of the job analysis findings resulted in the recommendation of a common examination for listening and spoken language professionals.

At every step of the job analysis and test specifications process, task forces assembled consisted of subject matter experts representing all stakeholders in the field, including Auditory-Verbal Educators and Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists®, speech-language pathologists, audiologists and early interventionists.

Consistent with the AG Bell Academy's strategic plan to develop a certification program that recognizes professionals who offer listening and spoken language services in a variety of settings, the following certification program is announced by the AG Bell Academy Board of Directors - the AG Bell Academy International Certification Program for Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS).

The purpose of the LSLS credential is to unite the listening and spoken language industry and allow us to speak with one voice to better serve families who are interested in a spoken language outcome for their child with hearing loss. Families who choose listening and talking as the desired outcomes for their child can look to the AG Bell Academy LSLS as designating a highly qualified provider.

The LSLS will be comprised of two separate certifications:

One is the Cert. AVT® (Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist®) which has been available since 1994. The Cert. AVT®, guided by 10 Principles, focuses on one-on-one family centered therapy that uses listening to develop spoken language.

The new certification, Certified Auditory-Verbal Educator® (Cert. AVEd®) focuses on teaching listening and talking to various sized instructional groups to prepare children to enter mainstream education when they have the skills to do so successfully. The Cert. AVEd® will be guided by 10 Principles and is currently being developed.

Applicants for both the Cert. AVEd® and Cert. AVT® will be held to the same high standards. They will take the same test in June 2008 because listening and spoken language professionals share a common set of knowledge and tasks as revealed by extensive data analysis of the job survey by the test specifications task force.

Next Steps:

-The Cert. AVEd® task force will continue their work developing Principles and eligibility criteria.

-Subject matter experts will be convened to write questions and prepare the examination for listening and spoken language specialists.

-Application packets will be available for the LSLS certifications on or before November 20, 2007.

-The LSLS examination will be administered at the AG Bell 2008 Milwaukee Convention.

Stay tuned to the AG Bell Academy website www.agbellacademy.org for updated information about certification revisions and development. In addition, information about qualifications and test applications for each certification program will be obtainable online. All certification revisions and developments are being made in alignment with standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SUMMARY

AG Bell Academy International Certification Program in Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS)

-Cert. AVEd® (Certified Auditory-Verbal Educator®)
-Cert. AVT® (Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist®)

The AG Bell Academy LSLS is the common banner of high quality standards for professionals who teach listening and spoken language to individuals and families with hearing loss.

The two parts of the LSLS certification program include the Cert. AVEd® and Cert. AVT®. Each has a set of Principles, equivalent qualification criteria and an equivalent application booklet.

Applicants for both the Cert. AVEd® and the Cert. AVT® will take the same test because all listening and spoken language professionals share a common set of knowledge and tasks as revealed by extensive data analysis of the job survey.

This new test will be ready for the June AG Bell Convention in Milwaukee.