Internationally Recognized Certification in Accelerated Learning





In 1978, UNESCO announced that Suggestopedia, the roots of Accelerated Learning (AL) as we know it today, had the potential to rid the world of illiteracy and raise the standards of education around the world.

They advised the thorough training of teachers and the highest standards of teacher/trainer development. Up until Germany’s pioneer work in 1991, there was no model, there were no standards or recognized processes to develop AL teachers and trainers. There were individuals and organizations doing excellent work, and there were some who simply called what they were doing Accelerated Learning without any real knowledge and skill. In 2001, the International Alliance for Learning created the standards and guidelines for a three level certification process. Later, they added a Starter Certificate to enable people to test the methodology and take away initial tools and skills that positively affect learning.

Why Certification? Why Standards?


A rigorous and widely accepted certification process enables teachers and facilitators to achieve the amazing results possible for learners and ensures that high standards are maintained. It also builds trust and supports the public in knowing what Accelerated Learning as a "praxis" is and what it is not. When people experience excellent AL teaching and facilitating, word spreads and it becomes more widely available to school children, corporate learners and others. The standards in development and the certification process become the catalyst for a learning revolution.

IAALP, building on the work of IAL, is continuing the certification and standards work. Our internationally recognized (DGSL/IAALP) certification process provides you with three levels of certification and a Starter Certificate:

Starter Certficate

This 24 hour foundations program will give you the basic knowledge, skills and tools to apply Accelerated Learning principles in your work. You will receive both recognition in the form of an IAALP certificate and, with membership in IAALP, access to our community site.

Practitioner Certification

This 120 hour certification program (the 24 hour Starter counts toward Practitioner Certification) provides a mastery of the techniques, methods and processes that will enable you to facilitate your learning programs skillfully.

To be recognized by IAALP, you must attend a certification program facilitated by a IAALP recognized Trainer. They have done substantial work and bring with them a broad experience base in designing and facilitating AL based programs.

Master Practitioner Certification

There are no formal programs focused on achieving Master Practitioner status. IAALP has put forth a set of requirements that demonstrate experience in using the methodology successfully and a deep knowledge and skill set in human development and facilitation skills and techniques. This level of certification recognizes your mastery of Accelerated Learning practices in your own field and is a requirement for those pursuing Trainer Certification in order to offer internationally accredited Practitioner Certification programs. To complete this level, you will be expected to have completed work in areas that will deepen your knowledge of key AL methods and processes like working with limiting beliefs, designing effective reflection activities, using the arts and music in support of learning, storytelling, guided imagery and relaxation techniques. Other topics will be ones that will support you as a facilitator. It is best to identify areas you want to develop in and choose the topics that will help you become the facilitator of learning you want to be.

In addition, you will attend 3 different programs facilitated by an AL Practitioner to experience AL from the perspective of a learner. Finally, you will send either a video of a program you facilitate using AL or a design using a complete AL cycle with participant evaluations to IAALP for review.

To become certified as a Master Practitioner, we recommend you work with your Practitioner trainer or one of the IAALP certification committee members. You will also find a list of recognized programs to help you in making decisions as to what you'd like to do after your initial certification. The programs that you have done before your Practitioner Certification will also count toward this level of certification. The provided list is not intended to be complete, only to be a guide as to what IAALP is looking for in terms of development.

Trainer Certification

The requirements for becoming a trainer of future IAALP Practitioners are rigorous and involve both experience (2 years after achieving IAALP Practitioner status), personal mastery work, observation of facilitation practice and reflection, and development of emotional/social intelligence (200 hours), as well as the certification or equivalent work in an area of humanistic psychology.

In addition, candidates for the Trainer certification are required to observe and co-facilitate a Practitioner Certification program before they can be recognized as IAALP Trainers. The standards and practices applied to Trainer Certification ensure the quality of future practitioners in supporting deep, transformational learning and both effective and efficient teaching practices that support learner success.