Tutoring Certifications 101

You have a degree, the latest supplies, and you've spent hundreds of dollars in advertising. You know you're the best tutor. So why do you need more certification?

We'll tell you why: Because the people who are hoping to find a tutor expect candidates to have specialized training.

Where to start

• Two great places to get professional home-tutor certification are the National Tutoring Association and the American Tutoring Association.
• If you plan to work with college-level students, try the College Reading & Learning Association. On these sites, which offer varying levels of tutor certification, you'll often find online courses that allow you to study on your own for a final exam.
• Hundreds of colleges and universities offer on-campus or online tutor certification as well. Higher-level courses explore more advanced topics, such as diversity training, strategies for dealing with troubled students and parents, and progressive teaching methods.

Cost of certification

• Getting certified by an organization will cost between $200 and $500.
• The cost of a college- or university-level certification will differ depending on the cost of courses.

The advantages of being certified

• Certification will, of course, make you a better tutor.
• It will also make you stand out from the thousands of other people marketing themselves as home tutors.
• Parents feel more comfortable when they know their children are getting the very best professional attention.
• When you have home-tutor certification, you can feel confident in your ability to deal with even the toughest students.