Frequently Asked Questions
Section Contents:
1.
Becoming a Member of ITA
What are the benefits of membership?
What is included with my new member materials?
How long until my new member materials arrive?
What is the cost for becoming a member?
I am already training with ITA. Do I need to the membership fee, too?
2. Training With Us
Do I need a degree to get certified?
Are you part of TutorNation.com?
What is in my training packet?
How long will it take for my training packet to arrive?
Who actually certifies an ITA tutor?
Why choose ITA over other certifications? What do I need to get certified by ITA?
What are the learning modules?
How long do I have to complete each module? How many attempts do I get for each test? How long do I have to complete each module?
How long do I have to complete the certificate program?
Can I see a syllabus or a sample of the material that is covered?
3. Logging In/Using The Member Portal
How do I login to my personal account?
Can I choose my own username and password?
What exactly is the member training portal?
4. Getting Certified!
What if something is not satisfactory?
Will my ITA Certification expire?
5. What are your policies?
Don't see what you need? Try searching our site.
1. Becoming a Member of ITA
Why become a member?
Membership in ITA shows tutees, parents, and other tutors that you are dedicated to the tutoring profession. It is a group where tutors share ideas, trade techniques, and have the opportunity to become certified ITA tutors. This is a great step in your professional career!
You'll even have proof of membership when you carry around an official ITA member card that you can show to tutees and tutee parents. This is a fantastic way to show your commitment to the profession and let others know that you are a highly qualified tutor.
Besides these reasons, there are a number of other benefits for joining ITA.
What are the benefits of membership?
The most important benefit is listed just above this one. By joining ITA, you are sending a clear message that you take tutoring seriously and treat it like the noble profession it is!
You will also get these great benefits as an ITA member:
- Free training!
- You will get unlimited access to ITA’s official tutor training and certification program at no cost! This is a $130 value, but you receive this free as part of your membership. It is part of our ongoing goal to get more highly qualified, certified tutors into the profession.
- Training folder! (optional addition to core training package)
- As part of your program you will receive a training folder that includes a free copy of Greenwood’s Guide for Tutors and all of the training materials you need. This training folder will be mailed to you after your order is completed and can be used not only during your training, but also as a reference throughout your tutoring career.
- Membership card! (optional addition to core training package)
- When you carry around an official ITA member card, you are showing tutees (and tutee parents) that you are a highly qualified tutor who is dedicated to the profession!
- Tutoring appointment cards! (optional addition to core training package)
- These business card size appointment cards are great reminders for your tutee (and his or her parents) about your next scheduled session!
- 20% Discount at the student store!
- The ITA student store has everything you need to show off your membership status! T-Shirts, hats, license plate frames, bumper stickers, mugs...and new gear is being added all the time!
- Unlimited access to ITA’s Resource Bank!
- The resource bank contains downloadable, printable resources for you and your tutees. It is growing everyday, and many of the resources are contributed by tutors who are already working in the field!
What is the resource bank?
The resource bank is an area filled with downloadable, printable resources. It includes:
- Mini-Modules
- Some of these resources are what we call “mini-modules.” These are short modules that are intended to inform you about some specific tutoring area or technique. For example, one mini-module is about online tutoring. These mini-modules are great way to fill in missing knowledge or become an expert at one type of tutoring. Who knows, you may even find your unique tutoring niche by using information found in these valuable resources!
- Business and Session Resources
- These are resources that you can take with you and use during a session that are related to the business of tutoring, or session management, in some way. For example, there are learning contracts and agreements to help you and your tutee get the most out of each session. A time card is provided so that you can maintain a profession image during your session.
There are also incentive sheets to help young tutees stay focused, or to help you maintain repeat business. Providing small rewards for a tutee who has tutored with you for 2 months, for example, is a great way to keep your tutee (and his or her parents) happy! You can keep track of each session by placing a sticker in the appropriate box at the close of each session. - Worksheets, Activity Sheets, Quizzes, and More!
- In this section you will find printable resources that will help your tutee learn more effectively during sessions. There are science experiments, English worksheet games, math activities, foreign language activities, and more! These are also great learning tools to leave with your tutee so that he or she can get additional practice before your next session together.
What is included with my new member materials?
Your membership materials include:
- A training folder that includes:
- A copy of Greenwood’s Guide for Tutors
- A welcome letter from ITA
- ITA membership card
- The forms you will need to complete your training (additional forms can be downloaded in your member area)
- Tutoring appointment cards
- Unlimited access to your Member Portal. This area includes:
- Additional training materials (including the quizzes for ITA certification)
- Printable resources
- A link to the ITA Student Store.
How long until my new member materials arrive?
Order processing takes approximately 2-3 days from the day you place your order. However, you will receive a confirmation email after your order is placed.
This email will contain not only your order confirmation, but also your username and password.
If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If you have still not received your welcome email, please contact us and we will resend it.
We ship all domestic orders either USPS First Class (delivery time could take anywhere from approximately 2 days to 7 days) or Priority (delivery time could take anywhere from 2 days to 5 days).
If you are placing an international order, transit time will vary based upon where you are located. Since we ship USPS Priority International (to most countries), transit time should be relatively quick!
What is the cost for becoming a member?
The first year of membership starts at only $45!
What is the cost of renewal?
Renewal as an ITA member is only $30!
How can I pay?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, personal checks, money orders, international money orders, and cashier's checks. Worried about security when placing your order? Don't be! We use a secure processor, so you can be confident that your information remains safe!
I am already training with ITA. Do I need to pay the membership fee, too?
The short answer: No. If you have already signed up to train with ITA (and are still an active member who has not yet been certified), your membership (for the first year) began on January 1, 2008. About one month before your membership expires (December 1, 2009), you will receieve a reminder and will then have the chance to renew. Since you already received your materials when you initially signed up for training, you will not receive the membership training folder.
If you signed up to train with ITA in the past, and have succesfully completed training, you are eligible to sign up for ITA membership at the renewal rate.
2. Training With Us
I already have a teaching credential. Why do I need ITA certification?
While a teaching credential is good, it is not necessarily tailored to a tutoring environment. A teaching credential, as the name implies, is meant to make you a good teacher rather than a good tutor. Being a good tutor requires a specialized set of skills. When you are tutoring, you are interacting with your "student" on a one-to-one basis rather than focusing on an entire classroom. There are also issues within a tutoring session that differ from teaching; issues of learning material handling, interpersonal communication techniques, and test preparation strategies (just to name a few). Tutor certification is the only way to exhibit that you have mastered the art of tutoring.
Do I need a degree to get certified?
There are a few organizations that require you to possess at least a Bachelor's degree to become certified. At ITA, we believe that a good tutor is more than just a degree on the wall.
We believe that there are skilled individuals from every walk of life who can become outstanding tutors with or without a degree. Example: If an individual speaks impeccable Hebrew, and he/she has the desire to teach others, then he/she should be given the opportunity to train to become a top quality tutor. A degree shouldn't stand in the way of teaching others one's unique talents and abilities.
We have tutors who possess graduate degrees, undergraduate degrees, and tutors who possess high school diplomas. Some of our tutors are retirees who have a gift with languages, but no formal degree. Some of our tutors are graduate students who have mastered mathematics at the undergraduate level and have a degree; they are tutoring as a way to work while attending school. You get the idea; a lot of different tutors from a lot of different backgrounds. But the one thing they all have in common is certification through ITA, certification that sets them apart.
So, how do we ensure that our tutors are capable of teaching others if we don't require a specific degree? We have specially engineered our tutor evaluation forms to ensure that our tutors are capable of effectively engaging their tutees in the learning process. ITA's program is not simply a series of written exercises and readings. We require real-world experience, coupled with tutee evaluations, to ensure that ITA's graduates are of the highest caliber. With our rigorous guidelines, and practical experience requirements, our graduates are ready to enter the tutoring industry with the confidence and the skills they need to be the best!
Why should I go with ITA certification?
There are a number of paths you can choose as you take the next steps in your tutoring career.
The first path leads to a teaching credential. While a teaching credential is designed to make you a great teacher, but not necessarily a great tutor. There are some profound differences between teaching and tutoring, and tutor certification is the only way to master the art of tutoring.
The second path you could choose takes you to a traditional university setting. This path is not only expensive, but inconvenient. You will most likely be paying college tuition for your training, and you will most likely be required to register for a traditional class. Not exactly an optimum scenario.
The third path may be where you are right now - educated in a specific subject, but uncertified. We probably don't need to tell you that certification can only increase your tutoring success.
Your fourth path leads to ITA certification. This is a path lined with financial opportunity, growth potential, and boundless tutoring confidence. ITA certification can mean the difference between having a few clients a month compared to having several clients a week. It can also mean the difference between having a side job compared to making a full time income. But most importantly, ITA certification can give you the education you need to make a real difference in the world of education. By pursuing ITA certification, you are showing your tutees that you have mastered the art of tutoring, and you understand what they need to learn successfully. Make a world of difference; choose the path to ITA.
How much does it cost?
Please see the following section for details:
What is the cost for becoming a member?
Are you part of TutorNation.com?
No. However, we do have a referral program set up with them. TutorNation.com members receive 30% off the ITA membership price.
What is in my training packet?
Your training folder will be mailed to you after your order is completed. Just can't wait to get started? A number of training materials are also available for download, direct from the ITA website, 24 hours a day. That way you will always have access to the forms and information you will need to succeed!
This packet will include the following program materials:
- All of the forms you will need to complete the certification program if you decide to complete your requirements by mail.
- Tutor Evaluation Sheets - to be completed by your tutees
- Tutor Log Sheets - to help you keep track of your tutoring hours
- Project Cover Sheets - for your final projects
- Instructions for the website and the included forms.
- ITA's policies and procedures.
How long will it take for my packet to arrive?
After your order is complete, you should receive your training package within about a week. However, time may vary depending on shipping speed and your shipping location. You can also download many of your training materials immediately from the ITA website.
What is tutor certification?
Tutor certification is the end result of a training program for tutors. The value of the actual certificate is based on two things:
The content of the training program; and, to a lesser extent, the "perceived reputation" of the certifying organization.
Good training content is most important because it can positively affect a tutor's performance. ITA's training program is one of the best available. Reputation adds value to your certification in the eyes of your tutees.
Who actually certifies an ITA tutor?
ITA was established by Mark Greenwood, author of Greenwood's Guide for Tutors. Mark Greenwood also created a certified tutor training program as California Polytechnic University of Pomona, and has presented at ACCTLA, CRLA, and WESTOP conferences. With over 30 years experience in the tutoring and teaching fields, Mark designed the ITA program specifically to help tutors learn to perform at their very best, and make the most of every tutoring session, regardless of what subject is being tutored. In short, ITA is its own certifying program.
Why choose ITA over other certifications?
Most certified programs are "certified" by an outside organization. For example, when a university decides to offer a training program, they look to an outside organization for tutor certification guidelines. As long as their program meets the minimum guidelines, it is then certified by that outside organization. While there are some good programs out there, the inconsistencies between programs often result in learning gaps and missed information. Add to that the fact that the certifying organization is not on-site to monitor the program, and you can begin to see the need for programs like ITA's. Consistent training content plus real-world experience sets ITA apart from the rest.
Additionally, most tutor certification is only available on school campuses. ITA makes high quality training available to all tutors.
What do I need to do to get certified by ITA?
To be a fully certified, ITA tutor you will need to complete the following steps:
- Become a member of ITA to get access to the training program.
- Satisfactorily complete every training module.
- Tutor for a total of 10 hours
- Get 3 tutoring session evaluations from 3 different tutees.
- Complete 2 final projects.
- Submit your tutoring log sheets, tutoring session evaluations, and 2 final projects to ITA for final review.
What are the learning modules?
Each ITA learning module is a specially designed teaching block that delivers information centered around a specific theme. For example, there are training modules built around proper (and improper) communication techniques, the optimal tutoring environment, and effective session management techniques.
What do these learning blocks mean to you as a tutor? They will give you the information you need without overcomplicating or "watering down" the material. Which means you will have the information you need to begin tutoring sooner. We have cut through the endless jargon and unnecessary methodology, and have designed a practical, straightforward tutoring program that gets results fast.
Each learning module has been specifically engineered to maximize your learning experience. As you progress, each module is used as a building block to the next module level. So, the information you have learned in modules 1- 5 will be used as you progress through level 6. This comprehensive learning style imparts specific units of instruction at specific intervals, so you learn everything you need without feeling overwhelmed or weighed down.
How long do I have to complete each module?
The short answer: As long as you need to complete it successfully!
We believe that every tutor has his or her own learning style; one tutor may finish a module in a week, while another tutor may need only a day to complete that same module. Likewise, some modules may be easier for you than other modules, so your speed may fluctuate from one module to the next.
How many attempts do I get for each test?
For each of the chapter tests, you will get 3 attempts to pass the test with a satisfactory (80+) score. After this third attempt, if you have still not gotten a satisfactory score, all of your test scores will be reset to zero.
This helps to maintain the quality and the integrity of the program, and ensure that your training remains valuable. If a tutor trainee needs 15+ times to take a test before he or she gets a satisfactory score, it's pretty obvious that he or she has not mastered the material. This ill prepared tutor will negatively impact ITA, and ultimately your training, by going out into the world an tutoring as poorly as he or she studies. By limiting the number of attempts for each test, we are able to uphold ITA's integrity and maintain the high value of your certificate.
How long do I have to complete the certification program?
Again, as long as it takes to complete the certification program successfully. We impose no limits as to the length of time a tutor may remain in our program. Since learning style is so unique to each individual, the time for certification can vary wildly from one tutor to another. Some tutors have completed the program in as little as 4 weeks while other tutors have taken a little over a year. The important thing is that you work at your own pace. Don't worry about how quickly other tutors have completed the program, just keep focused on your own progress.
Can I see a syllabus or a sample of the material covered?
Yes! Click here to check out what is covered during your training program.
3. Logging In/Using Your Member Portal
How do I login to my personal account?
You will receive your temporary username and password automatically once you enroll as a trainee.
Upon receipt of your payment, a temporary username and password will be automatically generated.
If you pay online by credit card, this will occur immediately.
If you choose to pay be check or money order, your temporary username and password will be mailed to you within 2 weeks.
Once you have received your username and password, please follow the instructions below:
1. Enter your unique username and temporary passwords in the left-hand menu bar on our site.
2. Click "Submit."
If you have any difficulty logging into the system, please feel free to contact our Customer Care Center or our knowledgeable and friendly Technical Support staff
The fastest way to reach us is by e-mail. Our e-mail staff is here 24 hours a day, and can typically have a solution to your problem within one business day.
Can I choose my own username and password?
Yes! In fact, ITA recommends that you choose a username and password that will be easy for you to remember.
And we've made changing your username and password easy. First login to your account. Once you are logged in, simply click on the "change username/password" link.
What exactly is the member portal?
Your personal login area contains several things. We like to call it your personal training space; it contains everything you need to succeed on your path to ITA certification and beyond!
First, it contains all of the tests you need to complete the ITA program. Each test covers a comprehensive body of knowledge that you learn from your e-textbook.
Second, your account contains your contact information. This is a great way for you to keep ITA up to date on your most recent information. If you move, change phone numbers, or sign up for a new e-mail address, you can let us know that by updating your personal information. Keeping your contact info accurate will guarantee that your certificate is sent to your correct address.
This is also the area where you can access your personal training and certification progress report. Inside your account, you will find your certification status, your file completion status, and your current module of learning. This is the primary means of communication between you and ITA. This is how we let you know what materials were satisfactory, if any materials were not satisfactory, and what items we may still be missing to complete your training files.
This is also the section where you can access the resource bank; an area with over 100 (and growing!) resources for you to use in your tutoring career.
Also, once logged in, you have access to the ITA Student Store with your 20% discount already applied!
4. Getting Certified!
I completed all of the learning modules, and I have submitted all of my other materials. How long until I am officially certified?
First, we review all of your information. This means that we double check your learning modules, verify that you have completed 10 hours of tutoring, and review your tutoring evaluations. If everything is complete and satisfactory, we will begin to review your final projects. This entire process takes less than a few weeks.
If everything is satisfactory, we will certify you immediately.
Your status will be reflected in your account, and tutees will be able to look you up on the ITA website to verify your certification.
We then prepare your official certificate which you should receive within two weeks of being certified.
I submitted my tutoring log sheets, evaluations, and both of my final projects. So, why does my account still show me as not certified?
All of the training modules must be satisfactorily completed before we can begin reviewing the remainder of your training materials.
Negative reviews, poor performance on the essays, or an incomplete tutoring log can also delay processing. Any of these scenarios will be shown on your training status screen. Please make certain to look for any additional comments in the "Comments" box at the bottom of your status screen. If there are significant problems with your certification status, ITA will notify you in a timely manner.
What if something is not satisfactory?
If a training module is not satisfactory, that's an easy fix! You can re-work an unsatisfactory learning module at any time. And the results of that completed module are immediately available for you to view, letting you know whether the results were satisfactory or needed improvement.
If you have not submitted an adequate number of tutoring hours to ITA, we will post that under your training status in your account. To revise this problem, you will need to make up the missing hours and submit them on a new form. For example, if you submit two forms, with a total number of 7 tutoring hours, we will post this information on your status page. You will then tutor an additional 3 hours, log this time on a new form, and submit that form to ITA.
If you have submitted an unsatisfactory project, we will ask you to redo the project and resubmit it to ITA. In the unlikely event that both projects are not satisfactory, we will ask you to redo both projects, and resubmit them to ITA for further review.
Finally, in the event that you have an unsatisfactory tutoring evaluation, we will post this information on your status page. You will then be asked to resubmit an additional evaluation to replace the negative evaluation. If you receive a large number of negative tutoring evaluations, you will be contacted immediately by ITA with further instructions. We may ask you to tutor additional hours, complete specific learning modules, and resubmit another group of evaluations.
Will my ITA Certification expire?
No, once your certification has been issued, it will not expire.
4. What are your policies?
Privacy Policy
At ITA, we hate spam almost as much as you do. That's why we will never share your information with anyone, and we will never sell your information to anyone.
Refund Policy
Your membership is non-refundable once you have started training. However, we are aware that sometimes things happen. If you need a refund, contact us, and we may be able to work with you. We can often issue a refund, minus any applicable shipping and handling costs.
If you purchase a physical, non-training product from us (in other words a t-shirt, hat, mug, etc.), we offer a 30-day refund, minus the price of shipping. If you receive an item that is damaged, we will gladly replace the item.