Earn your Orton-Gillingham certification online with Empowered Readers’ OGA-approved Associate Level Training — the gold standard for teachers, tutors, and reading specialists who work with students with dyslexia.

This structured literacy training combines interactive live daily sessions with flexible, self-paced modules and fully meets the requirements for Classroom Educator and Associate Level training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA).

Scholarships are available for teachers living in Northern California.

Participants who complete the training may pursue subsequent practicums (available at an additional cost) to advance toward full OGA certification. All coursework and practicums meet the prerequisite requirements for the International Dyslexia Association’s Dyslexia (IDA) Certification through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI).

OGA-Approved Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Certification Training

Training Details:

  • 70-hour online course
  • 1 day of prerequisite assignments; must be completed prior to the start date
  • 8 live online seminars (7 hours each day)
  • 1-2 hours of daily, asynchronous, self-paced online components
  • Prepares participants for Classroom/Small Group & Remedial 1:1 OG Tutoring
  • Subsequent OG Associate Level Practicum is available at an additional cost, providing additional coursework hours and ongoing, individualized guidance
  • 3 GTRE Credits available for an additional fee
  • New! Updated instructional content and activities
  • New! Practicum participants have access to ongoing seminars for an additional fee
Click here to register

“The personality of the instructors made the flow of the classes smooth and entertaining.“

“The trainers were very thorough in their presentation, the information was relevant and applicable to teachers and tutors, and questions were answered in a prompt and positive way through the chat, either written or verbal. Thank you so much!“

“You have been inspiring and helpful mentors.  Your advice is always spot on and solves any issue I’m wrestling with.  You are true assets to the Academy, and I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to learn from you.”

“They always make the training engaging. I always feel overwhelmed with a lot of information (but in a good way). The materials and videos are very useful.”

“Very well organized and easy to follow, materials were relevant and practical, trainers were very knowledgeable.“

“Thank you for the great course! I really loved learning more about the OG Approach. I enjoy your trainings and everything we cover is always so valuable. Thank you!!!“

“…. their passion for the content and for helping teachers and those with dyslexia really shines through both the course and mentoring.  Thank you for caring as much as you do.“ 

Topics Covered:

  • Dyslexia and reading disorders
  • The rationale of the Orton-Gillingham Approach
  • Phonology and phonological awareness
  • The motor component and the writing process
  • Basic phonics for reading and spelling
  • Intermediate phonics for reading and spelling
  • The lesson plan and teaching materials
  • General history of the English language and beginning morphology
  • Assessment and diagnostic-prescriptive teaching
  • Accuracy, automaticity, and fluency
  • Vocabulary
  • Simple grammar comprehension
  • The Academy’s philosophy, standards, and requirements
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Registration Information:

  • Pricing:
    • Early bird (Before March 31, 2026): $1,650
    • Regular (Starting April 1, 2026): $1,800
  • Course Fees Include:
    • A digital printable training manual
    • Phonogram drill decks
    • Student Notebook 1
    • Everything You Want to Know & Exactly Where to Find It
    • and an online resource bank
  • Minimum technology requirements:
    • Desktop/laptop with camera and microphone
    • High-speed reliable internet connection
  • Bachelor’s degree required to complete a practicum
  • Completion of coursework and practicum prepares the trainee to apply for OG Associate Certification by OGA
  • Partial scholarships available for teachers living in Northern California.

“I love how organized the digital coursework was.  Everything was clearly communicated, and the virtual format was managed beautifully.  Thanks for such a great learning experience!”

“… I am so happy I took this course …  (the trainers) were interesting, organized, clear, and thorough, so I felt comfortable asking questions and following. I loved the pace, material, articles, handbook/manuals…everything.”

“Loved the class, and I loved your humor!”

“This course was amazing; thank you so much! I believe this course was so valuable, and it will greatly benefit my students and me in the classroom.”

“This was such an amazing course. I have never had a training that I felt so anxious to implement. I also had no idea how much went into decoding/reading, nor did I realize what dyslexia actually was. This course should be taught in colleges! Thank you for all your time and information. You both have a true gift, and it’s clear, any student you work with is very fortunate to have you!”

“The experience was illuminating in many ways.”

“LOVED them .. (trainers) are incredibly knowledgeable and have a depth of experience. I feel like I can trust their expertise. They are also warm, approachable, and open to questions. 

I really appreciated the balance of theory with practice. We learned about the ‘why’ throughout each piece. No fluff; everything was rooted in science and research. “

All coursework and practicums follow the curriculum set
forth by the Orton-Gillingham Academy

Learn more at ortonacademy.oRG
Click here to register

Meet your amazing trainers!

Grace Sharma - Orton Gillingham Certified Dyslexia Educator
Grace Sharma, Accredited Training Fellow/OGA
Lindsay Oberschlake, Fellow-in-training/OGA
Alyssa Thiele, Fellow-in-training/ OGA

Learn more about your trainers here!

Click here to register

Still have questions?

Use this form to reach out to us if you've got questions about the training. PLEASE do not use it to register. Use the direct link above to register for the training.