Application Process and Requirements for the Literacy and Language Certificate of Advanced Study Program

The MGH Institute offers two options to obtain a Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy and Language. Both will help you acquire expertise in reading and writing to support a range of learners.

• 20-credit option is for those holding an initial teaching license in Massachusetts who wish to become licensed as a reading specialist.
• 17-credit option is fully-online and offers the same course work as the 20-credit program without the practicum requirements needed for licensure. 

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Application and Fee

All applicants are required to submit a completed online application form along with the non-refundable $100.00 application fee.

Our professional staff provide information and answer questions you have during the admission and financial aid process, and offer ongoing information on tuition and fees.

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GRE

The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
 

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

• Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation. 

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.   

• To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
• For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements.  
 

Statement of Intent

All applicants are required to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Discuss your personal and professional experiences, your academic interests and objectives, and your career aspirations. Address how and why you feel the Literacy and Language Certificate program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions can help you to achieve your academic and professional goals. Include any other information you believe is relevant.

Answers should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than three pages in total. Margins should be no more than one inch, and type size should be no smaller than 10-point, with 12-point type preferred. Please make sure your full legal name is included on each page. The statement of intent should be uploaded directly to your online application.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide three recommendation letters. All recommendations are processed electronically through our online application. Please provide contact information for each recommender within the online application.

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character and integrity, as well as your potential for graduate professional study. No more than three recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.

Resume or CV

Applicants are required to submit a current resume or CV.