College Reading and Learning Association

Certification of Tutoring Center

The tutoring program offered by the Centers for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS) is certified through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), which is a nationally accredited program formed in 1989. The partnership between CRLA and UMass Lowell was created to ensure that the peer tutors at UMass Lowell are exposed to the highest standards of training available, with two goals in mind. First, CLASS is dedicated to the para-professional development of student staff. Second, CLASS is committed to providing the undergraduates at UMass Lowell with the highest quality of peer tutoring possible.

Under CRLA guidelines, peer tutors at UMass-Lowell undergo three distinct levels of training.

  1. Level I or Certified: Tutors are required to attend 10 hours of intensive interactive training. Highlights of areas that are covered include: Active Listening, Ethics, Best Practices, Communication Skills and Handling Difficult Situations. In addition, peer tutors are required to work with undergraduates for a minimum of 25 hours.
  2. Level II or Advanced-Certified: Requires more in-depth training. Highlights of this programming include: Cross Cultural Communication, Working with Students with Disabilities, Advanced Learning Theory and Emotional Intelligence. To reach Level II, peer tutors must undergo an additional 10 hours of training and an additional 25 of working with students.
  3. Level III or Master-Certified: is the highest level of training provided at the University. To reach this level, peer tutors receive an additional 10 hours of in-depth training for a cumulative total of 30 hours of training and an additional 25 hours of tutoring, for a cumulative total of 75 hours of tutoring.

International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC)

“The purpose of the ITTPC program is twofold. First, certification provides recognition and positive reinforcement for tutoring program’s successful work from an international organization, The College Reading and Learning Association. Second, the certification requirements set an internationally-accepted standard of skills and training for tutors. ITTPC does not certify tutors nor tutor trainers, but instead certifies tutor training programs that have demonstrated excellence in developing, designing, and implementing strong training procedures, as situated within the context of the tutorial program.” (Copied from International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) page on the College Reading and Learning Association website on October 15, 2025).

For further information on the Centers for Learning 2023 re-certification process, please contact:

  • Todd Borchers, Assistant Director: Centers for Learning, Advising and Student Success - South Campus
  • Christopher Onyx, Coordinator of Tutoring Services and Special Programs - North Campus