Empowering Connecticut Teachers Through Accredited Continuing Education

At Professional Training Institute (PTI), we proudly support educators across Connecticut with research-based professional development and teacher training programs that strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes.

Our accredited courses help teachers meet Connecticut continuing education requirements, earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and pursue graduate credit through Fitchburg State University. Many PTI courses are delivered through live, remote synchronous instruction, allowing educators to connect with instructors and peers in real time, but we also travel to schools to provide in-person customized group training.

From Hartford and New Haven to Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Waterbury, PTI equips educators with practical, evidence-based strategies for teaching reading, writing, and language to diverse learners.

Accredited Teacher Training and Continuing Education

Connecticut accredited teacher training program taking place at Professional Training Institute

Professional Training Institute is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Connecticut educators can rely on PTI’s programs to meet high standards for professional learning and continuing education.

Our faculty—bringing more than 50 years of combined experience in teacher education and special education—lead engaging, live courses that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and immediate classroom application.

Through flexible, real-time instruction, PTI makes it easy for teachers and specialists across Connecticut to access high-quality professional development and special education training from anywhere in the state.

Courses and Programs for Connecticut Educators

PTI offers a wide range of teacher professional development programs designed for educators, specialists, and administrators at all levels. Each course is practical, accredited, and aligned with Connecticut continuing education expectations.

Orton-Gillingham Teacher Training

PTI offers comprehensive Orton-Gillingham (O-G) training programs accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy, helping educators support students with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges.

Our multi-tiered structure ensures that teachers across Connecticut—from early literacy instructors in Hartford to special educators in New Haven—can find the right level of study to match their experience and goals.

Classroom Educator (Level 1)

This seven-day course introduces participants to the fundamentals of the O-G approach—a systematic, multisensory, diagnostic, and prescriptive method for teaching reading, spelling, and writing.

  • Format: Live, remote synchronous instruction (7 days, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)
  • Credits: Certificates documenting Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Contact Hours are provided.
  • Includes: Gillingham Manual & Phonogram Cards

Classroom Educator Practicum

A supervised practicum for educators who have completed Level 1, this experience involves 50 O-G lessons taught to small groups of struggling readers under the guidance of an O-G Fellow.

  • Format: Eight-month remote mentorship (live observations and feedback)
  • Credits: CEUs / Contact Hours

Associate Level Coursework

This advanced 70-hour course builds on Level 1 and prepares teachers for Orton-Gillingham Academy certification at the Associate level. Coursework explores phonological awareness, decoding, encoding, morphology, and handwriting at a deeper level.

  • Format: Live, remote synchronous instruction (7 days)
  • Credits: 4.2 IACET CEUs | Optional 3 Graduate Credits

Associate Level Practicum

Participants complete 100 one-on-one lessons with a student at their school site, supported by 10 formal observations and three remote seminars led by O-G Fellows.

  • Format: Eight-month remote practicum
  • Credits: Certificates documenting Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Contact Hours are provided.

Certified Level Coursework & Practicum

This two-year advanced program is for teachers seeking to deepen their diagnostic and prescriptive teaching abilities. It includes 100 additional hours of coursework and a supervised practicum emphasizing morphology, comprehension, grammar, and assessment.

  • Format: Evening and weekend remote seminars (live, synchronous format)
  • Credits: Certificates documenting Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Contact Hours are provided.

Beyond Associate Seminars

Designed for educators who have completed Associate Level Orton-Gillingham training—or for teachers, literacy specialists, and general and special educators looking to strengthen structured literacy instruction—these six seminars support continued professional growth. Topics include:

  • Infusing vocabulary and comprehension into O-G lessons
  • Morphology instruction for advanced learners
  • Diagnostic decision-making strategies
  • Syllable division review
  • Teaching spelling as a thinking skill
  • Sorting and discrimination activities to support reading and spelling

All Beyond Associate Seminars are offered live online and may count toward professional recertification requirements.

Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® (LiPS®) Program

This four-day course teaches educators how to help students develop phonemic awareness, a foundational skill for reading and spelling. Participants learn to analyze and sequence speech sounds within words using the LiPS® methodology to improve decoding and spelling abilities.

  • Format: Live, remote synchronous instruction
  • Credits: 2.4 IACET CEUs | Optional 2 Graduate Credits

The Commonwealth Learning Center is an independent, non-profit teaching facility and is not affiliated with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Pat Lindamood, Phyllis Lindamood, or Nanci Bell.

Nancibell® Visualizing & Verbalizing® Program

In this two-day workshop, educators learn strategies for improving language comprehension, expression, and critical thinking through imagery. Teachers gain tools to help students visualize and verbalize concepts, supporting reading comprehension and written expression.

  • Format: Live, remote synchronous sessions
  • Credits: 1.2 IACET CEUs | Optional 1 Graduate Credit

The Commonwealth Learning Center is an independent, non-profit teaching facility and is not affiliated with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Pat Lindamood, Phyllis Lindamood, or Nanci Bell.

Customized Professional Development

We offer professional development tailored to the unique needs of Connecticut schools and districts. Whether the focus is literacy, inclusive practices, universal design for learning, or effective intervention strategies, our sessions are practical, engaging, and research-based.

Training can be delivered through workshops, multi-session series, or job-embedded coaching to ensure meaningful implementation in the classroom.

Continuing Education and Professional Development for Connecticut Teachers

PTI’s accredited programs help educators earn CEUs, Contact Hours, and PD credit, maintain certification, and advance their professional growth. Our courses are ideal for:

  • Teachers pursuing continuing education credits
  • Special educators seeking structured literacy expertise
  • School districts offering in-service training
  • Reading and literacy specialists expanding diagnostic skills

Educators across Connecticut—from Stamford and Norwalk to Hartford and Waterbury—choose PTI for its academic rigor, flexible live instruction, and meaningful classroom impact.

Why Connecticut Teachers Choose PTI

  • Accredited by IACET and the Orton-Gillingham Academy
  • Graduate credit options through Fitchburg State University
  • Faculty with over 50 years of combined experience
  • Interactive, live instruction designed for working educators
  • Trusted by schools and districts across Connecticut

At PTI, we combine flexibility, expertise, and credibility to deliver professional development that is practical, accessible, and career-enhancing.

Common Questions About PTI Programs

Are PTI courses online or in person?

Many PTI courses are delivered through live, remote synchronous instruction, but we also provide in-person customized group training for schools and districts.

Can I earn CEUs or graduate credits?

Yes. Most PTI courses offer CEUs, Contact Hours, and optional graduate credits through Fitchburg State University.

Do PTI courses meet Orton-Gillingham Academy standards?

Yes. PTI is accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy and offers training at multiple certification levels.

How does PTI support educators working with dyslexic students?

PTI’s structured literacy programs provide multisensory, evidence-based approaches to improve decoding and spelling skills.

Are PTI courses suitable for general education teachers?

Absolutely. PTI programs support both general and special educators in strengthening literacy instruction and language development.

Connecticut Teacher Certification & Continuing Education Requirements

Educators in Connecticut are required to complete continuing education to maintain active certification through the Connecticut State Department of Education. These requirements typically include earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Contact Hours, or other approved professional development credits over a defined renewal cycle.

Professional Training Institute (PTI) supports Connecticut educators by offering accredited, research-based courses that align with these continuing education expectations. Participants receive documentation of CEUs and Contact Hours, and many programs also offer optional graduate credits through Fitchburg State University.

PTI’s structured literacy and language-based instruction courses are especially valuable for educators seeking to deepen their expertise in reading, writing, and language development—key areas of focus in schools across Connecticut.

For a broader overview of available options, explore our Teacher Professional Development Programs.

Professional Development for Connecticut Schools and Districts

Professional Training Institute (PTI) partners with schools and districts throughout Connecticut to provide customized professional development that supports instructional goals and student achievement.

Our programs are designed to help educators implement evidence-based literacy practices, structured language instruction, and effective intervention strategies. Training can be delivered through live, remote synchronous sessions or in-person at school sites, depending on district needs.

We support:

  • Public and private schools
  • Special education programs
  • Literacy specialists and intervention teams
  • District leaders focused on curriculum and instructional improvement

PTI’s flexible approach allows Connecticut schools to deliver meaningful, job-embedded professional learning that translates directly into classroom practice and supports long-term instructional growth.

Strengthening Literacy Instruction in Connecticut Classrooms

Across Connecticut, educators are increasingly focused on using evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction that support all learners, including students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

PTI’s programs are grounded in structured literacy principles and emphasize explicit, systematic instruction in phonological awareness, decoding, encoding, and comprehension. Through interactive, live training, educators gain practical strategies that can be applied immediately in the classroom.

These approaches align with broader instructional priorities seen in Connecticut schools, helping teachers build strong literacy foundations and improve outcomes for diverse student populations.

Related Terms

  • Teacher professional development Connecticut
  • Continuing education for teachers CT
  • Orton-Gillingham training Connecticut
  • Remote synchronous teacher training
  • CEU courses for teachers
  • Graduate credit teacher courses Connecticut
  • Structured literacy teacher training

Additional Resources