Empowering Massachusetts Teachers Through Accredited Continuing Education
At Professional Training Institute (PTI), we proudly support educators across Massachusetts with research-based professional development and teacher training programs that strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes.
Our accredited courses help teachers meet Massachusetts continuing education requirements, earn Professional Development Points (PDPs), 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 do travel to schools to provide in-person customized group training as well.
From Boston and Worcester to Cambridge, Springfield, Lowell, and Newton, PTI equips educators with practical, evidence-based strategies for teaching reading, writing, and language to diverse learners.
Accredited Teacher Training and Continuing Education
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. Massachusetts educators can trust that every PTI course meets rigorous academic and professional standards.
Our faculty members—who collectively represent more than 50 years of experience in teacher education and special education—deliver interactive, live courses that encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and immediate classroom application.
Through PTI, teachers and specialists across Massachusetts can access high-quality professional development and special education study options from anywhere in the state through convenient, real-time instruction.
Courses and Programs for Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts continuing education and PDP standards.
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 Massachusetts—from early literacy instructors in Boston to special educators in Worcester—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: 63 PDPs | Optional 3 Graduate Credits
- 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: 50 PDPs
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: 63 PDPs, 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: 118 PDPs | Optional 3 Graduate Credits
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: 150 PDPs per year | Optional 3 Graduate Credits per year
Beyond Associate Seminars
Designed for educators who have completed Associate Level Orton-Gillingham training or teachers, literacy specialists, and special and general educators looking to strengthen their skills in implementing literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading, these six seminars provide continued professional growth. Each focuses on practical, advanced topics such as:
- 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 count toward annual recertification through the Orton-Gillingham Academy.
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: 36 PDPs, 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: 18 PDPs, 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 that is tailored to the unique needs of your staff and students. Whether the focus is literacy, inclusive practices, universal design for learning, or effective intervention strategies, our sessions are interactive, practical, and research-based. Professional learning can be delivered through workshops, ongoing series, or job-embedded coaching to ensure meaningful application in daily practice.
Continuing Education and Professional Development for Massachusetts Teachers
PTI’s accredited professional development programs help educators earn Massachusetts PDPs, maintain licensure, and continue professional growth. Our courses are ideal for:
- Teachers pursuing continuing education credits
- Special educators seeking structured literacy expertise
- School districts offering in-service training programs
- Reading and literacy specialists expanding diagnostic skills
Educators across Massachusetts—from Cambridge and Newton to Lowell and Springfield—choose PTI for its combination of academic rigor, flexible live delivery, and real-world impact on teaching and learning.
Why Massachusetts Teachers Choose PTI
- Accredited by IACET and the Orton-Gillingham Academy
- Graduate credit and PDP options through Fitchburg State University
- Experienced faculty with over 50 years in education and special education
- Interactive, live instruction that fits teachers’ schedules
- Trusted by Massachusetts schools and districts statewide
At PTI, we combine flexibility, expertise, and credibility to make teacher professional development engaging, 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 allowing educators to connect with instructors and peers in real time, but we do travel to schools to provide in-person customized group training as well.
Can I earn PDPs or graduate credits?
Yes. Most PTI courses offer Massachusetts PDPs 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 the Classroom Educator, Associate, and Certified levels.
How does PTI support educators working with dyslexic students?
PTI’s Orton-Gillingham-based programs provide structured, multisensory methods to help students with dyslexia build decoding and spelling proficiency.
Are PTI courses suitable for general education teachers?
Absolutely. While PTI specializes in structured literacy for students with learning differences, its programs also help general education teachers strengthen early reading instruction, phonological awareness, and language comprehension.
