Skip navigation
Regent University campus view

Post-Master’s Certificate in Reading Specialist

Online
21
January 12, 2026

The Post-Master’s Certificate in Reading Specialist, offered online with a field-based internship, is designed for licensed educators with a VDOE teaching license and a master’s degree in teaching or a related field. You will explore phonemic and phonological awareness, theory, assessment, and differentiated instruction for diverse learners, including those who are struggling and advanced readers. It also helps you prepare to deliver evidence-based, inclusive literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading.

  • Learn skills to support school-wide reading success and close achievement gaps.
  • Gain expertise in reading supervision, curriculum design, and the integration of research and technology.
  • Promote independent, strategic reading through engaging literary and informational texts.

This certificate is ideal for educators passionate about literacy leadership and may help advance your career as an expert in your field.

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
EDRD 500Foundations of Reading3
Examines evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading. Focus on phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, print concepts, and assessment. Emphasis on addressing diverse learner needs. Combines theory and practice to prepare educators for effective, inclusive reading instruction across educational settings.
EDRD 560Integrating Reading Comprehension & Writing Instruction3
Examines evidence-based strategies that connect reading comprehension and writing. Students explore their reciprocal relationship, assess progress, and design interventions. Emphasis is placed on literacy as both a learning tool and communication skill, supporting student growth across diverse classrooms through integrated, effective instruction and meaningful application.
ETSP 554Assessing & Teaching Reading of Narrative & Expository Texts3
Prepares participants to assess reading skills and to teach reading to students with mild disabilities and/or language deficit and/or second language acquisition. The course will specifically address reading processes, approaches, and stages, early intervention practices, corrective reading, diagnosis and remediation of reading problems, and assessment and instruction of reading in the content areas. Investigate and analyze record reviews and interviews; design, administer, and interpret tests; write reports; and design, implement, and critique instruction. The focus will be on the application and generalization of knowledge to realistic classroom situations.
ETSP 576Data Driven Assessment3
The study of achievement assessment, IQ test, validity and reliability, constructs, construction of authentic assessment and scoring, norm referenced v. criterion referenced, determination of biased assessments and factors that may influence assessment such as cultural, behavioral, and learning diversity. Administration, scoring, and interpretation of commonly used individual and group instruments, including norm-referenced, criterion-referenced, and curriculum-based measures and task analysis, observation, portfolio, and environmental assessments; and synthesis and interpretation of assessment findings for eligibility, program planning, and program evaluation decisions will be addressed.
ETSP 584Reading Service Delivery: Supervision & Current Trends3
Examines current trends as well as methods and service delivery options. Demonstrate the ability to instruct and advise teachers in the skills necessary to differentiate reading instruction for both low- and high-achieving readers, as well as demonstrate an understanding of the needs of high achieving students and of strategies to challenge them at appropriate levels. Addresses the reading supervisor’s roles and responsibilities. Do field observations and interviews, literature reviews, case studies and interactive journaling. Prerequisite: all coursework leading up to the reading internship.
ETSP 585Reading Research, Curriculum & Technology3
Examine major research in the field of reading and review and investigate the use of technology in teaching and assessing reading, writing with associate skills of spelling and grammar, and research skills. Demonstrate the ability to guide students in their use of technology for both process and product as they work with reading writing and research. Examine and demonstrate an ability to teach reading and spelling curricula. Curricular materials and methods will include a children’s literature component in which you will demonstrate the ability to foster appreciation for a variety of literature and understand the importance of promoting independent reading and reading reflectively by selecting quality literature, including fiction and nonfiction, at appropriate levels. Prerequisite: all coursework leading up to the reading internship.
ETSP 596Reading Specialist Internship3
A university supervised field-based experience with guidance from a mentor teacher. Instruction/implementation of the full range of professional responsibilities of a reading specialist. Seminar requirement during course. Prerequisite: All program coursework.

2025-26 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 15Monday, August 25
Session MFriday, September 12Monday, September 22
Session BFriday, October 17Monday, October 27
Session CWednesday, January 7Monday, January 12
Session TFriday, January 30Monday, February 9
Session DFriday, March 6Monday, March 16
Session EFriday, May 1Monday, May 11
Session FFriday, June 12Monday, June 22

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Teaching License

To be admitted, you must submit an active teaching license from your state. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 4: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

CertificateTuition Cost Per Credit HourTotal CreditsTuition Cost for Certificate
Certificate in the Law & Higher Education$2509$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Artificial Intelligence for Education$25012$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Autism$25012$3,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Career Switcher$25024$6,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Christian Education$2509$2,250
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership$25012$3,000
Certificate of Graduate Studies in eLearning Design$25010$2,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Gifted & Talented Education for Teachers$25012-14$3,000-$3,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)$25010$2,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in TESOL – Adult Education-Collegiate$25015-18$3,750-$4,500
Certificate of Graduate Studies in TESOL – K-12$25015$3,750
Post-Master's Certificate in Advancing Leadership (CAL)$2509$2,250

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)$750
Library Orientation$50 (one-time)

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

“I found Regent's School of Education to be a place where I could obtain some of those practical skills I needed to help others. The TESOL curriculum included a good balance of instruction in reading, writing, and conversation skills that I can apply with adults or children.”
Jason Clark, M.Ed., 2010 TESOL
“After nearly 25 years in the military and in business, Regent's Career Switcher program inspired me and prepared me to become a classroom teacher and an educational leader. I lean on what I learned there often.”
Pat McCarty, M.Ed., 2009 Career Switcher
“Regent's M.Ed. in TESOL program has prepared me to organize and run the ESL courses at my school. Regent's TESOL professors assign the most applicable projects, which have helped me with planning lessons, selecting curriculum and creating assessments, as well as with conducting several teacher-in-service sessions for my school.”
Katherine Tipton, M.Ed., 2011 Teacher
“Regent University taught me how to be a servant leader when it comes to reaching children. I've learned to not just teach students, but to serve them according to what they need.”
Anthony Swann, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, 2014 5th Grade Teacher, Rocky Mount Elementary
“Regent has played an instrumental role in equipping thousands of graduates. We have the power to use the knowledge gained and the credentials earned to serve, to advocate for, and ultimately to bring change and hope to the hurting world around us.”
Cindi Spaulding, Ph.D., 2009 Teacher