The Toastmasters Education Program

The mission of a Toastmaster's Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communications and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

The Toastmasters Educational Program

The educational program is the heart of a Toastmasters Club. It is the means through which you develop your communication and leadership skills and achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator.

The Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks -- a communication track and a leadership track. The communication track is the major part of the system -- almost all new members join Toastmasters for the benefits this track offers. Some become involved in the leadership track. The tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish.

Communication Track

The core of the communication track is the Communication Program manual (also called the "basic manual"), which contains 10 speech projects. Every new member is sent a basic manual within 48 hours after his/her application for Membership (Form 400) is received at World Headquarters.

The CC Designation

The basic manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others.

Your first goal in the communication tract,  is to complete this manual. When you do, you are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. When you finish all 10 projects, complete the CC application (Catalog no. 1225, and included in the manual), have the Vice President Education sign it, and send it to World Headquarters, or have one of your club executive complete the application online.  You'll receive a CC certificate and, if this is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication Program manuals free of charge. If you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.

Advanced Program

After receiving CC recognition you can enter the Advanced Communication Program, where you can refine and enhance your basic skills. This program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented; several are not. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn.

The manuals are:

When you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards:

Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) Designation
To be eligible for this award, you must have:

Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) Designation
To be eligible for this award, you must have:

Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) Designation
To be eligible for this award, members must have:

By the time you earn the Advanced Communicator Gold award, you will have completed six of the available Advanced Communication Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills.

To apply for any of the Advanced Communicator awards, complete the appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award application found in the back of any advanced manual or have a member of your club executive complete the application online.

You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

Leadership Track

As mentioned earlier, the Toastmasters educational program also includes a leadership track, where you acquire and practice the skills necessary to be an effective leader. You can serve as a Club leader, developing skills in planning, training, motivating, and managing. You even can become a District leader, where these skills are further enhanced. You also can participate in the "High Performance Leadership" program (Catalog No. 262), which requires you to conduct a project of your choice in which you serve as a leader. The program provides study material and activities to complete.

Following are the awards members may earn in the leadership track and the requirements for each.

Competent Leader (CL) Designation

To apply for the Competent Leader designation simply fill out the application in the front of the manual, (Catalogue item:  1227) or have a member of your club executive complete the application online.

Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) Designation
To be eligible for this award, you must have:

Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) Designation
To be eligible for this award, you must have:

To apply for any of the leadership awards, complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog No. 1228). Applications also are available from World Headquarters, or ask one of your club executive members to complete the application on-line.

You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Designation

The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award is the highest award our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills. To be eligible for the DTM award, a member must have:

To apply for the DTM award, complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog No. 1228). Applications also are available from World Headquarters.  A member of your club executive may also complete the application on-line

You'll receive a special plaque and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

Accredited Speaker Program

Toastmasters International has a special program which recognizes those members who have professional-level speaking skills. The Accredited Speaker Program is not for everyone. Only a handful of Toastmasters have what it takes to become Accredited Speakers. Less than 25 percent of those who apply for the program become Accredited Speakers.

The program is conducted annually. To qualify as an Accredited Speaker, an applicant must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. He or she also must be an Able Toastmaster or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze or Advanced Communicator Bronze and have had a minimum of 25 speaking engagements to non-Toastmasters audiences within three years of application date. Five copies of letters of acknowledgment or appreciation from any of the 25 engagements must be provided as documentary evidence of successful presentations. In addition, applicants must pass a rigorous two-stage judging process.  International Officers, Directors or Candidates for these offices are ineligible. An Audio presentation, application and application fee are required.  Please refer to Accredited Speaker Program pamphlet on-line (Catalogue Item 1208) for complete details, application form etc. 

Deadline each year for entries is November 1.