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 tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish. Toastmasters International sends every new member a set of materials within 48 hours after receiving his/her application for membership. Included in the material are manuals to get you started in both tracks: Competent Communication, Competent Leadership, Your Speaking Voice, Effective Speech Evaluation, and Gestures: Your Body Speaks.

Communication Track

Members working in this track learn and practice communication skills.

Competent Communication manual (pdf 35kb)

This manual, which has 10 speech projects, is the first step in the communication track. It helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every projects builds upon what you learned in the preceding project. As you prepare and present each project speech you'll learn the importance of organization, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, select the right words and use visual aids. You also learn how to speak persuasively and inspire others. An evaluator will give your feedback on each speech you present and help you to improve. When you compete this manual you are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. Complete the CC application in the manual and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CC Certificate and, if this is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication manuals free of charge.

Advanced Communication manuals

After receiving CC recognition you can work in the Advanced Communication manuals, where you can refine and enhance your speaking skills. There are 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. The manuals are:

The Entertaining Speaker (226A)
Speaking to Inform (226B)
Public Relations (226C)
The Discussion Leader (226D)
Specialty Speeches (226E)
Speeches by Management (226F)
The Professional Speaker (226G)
Technical Presentations (226H)
Persuasive Speaking (226I)
Communicating on Television (226J)
Storytelling (226K)
Interpretive Reading (226L)
Interpersonal Communication (226M)
Special Occasion Speeches (226N)
Humorously Speaking (226O)

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

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

• Achieved Competent Communicator award (or achieved Competent Toastmaster award)
• Completed two Advanced Communication manuals

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

• Achieved Advanced Communicator Bronze award (or achieved Able Toastmaster award or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award)
• Completed two additional advanced communication manuals (may not be those completed for any previous award)
• Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series

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

• Achieved Advanced Communicator Silver award (or achieved Able Toastmaster Bronze award or Advanced Toastmaster Silver award)
• Completed two additional advanced communication manuals (may not be those completed for any previous award)
• Conducted a Success/Leadership, Success/Communication or a Youth Leadership program
• Coached a new member with the first three speech projects

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

To apply for any of the Advanced Communicator awards, complete the appropriate section of the application in the back of any advanced manual and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

Leadership Track

Members working in the leadership track learn and practice leadership skills by serving in club roles.

Competent Leader manual

This manual is the core of the leadership track. It features 10 projects, which you complete while serving in various club meeting roles. An evaluator will give you feedback on each project, helping you to improve. When you compete the manual, you are eligible for Competent Leader recognition. Complete the CL application in the manual and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CL certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.

Advanced Leader Program

After earning the CL award you can further refine and develop your leadership skills by working in the advanced leader program. Members working in this program are eligible for two awards:

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

• Achieved new Competent Leader award
• Achieved Competent Communicator award (or Competent Toastmaster award)
• Served at least six months as a club officer (president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, secretary, treasurer or sergeant at arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office
• While serving in the above office, participated in a district-sponsored club officer training program
• Conducted any two programs from The Successful Club Series and/or The Leadership Excellence Series (may not be those completed for previous awards)

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

• Achieved Advanced Leader Bronze award (or "old" Competent Leader award)
• Served a complete term as a district officer (district governor, lieutenant governor, public relations officer, secretary, treasurer, division governor or area governor). A complete term is defined as having served at least from September 1 through June 30. Those assuming office after September 1 do not qualify as having served a full term.
• Completed the High Performance Leadership Program (see below)
• Served successfully as a club sponsor, mentor or coach.

To apply for any of the Advanced Leader awards, complete the appropriate section of the AL/DTM application and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.

High Performance Leadership

High Performance Leadership (Catalog No. 262) helps members develop leadership skills. The program features five projects offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas a developing a vision, goal-setting and planning, developing plans and strategies and team-building. It also gives the member feedback on his or her leadership skills. The program may be completed within the member's Toastmasters club, area or district, and even within his or her company or community.

Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)

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

• Achieved Advanced Communicator Gold award (or achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award)
• Achieved Advanced Leader Silver award (or achieved Advanced Leader award)

To apply for the Distinguished Toastmaster award, complete the appropriate section of the AL/DTM application and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a plaque and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.