NLS: That All May Read

Braille Certification Courses

The Braille Development Section at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, offers courses in literary, mathematics, and music transcribing as well as literary and mathematics proofreading for Library of Congress certification.

Literary Braille Transcribing Course: Application and Trial Manuscript Information

The literary braille course, a prerequisite for the other courses, consists of twenty lessons and takes a minimum of twelve to eighteen months to complete. The final requirement is a 35-braille-page trial manuscript that is sent to the Braille Development Section for grading.

A person accepted into a course receives all required instructional materials but must supply his/her own paper and braille writing equipment or computer with direct-input software.

Locating an Instructor

Courses are provided without cost to the volunteer, and may be taken through correspondence or through local classes. To locate a recognized local braille group in your area, request a copy of the directory Sources of Custom-Produced Books: Braille, Audio Recordings, and Large Print or consult this directory online at www.loc.gov/nls/reference/directories/sources.html

Eligibility for the Courses

To qualify for enrollment, a person must be a high school graduate, a citizen or resident of the United States, or be a U.S. citizen residing in a foreign country.

Brailling after Certification

It is important to note that braille transcription is usually an avocation or a volunteer activity. Experienced braille transcribers may find full-time employment working for major braille producers, working for school districts transcribing handouts and/or textbooks for students, or working for a business or government agency preparing braille copies of materials for customers and/or staff. Some braille transcribers work at home typically producing piecework. The Library of Congress does not employ transcribers and proofreaders directly and does not operate an employment agency.

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Posted on 2006-05-30