The Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks — a communication track and a leadership track. The communication track is the major part of this system. Almost all new members join Toastmasters for the benefits this track offers. Some also become involved in the leadership track. Members may participate in both tracks at the same time.  

Communication Track

The core of the communication track is the Communication and Leadership 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 manual helps members develop the basic skills needed to prepare and present an effective speech. Every speech a member presents in the Club should be a man­ual speech. Since each speech project builds upon the skills used in previous projects, members should com­plete the projects in consecutive order. Members may give up to two speeches from the basic manual outside the Club with advance approval of the Club Vice President Education. When giving speeches from the basic manual, members shall strive to meet the objec­tives of each project, including time limits. Members must receive both written and oral evaluations for each speech in order to receive credit for the project toward the GTM award.  

The CTM Award

Members who complete the Communication and Leadership Program manual are eligible for Competent Toastmaster (CTM) recognition. When a member finishes all 10 projects, he/she should complete the CTM application form in the manual, have the Vice President Education sign it (if the application is for the Vice President Education, another officer (not Sergeant-at-Arms must sign it), and send it to World Headquarters. Or the Vice President Education may visit the Toastmasters International Web site, www.toastmasters.org, and complete the online application for the member and submit it. The member will receive a CTM certificate and, if this is his/her first CTM award, two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals free of charge.

Advanced Program

After receiving CTM recognition, a member can enter the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program. This program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. The manuals are:  

•    The Entertaining Speaker (226-A)

•    Speaking to Inform (226-B)

•    Public Relations (226-C)

•    The Discussion Leader (226-D)

•    Specialty Speeches (226-E)

•    Speeches by Management (226-F)

•    The Professional Speaker (22 6-C)

•    Technical Presentations (226-H)

•    Persuasive Speaking (226-1)

•    Communicating on Television (22 6-1)

•    Storytelling (226-K)

•    Interpretive Reading (226-L)

•    Interpersonal Communication (226-M)

•    Special Occasion Speeches (226-N)

•    Humorously Speaking (226-0)  

Each manual helps members further develop speak­ing skills and offers practical experience in handling a variety of speaking situations. You may want to display these manuals at every meeting.

Members working in the advanced manuals are eligi­ble for several awards.  

Advanced Toastmaster Bronze (ATM-B) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:  

•    Achieved Competent Toastmaster award

•     Completed two Advanced Communication and Leader­ship Program manuals

Advanced Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:  

•    Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award (or Able Toastmaster award)

•    Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for any previous awards)

•    Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series (may not be those conducted for any previous awards)

Advanced Toastmaster Gold (ATM-G) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:  

Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Silver award (or Able Toastmaster Bronze award)

Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for any previous awards)

Conducted a Success/Leadership Program, Success! Communication Program or a Youth Leadership Program (may not be those conducted for any previous awards) Coached a new member with the first three speech projects  

By the time a member earns the Advanced Toastmas­ter Cold award, he or she will have completed six of the available 15 Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills.

Members may give up to two projects from each Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manual outside of a Club environment provided the Vice President Education agrees in advance, a Toastmaster evalua­tor is present and provides a written and oral project evaluation, and the speaker meets all project objectives.

To apply for any of the Advanced Toastmaster awards, members should complete the appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award Application (Catalog No. 1207-A), and have you as the Vice President Education sign it (if the application is for the Vice President Education, another officer [not Sergeant-at-Armsl must sign it). This application is in the back of each advanced manual, in the appendix of this manual, in the President’s manual, and on the Toastmasters International Web site: www.toastmasters.org. You may apply for awards online on behalf of members as well. Applications are also available from World Headquarters.

All award recipients are sent certificates and, if they wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to their employer about their achievement.

Leadership Track

The Toastmasters educational program also includes a leadership track, where members acquire and practice the skills necessary to be an effective leader. Members can serve as Club leaders, developing skills in planning, training, motivating, and managing. As a Club officer, you are in this track. Members can even become District leaders, where these skills are further enhanced. Members can also participate in the High Performance Leadership program (Catalog No. 262), which requires them to conduct a project of their choice in which they serve as leaders.  

Every Member a CL

Get commitment from members to achieve the CL award and get commitment from CL recipients to earn the AL award. Monitor members’ progress toward these awards using the Member Achievement Record (Catalog No. 1328).  

Competent Leader (CL) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:  

•    Achieved Competent Toastmaster award

•    Served at least six months as a Club officer and par­ticipated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan

•    While a Club officer, 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 conducted for any previous awards).

Advanced Leader (AL) Award

To be eligible for this award, members must have:  

•    Achieved Competent Leader award

•    Served a complete term as a District officer (District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Division Governor, Area Governor)

•     Completed the High Performance Leadership program

•    Served successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor, or Specialist

Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Award

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:  

•    Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award

•    Achieved Advanced Leader award  

To apply for the Distinguished Toastmaster award, members should complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards Application, (Catalog No. 1209-A), and have the Vice President Education sign it (if the application is for the Vice President Education, another Club officer [not Sergeant­at-Armsj must sign it), and send it to World Headquarters. Applications are in the President’s manual, the appendix of this manual, and on the Toastmasters International Web site: www.toastmasters.org. You may apply for awards online on behalf of members as well. Applications are also available from World Headquarters.

Members receiving the DTM award will receive a plaque and are mentioned in The Toastmaster magazine’s Hall of Fame. Award recipients may instruct World Headquarters to send a letter to their employer about their achievement.

Training in Communication for Better Listening, Thinking and Speaking