Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification
You’re a professional, your certification should be too.
The Evaluation for Professionals is Different from a Volunteer Evaluation
Before AAAIP, professionals partnering with therapy animals in settings such as schools, clinics, or offices relied on volunteer evaluations to assess their skills. These volunteer therapy animal evaluations took place in a variety of settings and focused primarily on obedience cues and responses to different situations.
AAAIP’s Evaluation for Professionals is different. It takes place in your actual workplace (or a setting that closely mimics it) and is designed to evaluate how you and your animal work together in real-time, real-world situations.
Evaluators assess:
- How you direct interactions
- Your ability to monitor your animal for signs of stress
- How you advocate for their well-being
- Your animal’s degree of fit in your work
The evaluation typically takes about an hour and helps ensure your animal is not only capable but thriving in your work setting.
Re-evaluation happens every two years, or if there are any major changes to your work environment. By re-evaluating, you show your clients and insurers that you’re both still working at the highest level of ethical standards and practices.
AAAIP evaluations are grounded in the Competencies for the Ethical Inclusion of Therapy/Facility Animals: a clear, credible guide for responsible professionals.
To schedule your Evaluation, you need to have an active C-AAIS credential. Review the Candidate Handbook and Apply for a Team Certification.
Who is the Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification For?
This Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification is appropriate for:
- Professionals incorporating their own therapy animals or a facility animal into their paid work
- Paraprofessional handlers partnering with a practitioner to provide AAI using the Diamond Model
- Professionals who have earned the Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) credential
Get Certified as an AAI Specialist
Becoming certified as an AAI Specialist is the first step towards earning your Professional Team Certification. Once you’ve tested your knowledge, you’ll be ready to evaluate with your animal in your work setting.
Save with AAAIP Membership
Save $50 off the cost of the Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification. AAAIP will set you and your animal partner up for success!
How to Get Your Professional Team Certification
When you’re ready to take the next step with your animal partner, follow these steps:
- Get your Certification as an Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS). (Required)
- Schedule and pass your Evaluation for Professionals.
- Receive your Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification.
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Team Certification Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Volunteer evaluations are typically conducted in public settings and emphasize obedience cues and responses to many situations. AAAIP’s Evaluation for Professionals is different. It takes place in your work environment (or a similar simulated one) and assesses how well you and your animal function as a professional team. The goal is to ensure your animal is not just well-behaved, but well-suited for your specific workplace and role.
An approved evaluator will observe how you and your animal work together in your natural setting—whether that’s a therapy room, classroom, or clinic. Evaluations last up to two hours and focus on how you direct interactions with clients, students, or patients; how you monitor your animal for stress or discomfort; how obedience cues are used naturally in your day-to-day work (e.g., sitting before entering a room, loose-leash walking); and your ability to advocate for your animal’s safety and well-being.
The evaluation is not about perfection. It’s about safety, suitability, and professional standards.
The evaluation is available to professionals who have earned the Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) credential and are incorporating therapy or facility animals into their paid professional roles.
Your evaluator will submit your score report to AAAIP. Once processed, you’ll receive the Professional Therapy Animal Team Certification for two years. You can use this Certification to obtain professional liability insurance.
AAAIP is here to support your growth. If your animal exhibits aggression during the evaluation, you will not be eligible for a retest. But if your team simply needs more experience or practice, you’ll receive feedback and may reschedule the evaluation at your convenience.
AAAIP welcomes domesticated species of animals that are physically and socially mature, typically one year of age for dogs. Please note, not all species can be insured.
AAAIP’s evaluation model empowers you to identify a qualified professional in your community who can come to your workplace (or a setting that closely resembles it) to complete the evaluation protocol. If you work with a dog, select a professional dog trainer who aligns with principles of ethical, humane, positive reinforcement training. If a professional dog trainer is not available, or you work with a non-canine species. Other options include veterinary professionals, animal behaviorists, and pet professionals with deep species expertise.
The Professional Team Certification, and any subsequent renewals, cost $65 for non-members and $15 for AAAIP members at any level of membership.
Once your application has been received and approved, you will receive a copy of the scoresheet your evaluator will use. They will be observing your interactions watching for demonstrations of therapy animal team skills as listed in the Competencies document.