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Animal-Assisted Interventions for Professionals

The Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP) is an affiliate organization that serves professionals working with therapy animals in schools, clinics, or offices. This field is called Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI).

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A woman holds a young child as she encourages his interaction with a dog.
Petey the Labrador
A woman holds a young child as she encourages his interaction with a dog.
Petey the Labrador

AAI Courses for Professionals

Whether you're just getting started or growing your existing program, AAAIP courses will meet you where you are in your journey, from Getting Started in AAI to Training Your Therapy Animal. Check out AAAIP’s most popular courses below:

Woman and dog at computer

Getting Started in AAI

Design your AAI program manual using templates provided by our courses. Assess your strengths and areas for growth. Investigate the differences between the triangle and diamond models of AAI. Discover how to recruit, train, and maintain external therapy animal handlers.
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Best Practices in Therapy Animal Handling

Learn key terminology and the skills and requirements of a therapy animal. Recognize how the relationship with your therapy animal and teamwork impacts the therapy animal team dynamic. Articulate how therapy animals should be appropriately directed through respectful and safe client interactions.
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Tools for Schools Course Bundle

Whether you're looking to bring your therapy dog into your school or grow your existing program, this 3-course bundle has all the tools you need to do it safely and ethically. Designed specifically for teachers, school counselors, administrators, social workers, librarians, behavior specialists, and other school-based professionals, Tools for Schools gives you the skills, confidence, and support you need.
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AAAIP Member Benefits

What every professional needs to know when working with therapy animals in their practice. AAAIP’s self-paced courses cover a range of topics in animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for every step of your journey.
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Professionals working with therapy animals need to demonstrate awareness of the field's best practices. AAAIP’s AAI-S Certification gives you credibility as a qualified AAI professional. They offer a practice test and study materials to prepare you for the certification exam.
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The first-of-its-kind evaluation for professionals working with therapy animals. Taking place in the convenience of your own workplace, the evaluator can determine your animal's degree of fit for your specific work environment.
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The Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals Liability Policy includes special features specifically designed for AAAIP members.
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Join a robust online community for special networking initiatives. Collaborate and get to know other members, and use the knowledge you have gained so far in your professional journey to help others new to the field.
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Access to publications, handouts, template documents, and more.
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Join AAAIP

From education to certification, networking to insurance, AAAIP is here to help you better serve your clients and support your animal partner.

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Sign-up to receive updates and information compiled for AAI professionals. The Advancing AAI newsletter is delivered to your inbox monthly.

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