Training Programs

Becoming an ITA volunteer therapy animal team has two major components, the team training course and the team evaluation.

The Team Training Course
Some of the important information you will learn in the team training course:

• How you and your animal companion can register as an ITA volunteer therapy animal team
• The difference between animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities (AAA)
• How to approach a facility about AAA/AAT visits
• What is expected of you as a volunteer in an AAA/ AAT program
• How to conduct an AAA/AAT visit and what to bring with you
• How to prepare your animal for an AAA/AAT visit
• How to recognize signs of stress in your animal companion
• Where to get documentation and resource material about AAA and AAT
• How to identify situations where animal visits are not appropriate
• Common concerns of health-care and human services professionals about AAA and AAT
• How to choose appropriate ways to share your animal companion

Team Evaluations
The second part of the process is a test for you and your animal to find out if 1) s/he has the right skills, temperament and manners (see FAQs) to do well as an animal therapist, and 2) you also have the requisite social skills.

Animal screening evaluations are done by certified evaluators and take about half an hour. Individual appointments will be scheduled for your team screening, including the aptitude test and skills test, to become registered therapy animals. (NOTE: You need to bring proof of your animal's rabies vaccination (certificate--not just tag) to the testing appointment).