Level Four – Advanced Therapy Dog and Handler Team

Certified Practitioners are expected to successfully integrate their CAI practice with their primary training and occupation including:

• Development of discipline specific CAI skills and knowledge via attendance at Masterclass and professional supervision
• Engagement in reflective CAI practice under the guidance of an approved supervisor/Mentor
• Intervention planning relevant to your profession, such as development of successful treatment or curriculum plans
• Development and delivery of appropriate interactions to effectively achieve client/treatment/educational goals
• Successful partnership with your therapy dog, demonstrating a strong collaborative working alliance and a depth of understanding about the value of your dog as a true partner in the work

Supervised Professional Practice

The student will develop a supervision plan, spanning a period of not less than 9 months, and including not less than 6 professional reflective supervision sessions. A total of 228 hours of CAI must be delivered during the 9 month period. The supervisor/mentor must sign off on the students competency. In order to complete the supervised practice requirements, students must be able to secure workplace experience. This will most commonly be achieved via the student’s current workplace, but can also be achieved by offering visiting services to organisations. (Please note: Students must arrange their own supervision appointments with Lead The Way or one of our approved supervisors/mentors. Supervision costs are not included in course fees)

Supervised practice (practical hours) may begin once the team has successfully achieved Certification as a Visiting Therapy Dog and Handler Team (Level Two). At the foundational level, supervised practice comprises:

• A minimum of 36 hours supervised practice completed over a period of at least 3 months (3 hours per week of direct delivery of interventions/client contact).
• Interactions need not be discipline-specific, and may include informal visiting; however, there is an expectation that the practice is relevant to the practitioner’s future work goals, for example similar populations or settings.
• A minimum of 3 hours of supervision during the practice period. Supervision will focus on safe interactions, managing the Visiting Therapy Dog’s behaviour and welfare; engaging clients; establishing appropriate procedures, insurances, or equipment; and appropriate professional practices.
• One session can be delivered via group supervision, and the remaining two must be individual supervision.

The majority of supervised practice must occur once the team has successfully achieved Certification as an Advanced Therapy Dog and Handler Team (Level Four). At the advanced level, supervised practice comprises:

• A minimum of 192 hours of supervised practice completed over a period of at least 6 months (8 hours per week of direct delivery of interventions/client contact).
• The work practice must be discipline-specific, and relevant to the practitioner’s area of practice, i.e. therapy, education or activities.
• A minimum of 6 hours of supervision during the practice period. Supervision will focus on enhancing the working partnership; development of treatment, curriculum or activity plans; managing complex settings; and application of the NB-AAI model (taught in our Advanced courses) and other theoretical models and concepts to client or student presentations.
• Up to three of the supervision sessions can be delivered via group supervision, and the remaining three must be individual supervision.
• Completion of a discipline-specific Masterclass should ideally occur during this period, however the Masterclass can be completed at a later date if required.

Masterclass (one day practicum)

Students should enrol in their preferred discipline specific masterclass. Masterclass must be attended in person allowing students to demonstrate competence in practical professional skills

Home Study and Online Exam

After having completed all practicums (Levels One to Four and Masterclass) and towards the end of their supervised practice, the participant should prepare for the final exam. The exam is broken into modules, with readings provided for each. The exam is ‘open book’ and participants don’t have to complete it in one sitting. The exam will assess the participants knowledge of:

• Revision of foundational knowledge and skills
• Revision of advanced knowledge and skills
• Additional professional readings (supplied)

Participants should aim to complete the exam within the final month of their course. Access is granted by contacting the course coordinator. Access remains open for a period of 20 days.

To maintain Certification as a Practitioner, all graduates are required to attend 12 hours every 2 years ongoing professional development (PD) in animal assisted interactions relevant to their workplace and profession. Approved activities include courses, conferences, masterclasses, training or supervision. Ongoing maintenance or classes in canine obedience and manners (whilst important and necessary) do not count towards PD hours, however specialist canine training may be sufficient if directly related to work practices. Practitioners must demonstrate how the chosen training contributes to their effective work as an animal assisted practitioner.

If the Certified Practitioner no longer has a Certified Therapy Dog with whom they are working, they are permitted to work in the diamond model with other handler-dog teams. Practitioners are not certified to work with other species of animal, and should seek out additional training and supervision in this domain if required.

If the Certified Practitioner wishes to maintain their therapy dog’s Certification, annual recertification of the dog and handler team (or group) must be completed, a proportion of which may be counted towards ongoing professional development requirements. Practitioners with Certified Therapy Dogs will have their dog’s details included in their Practitioner listing on the Lead The Way Institute Directory.

Participants who have previously Certified with us may be able to count some previous work or supervision hours towards their supervised practice requirements (at the relevant level, i.e. foundational or advanced).

There is no RPL for the exam

In addition to the successful completion of the exam, approved supervisors/mentors will be required to attest to the team’s competency in the provision of CAI within the scope of their professional practice.

• In its entirety, the Certificate Course and Practitioner Certification are ideal for those people who, regardless of their existing qualifications, would like to deliver CAI at a professional level.
• Practitioners are certified in Animal Assisted Therapy, Animal Assisted Education or Animal Assisted Activities in accordance with their existing qualifications and training. Please see Practitioner Certification below for more information