Steps to Become a Therapy Team
We’re thrilled you’re ready to begin your journey to becoming a therapy team with us—while the process involves steps at both the national and community partner levels as outlined below, we’re here to guide and support you every step of the way!
Create an account and register with Pet Partners.
If available, attend Volunteering with Your Pet, an informational session that introduces you to the Pet Partners therapy animal program, requirements, and registration process. Click here to view our upcoming sessions.
Register and complete Pet Partners Therapy Animal Handler Workshop (in-person or online), which prepares you to volunteer effectively with your animal.
In-person: Register for the Therapy Animal Handler Workshop through Pet Partners, click Courses and Events and go to the Training Center, but you will take the workshop with us, your local Community Partner.
Online: The Therapy Animal Handler Online Course is only available through the Pet Partner website on this page.
Purchase or download the Pet Partners Handler Guide (available through the Pet Partners – click here.)
In-Person – No Fee
Online – $80 payable
to Pet Partners
Have your vet complete the Health Screening Form. You can download the form for your vet from this page.
Register and pass a Team Evaluation with your therapy animal (this step must be completed within 2 years of completing the Therapy Animal Handler Course). To see available dates for Team Evaluations, click here.
$20 payable to PPGC (if your Team Evaluation is with us). Payable at time of evaluation
Join Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati (PPGC). When you join PPGC, your registration with Pet Partners is discounted. This discount more than pays for your annual membership with PPGC. PPGC will provide support to you at a local level, helping you find the best place for you to volunteer. Click here for more information.
$20 every 2 years
Complete registration with Pet Partners.
$95 (every 2 years) payable to Pet Partners. (Fee is discounted to $50 if you are a member of Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati)
Get Started Today With These 6 Steps:
Create an account at Pet Partners and register your team. You, as the handler, and your pet, as the animal, will always be referred to as the team.
Learn the skills needed to visit safely with your animal in hospitals, nursing homes, classrooms and other facilities.
- In-person: Register for the Therapy Animal Handler Workshop through Pet Partners, click Courses and Events and go to the Training Center, but you will take the workshop with us, your local Community Partner.
- Online: The Therapy Animal Handler Online Course is only available through the Pet Partner website on this page.
These instructions guide you through the processes to register for this assessment, and how to access your Completion Certificate, which is needed for your Team Evaluation.
Step 4: Have your vet complete the Health Screening Form
You can download the form for your vet from this page.
The Team Evaluation process evaluates the animal/handler team, how well the handler interprets and manages the animal’s behavior, and how well the animal responds to the handler. This is a required step on your way towards becoming a registered Pet Partners Therapy Animal Team. To see available dates for Team Evaluations, click here.
You and your pet must successfully complete the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Team Evaluation. The Team Evaluation process is conducted by a licensed Team Evaluator and is intended to evaluate the animal/handler team, how well the handler interprets and manages the animal’s behavior, and how well the animal responds to the handler. You will learn about the evaluation process in great detail at our workshops.
Unlike obedience competitions, you and your animal do not have to perform the exercises with precision to pass the evaluation. You are also encouraged to talk to your animal during the entire evaluation. The main emphasis is that the animal is under control. One of the goals of the therapy animal teams program is to ensure that we can all be proud of the visiting teams because they are safe and reliable.
The evaluation process gives a complete picture of each handler/animal team. This process is the safest way to identify acceptable visiting teams. At no time will your animal be put in a situation that is dangerous to the animal’s welfare. The licensed Team Evaluators are trained and know that the well-being of animals comes first, no matter what. At no point during the evaluation will animals be hurt or intentionally frightened. The test is designed to resemble situations that might occur when the animal goes on a visit. If you are uncomfortable with or unsure of what is going on during the evaluation, please let the evaluator know. You are encouraged to be your animal’s advocate.
When you join PPGC for $20 following your Team Evaluation, your registration with Pet Partners is discounted. This discount more than pays for your annual membership with PPGC. PPGC will provide support to you at a local level, helping you find the best place for you to volunteer. Click here for more information.