How to Become a Certified Therapy Dog Team
About Our Process
Becoming a certified Project Canine therapy dog team is a 4-step process. Aspiring teams must complete all 4 steps to become certified. Download our process overview for a visual representation of the steps below.
Four Steps
- Sign up for a pre-assessment (dogs between one and three years old): If your dog is between one and three years old, we recommend signing up for a pre-assessment appointment. Becoming a therapy dog team is more complex than it may sound and we want to make sure you and your dog are ready. Cost = $35.
- Class: Take the 4-hour Introduction to Therapy Dog Principles and Initial Team Screening with your aspiring therapy dog. You and your dog will be evaluated by the instructors as to your readiness to sign up for the Exam. Cost = $150.
- Test: Take the Project Canine Therapy Team Exam with your dog. You and your dog must pass the exam in order to move on to Practice Lab. Cost = $45.
- Practice: Participate in Practice Lab with your dog. You and your dog must successfully complete this step in order to move on to Registration. Cost = $40.
- Register: Tell us you can't wait to start visiting by registering and paying for your insurance. Cost = $50–$85.
Please Note
Dogs must be at least one year old to train and certify. If you have a puppy and would like more information on how to raise and train puppies to become therapy dogs, please see our Puppies page.
Handlers must be a minimum of 14 yrs old. From ages 14–18 handlers must be accompanied on all visits by a legal guardian who has gone through the training process with them.
1 person + 1 dog = a therapy dog team. If you have multiple family members who would like to certify with your dog, each family member must complete the 5-step process and each handler must pay to attend class, take the exam, participate in Practice Lab, and register. There is a discounted rate at the end of the process for adding an additional handler for a dog.
If you have been certified with another organization, you must still complete our 4-step process, as we must thoroughly evaluate you and your dog as a team. You may not feel you are new to therapy animal visiting, but you are new to us and we take providing our certification very seriously.
We do not accept dual certifications. If you are currently certified with another therapy dog organization, you may not certify with Project Canine.
Hayley Leonberger visiting at an eldercare.
Our Philosophy
We believe that dogs who feel safe and supported by knowledgable, attentive handlers can improve the lives of those they visit. Read more about ethical considerations in pet therapy.