Costs & Application Requirements
IHAC Professional Development Certificates
Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) professional development certificates are tailored to meet the needs of working professionals or full-time students—whether you’re seeking animal-assisted therapy education or want to expand your understanding of human-animal interaction. Courses are completed in sequence and you’ll have weekly deadlines, but since you’re not required log in to your virtual classroom at any specified time, you can complete your coursework on your schedule. All of our professional development certificates require some travel for in-person workshops, plus a computer with high-speed Internet access and Microsoft Word (view specific Web browser and operating system requirements).
Applicant Requirements
All of our professional development certificate programs require a college degree and/or equivalent related working experience. Some programs also require experience with animal-assisted interventions.
View specific requirements by certificate.
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Animals and Human Health Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university, or equivalent working experience in the animal-assisted field
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Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certificate
- Successful completion of one of the following prerequisite programs:
- IHAC animals and human health certificate
- IHAC equine-assisted mental health practitioner certificate
- Graduate School of Social Work animal-assisted social work certificate with MSW
- If an applicant hasn’t completed a prerequisite program, in special circumstances we may conduct a telephone interview to determine if applicants who meet both of the following criteria may be recommended for admission:
- Master’s degree in human services (social work, psychology, counseling, nursing, physical therapy, etc.) or a degree in education from an accredited 4-year college or university
- Relevant and significant experience in animal-assisted interventions
- Successful completion of one of the following prerequisite programs:
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Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate
- Master or doctoral level mental health professional (licensed or pre-licensed), or currently enrolled in a graduate mental health-related program (social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical or counseling psychology, psychiatry, psychiatric nursing).
- Prior equine experience
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Humane Education Practitioner Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university, or equivalent working experience in human rights or environmental, conservation or humane education
Application Process
Because enrollment is capped for all of our professional development certificate programs, applicants are placed on an active wait list once their applications are submitted, reviewed and accepted. Applicants are notified via email once they are accepted into the certificate program and eligible for enrollment into a cohort and will receive detailed registration and payment information at that time.
The admission process for all certificate programs begins with the submission of a completed online application form and payment of $25 application fee.
Need more information about educational programs at IHAC?
Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions Course
Requirements & Cost
This class is open to people from any experience or education level. We welcome anyone who is interested in this topic to register for this introductory class. This is an asynchronous, self-paced learning course. When you register, you will be sent course login details within 3 business days so you can get started learning quickly! Students earn 5 continuing education units.
Cost: $300 (includes all course materials)
