Pet Partners is honored to announce the creation of an affiliated organization, the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals. This new organization has been specifically created to serve the needs of AAI professionals.

The Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP) is a professional home for health care providers, educators, and others to gain the knowledge needed to safely and ethically practice animal-assisted interventions while advancing the field.

Inspired by a gap in services and based on in-depth market analysis, AAAIP is an approach to meet the field where it is while facilitating advancements as the field and AAAIP grow.

Who should join AAAIP?

  • Professionals wishing to practice AAI.
  • Trainers or behaviorists involved in the training of therapy animals.
  • Researchers investigating AAI.

AAAIP Member Benefits:

  • Education: online courses, webinars, conferences, and more.
  • Connection: pathways for emerging AAI professionals to get started and opportunities for field leaders to share their knowledge.
  • Resources: publications, handouts, template documents, and more.
  • Community: robust online community and additional opportunities for special networking initiatives.
  • Research: means for staying up-to-date on empirical advancements and invitations to contribute to continued investigation.

Certification Exam

The Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (AAI-S) certification will examine topics deemed essential by a team of subject matter experts and will help professionals demonstrate an awareness of best practices in AAI. This exam will assess professional knowledge in integrating AAI as a complementary treatment modality within an existing scope of practice.

Receive Updates

Sign up for our AAI for Professionals newsletter today.

Learn More

Please visit the AAAIP Frequently Asked Questions.

Download our newest publication, The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions in Professionalized Settings.

Visit the AAAIP Website