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Certification

Make your passion a profession.

PATH Intl. certifies professionals according to a set of field-tested standards to ensure the highest levels of safety, ethics and effectiveness in the industry. Certification candidates must complete relevant education and pass both written and practical exams to become certified to deliver equine-assisted services.

The value in being certified through PATH Intl.

Trained PATH Intl. evaluators share their expertise to help teach, assess and evaluate fellow professionals seeking certification.  To date, PATH Intl. has certified nearly 5,000 instructors in several disciplines as well as 300 Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning to support 794 member centers in confidently providing equine-assisted services according to PATH Intl. standards.

Locate PATH Intl. Certified Professionals around the world via our online certified professionals directory.

Making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals….

Certification Options

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor​

The PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) is a voluntary, entry-level credential for individuals in the equine-assisted services (EAS) profession who provide riding instruction and therapeutic value to people with disabilities. This may include mounted or unmounted work ethically partnering with an equine. PATH Intl. CTRIs have met established criteria and standards of practice in the field. They have demonstrated their knowledge of disabilities, equines, teaching and human-animal interactions.

Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification​

A PATH Intl. Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor is able to conduct an effective, safe and equestrian lesson and demonstrate instruction that shows progression of riding skills for riders of all physical, cognitive and riding abilities.

Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification​​

PATH Intl. Master Instructors have a strong background in horsemanship and teaching. They possess a thorough knowledge of a variety of physical, cognitive, intellectual and emotional disabilities and how this knowledge relates to therapeutic riding and other equine-assisted services. This program is designed for those instructors with career involvement in therapeutic riding and other equine-assisted services. PATH Intl. Master Therapeutic Riding Instructors are looked upon as role models and subject matter experts in the industry.

Therapeutic Driving Instructor

A PATH Intl. Certified Driving Instructor has well established driving skills and is competent in harnessing, ground driving, putting-to and instruction of drivers with disabilities. PATH Intl. Certified Driving Instructors are safety oriented and knowledgeable about disabilities to safely conduct a driving program. They know parts of the harness, their purpose and proper fit to the equine and have knowledge of vehicles and their maintenance.

Interactive Vaulting Instructor

A PATH Intl. Interactive Vaulting Instructor is able to create a safe, dynamic environment that offers educational, social, creative and movement opportunities for participants. Participants engage individually and as a group in horsemanship activities, movements around, on and off an equine or a vaulting barrel and perform gymnastic-based positions on the back of the equine.

Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

A PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) ensures the safety and well-being of the equine participating in equine-facilitated mental health and learning sessions. The ESMHL serves as the equine expert during equine/human interactions and works with mental health or education providers to ethically incorporate equines in their practice, within the scope of their profession. An ESMHL must be knowledgeable in horsemanship and understands how to collaborate with a mental health therapist and/or educator to best meet the client’s needs and keep the lesson safe.

If a certification candidate believes that the published policies and procedures or PATH Intl. Certified Professional Code of Ethics were not complied with in the review of their application, administration of their certification testing and/or issuance of certification resulting in an adverse certification decision, they may choose to contend that decision. Candidates should refer to the candidate handbook of the relevant certification program for information on the applicable appeals process. A grievance may be filed if the candidate believes the PATH Intl. Certified Professional Code of Ethics was not complied with.

I belong to PATH Intl. because of the folks we help and empower in an area where they never knew they could. Also watching them grow in their horsemanship skills.

Louise Ballanger
Member

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Questions? We are here to help.

Whether you’ve been with us for some time, or are brand new to PATH Intl., we want to ensure you’re getting every question answered.

PATH Intl. communicates important updates and deadlines related to our certification programs primarily via email. Please note that, if you unsubscribe from PATH Intl. emails, you will not receive key information which can impact the status of your certification, particularly the ability to renew your certification.