Audience: Current or prospective Assistance Animal handlers, or their allies (e.g. trainers, support workers, family members).
Prerequisite: Nil
Goal: Equip handlers and allies with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills to safely and effectively care for their Assistance Animal, while ensuring compliance with public access laws.
Length: On average, this course takes people 2-4 hours to complete successfully.
CPD: This course is worth 1 CPD unit for WAFA members.
Availability: Tier 1
Cost: Free
Support: WAFA experts are available in our members Facebook group to provide discussion and support in completing this course. Alternatively, you may wish to email admin@workinganimals.com if you require reasonable adjustments or have a particular question or other need.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this course is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. While the content is designed to promote the health, welfare, and safe handling of assistance animals, it may not cover every possible situation or medical condition. Participants are advised to consult a licensed veterinarian or other qualified animal health professional for personalised advice regarding their animal’s health, illness, injury, or behavioural concerns. WAFA and course contributors do not accept liability for any adverse outcomes resulting from reliance on the information provided in this course. By using this course, participants acknowledge that they are responsible for applying the content safely and appropriately for their own animals.
Course Objectives:
By completing this course, participants will:
- Understands what good welfare actually looks like
- Can identify early signs of illness, pain, stress, and burnout
- Can provide daily holistic care, enrichment, and husbandry
- Has basic first aid knowledge and access to a dog first aid kit
- Can advocate for their animal’s welfare in public, training, and work contexts
By the end of the course, participants should be able to confidently respond to questions such as:
- “Can I see your certification?”
- “Why is your dog allowed in here?”
- “I don’t think your dog should be here.”
Participants will leave the course equipped not just with knowledge, but with practical skills they can use immediately to:
- Protect public access rights
- Advocate for their assistance animal
- Navigate public spaces safely
- Maintain ethical, welfare-first care
Assessment: Each module contains a reflective activity to consolidate learning, and a final reflective assignment. Some people like to keep their reflections private, while others find it helpful to talk things through or share ideas. If you’d like to do that, WAFA experts, ambassadors and other allies are available in the members Facebook group for discussion, questions, and peer support.
Award: Upon successful completion of all modules, participants will receive a digital certificate and badge.
