The Register recognises the fundamental importance of robust standards in education and training. These standards are a cornerstone of our commitment to public safety and professional excellence. They exist to ensure that members of the public, service users, or clients are consistently provided with services that are founded on professional ethics and high standards, which prioritise health and wellbeing and protect them from harm or injury.

In line with our commitment to high standards, the Register currently invites applications from individuals who have met one of the following educational criteria:

1. Successful completion of the Athena Herd Foundation Level 4 Equine Facilitated Practitioner Diploma.
    
2. Successful completion and possession of proof of qualification for a non-Athena Herd Foundation training in Equine Facilitated Interactions. To be accepted, these qualifications must be recognised regulated qualifications, rated at a minimum of Level 4 on the Ofqual (or regional UK equivalent, such as Qualifications Wales or CCEA) Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

The Register maintains a list of currently recognised Equine Facilitated Interaction qualifications, which is reviewed on a regular basis. Potential applicants are invited to enquire about the specific qualifications that they hold to confirm their eligibility.

For all applications where practitioners are seeking to register the provision of other, non-Equine Facilitated Interaction practices and therapies (for example Psychotherapy, Counselling, or Occupational Therapy), specific proof of qualification for these services must be provided. These qualifications must be recognised and regulated, meeting a minimum of Level 4 on the Ofqual (or regional UK equivalent) Regulated Qualifications Framework. Crucially, they must also be supported by proof of current membership of the appropriate accredited registers for that specific modality.

The Register is also open to applications where an individual's equine-related qualifications are not on our list of automatically recognised credentials. In these cases, one of two processes will apply:

• The qualifications submitted will need to be formally assessed by the Register to be confirmed as being of a suitable standard and appropriateness for practice. The Register’s methodology for this is defined under our framework for Defining Education Standards.
• In instances where applicants cannot meet any of the above educational criteria, the Register offers a Certificate of Proficiency option as an alternative pathway to demonstrate competence (this is detailed further below).

You can find out more about what courses are currently recognised by the Register here.

The defining and maintaining of the Register's Standards of Education and Training is the sole responsibility of the dedicated Education and Training Committee.

This committee is also tasked with the critical function of assessing all qualifications presented to the Register by applicants, ensuring they align with the established standards, and making the final decision as to whether or not those qualifications are satisfactory for admission to the Register.

The Register recognises that there will be competent, experienced practitioners whose existing equine-related qualifications are not aligned with the specific requirements of the Register, or that they may not hold any formal equine-specific qualifications at all. In such cases, their services are likely to be delivered based upon practices and skills acquired from other modalities, supported by appropriate (non-Equine) qualifications.

With a view to accommodating such practitioners in a way that still guarantees standards, the Register offers a Certificate of Proficiency (CoP). This is a formal pathway that can be completed to prove that the applicant possesses the appropriate standards of professional skills and practical competence that complies with the conditions of Register membership. Please email us at register@athenaherd.org for more information on this approach.

Beyond initial qualification, the Register has also established defined levels of Continued Professional Development (CPD). Adherence to these ongoing learning and development standards is a mandatory requirement that all members are expected to comply with in order to maintain their registration and ensure their skills remain current.