The Accredited Practitioner Register recognises the importance of standards in education and training in ensuring that members of the public, service users or clients are provided with services that are founded on professional ethics and standards that prioritise the health and wellbeing of clients and public and protects them from harm or injury.

In line with these Standards of Education and Training mean that the Register currently invites applications where applicants have:

• successful completion of the Athena Herd Foundation Level 4 Equine Facilitated Diploma; or
• successful completion and proof of qualification for non-Athena Herd Foundation training in Equine Facilitated Interactions. These must be recognised regulated qualifications, at a minimum Level 4 on the Ofqual (or regional UK equivalent) Regulated Qualifications Framework.
• the Register intends to invite applications where individual qualifications are neither of the above. In these cases the qualifications will need to be confirmed as of a suitable standard and appropriateness. All such applications will require agreement by the Register’s Advisory Board. Prospective applicants who have completed such qualifications are invited to approach to read the our framework for Defining Education Standards and approach the register if they wish to seek consideration.  
• proof of qualification for other non-Equine Facilitated Interaction practices and therapy where Practitioners are seeking to register the provision of service, for example Psychotherapy or Counselling. These must be recognised regulated qualifications, at a minimum Level 4 on the Ofqual (or regional UK equivalent) Regulated Qualifications Framework and supported by membership of appropriate accredited registers. For more information, please review our Other Therapies and Practices Policy.

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

Certificate of Proficiency

At this time the Register has no formal definition of equivalence to recognised qualification.

However, the Register recognises that there will be competent practitioners whose equine-related professional qualifications are not be aligned to the requirements of the Register. In such cases the services are likely to be being delivered based upon practices and skills acquired from other modalities supported by appropriate (non-Equine) qualifications.

With a view to accommodating such practitioners the Register has implemented a Certificate of Proficiency that can be completed to prove appropriate professional practice and skills that align to the obligations of Register membership.

Please email us if you are interested is finding out more about these plans.

Continued Professional Development

The Register also has defined levels of Continued Professional Development which all members are expected to comply with.

Return to the Register’s home page.