Level 6
Therapy Dog Trainer
Take the next step in your canine career with the IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training, a specialist qualification designed for experienced trainers and behaviour practitioners who want to plan, deliver and oversee structured therapy dog services in education, health and community settings.
This recognised Level 6 therapy dog qualification builds on your existing training and behaviour skills and focuses on selecting suitable dogs and handlers, preparing them for predictable and unpredictable environments, and designing safe, ethical visits and programmes that genuinely support people while protecting canine welfare.
By the end of the course you will be confident assessing dog and handler teams, planning and delivering therapy dog sessions, managing risk and safeguarding, and communicating clearly with schools, care providers, clinicians and other partners in a professional, credible way.
MODULES INCLUDED
You will study four focused modules that take you from experienced trainer to structured therapy dog specialist:
- Therapy dog context, welfare and professional scope
- Selecting, assessing and preparing therapy dog teams
- Training, handling and visit design for therapy work
- Programme planning, safeguarding and partnership working
Typical course length:
Most learners complete the taught content and assessments within 6 to 8 weeks alongside an active client load. You have up to 12 months of access to complete all elements.
You will qualify with:
- IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training
- The right to use the title IICBT Therapy Dog Training Specialist (IICBT TDTS) in line with IICBT brand guidelines
- Recognition through the iPET Network Professional Development Recognition (PDR) scheme
STUDY OPTIONS AND SUPPORT
The Level 6 therapy dog course is designed to fit around your existing training and behaviour work.
- All core teaching is delivered online through tutor-led lessons, therapy-focused case walk-throughs and short knowledge checks
- You access your content, templates and assessment guidance through a single student portal
- You can study in focused blocks to fast track, or spread your learning more steadily alongside client and organisational commitments
Throughout your studies you have access to experienced IICBT tutors for questions on therapy dog practice, assessment and professional scope, plus a student helpdesk for technical support.
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED
Assessment is designed to confirm that you can plan and deliver therapy dog work safely, systematically and within a clear scope of practice.
- Short online assessments at the end of each module, such as multiple choice questions, brief case summaries and applied scenario questions
- A final therapy dog case portfolio where you bring together assessment, planning, risk management and communication for a specific setting
For the final portfolio you will normally:
- Use IICBT templates to assess a proposed therapy dog and handler team for suitability
- Produce a written plan for an initial block of visits, including goals, structure, welfare safeguards and risk controls
- Outline how you will prepare and brief the handler, setting and participants, including simple policies and consent
- Provide a short recorded explanation of your approach, as if speaking to a school lead, care manager or clinical partner
Clear assessment criteria and example formats are provided so you know exactly what a pass standard looks like.
CAREER SUPPORT AND BUSINESS RESOURCES
The Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training is built to help you turn specialist skills into structured services that organisations can rely on.
During the course you will:
- Use ready-made templates for therapy dog selection, risk assessment, visit planning and feedback
- Practise explaining aims, limitations, safeguarding and fees in clear, accessible language
- Begin shaping defined therapy dog services and packages for schools, care homes, hospitals, community projects or private clients
You also gain access to wider IICBT resources and pathways that support you in developing referral relationships, managing a sustainable therapy dog caseload and building a specialist profile that organisations, practitioners and families can trust.
COURSE FEES
The total course fee for this programme is £499.
Flexible payment options are available. On your call, an IICBT adviser can talk you through deposit amounts, monthly plans and what will work best for your budget.
See the full breakdown of modules, assessment, pricing and study options.
Career Pathway Options
Dog Walker Package
Canine Behaviour Practitioner Package
Dog Trainer Package
The UK’s #1 training provider for canine behaviour and training
With long standing expertise in developing high quality canine professionals, we understand what it takes to succeed in a competitive, fast growing field. We train dog trainers and behaviour practitioners who are more employable, better prepared for real cases, confident with clients, and committed to ethical, evidence based practice.
If you are new to the industry, our Level 5 Diploma in Canine Training and Instruction is the place to begin. It is recognised as a clear benchmark for those entering professional practice and gives you the skills to train dogs safely, design structured training plans and work effectively with owners.
If you are an experienced trainer aiming to move into complex behaviour work, our Level 6 Diploma in Canine Behaviour Practice builds on that foundation. You will develop advanced skills in behavioural assessment, case formulation, risk management and working closely with veterinary teams.
You can also strengthen your profile with focused short courses in areas such as puppy training, first aid and nutrition. These programmes help you deepen knowledge, refine your practice and stay current with sector expectations.
Step 1. Download The Prospectus
Start by downloading the Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training prospectus. You will see how the course works, what you will learn about selecting and preparing teams, and the kinds of settings and services this qualification supports. You can check that this is the right route into structured therapy dog work before you commit.
Step 2. Talk to an IICBT Adviser
Next, you speak with an adviser who understands therapy dog projects in schools, care homes, health and community settings. They will look at your current training or behaviour background, the settings you want to work in, your timescales and any organisational requirements. Together you agree a study plan, discuss fast track or steady routes, explore payment options and, if it fits, build a package that matches your goals.
Step 3. Get Enrolled and set Up in Your Portal
If you decide to enrol, your adviser completes the process with you and walks you through your therapy dog training area. You see where to find lessons, assessment tools, visit planning templates and safeguarding resources, and how to get tutor support as you design real or example programmes. You finish the call clear on your first steps.
Step 4. Study, Complete Assessment, Get Qualified
You then work through the course alongside your existing client and organisational work. Most learners complete the Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training in around 6 to 8 weeks. You follow structured lessons, apply them to specific settings, complete short assessments and a final therapy dog case portfolio, then receive your IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training and Therapy Dog Training Specialist title.
Step 5. Start or Grow Your Business With Our Support
Once qualified, you are able to offer more than informal visits. You design, deliver and oversee therapy dog programmes with clear aims, safeguards and documentation. You use your title, templates and IICBT backing to work with schools, care homes, health providers and community projects in a way that protects dogs, supports people and justifies professional fees.
WHY SERIOUS DOG PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE IICBT
Independent, outcomes-led standards for canine training and behaviour, designed to prepare you for real work with dogs and owners.
Fast Track Routes
Move quickly if you’re ready, or pace your study around work and family. We show you exactly how to get qualified, not just “work through the content”.
Practical Workshops
Train in person at places owners recognise, including The Kennel Club at Stoneleigh and partner centres across the UK, not just in a village hall.
Unlimited tutor Access
Ask questions as often as you need. You get direct access to practising trainers and behaviour specialists, not a ticket system and stock replies.
Study From Anywhere
Log in, watch lessons, download templates and keep going. All core teaching lives online so you can build your new career from your sofa, not a classroom.
Support to Build a Business
We talk pricing, services, marketing and client handling, so you leave with a plan to earn from your skills, not just a certificate for the wall.
Training People Trust
Your courses are backed by an independent institute and recognised through the iPET Network PDR scheme, giving you something credible to show vets, employers and clients.
Therapy dog work sits in a sweet spot of the canine industry: it is emotionally rewarding and can be commercially strong. Most practitioners use it as a high value strand within a wider training or behaviour practice, building structured family packages and contracts with schools, colleges and care settings for regular visits.
As a guide, many therapy dog specialists charge £80 to £150 for family sessions and £150 to £300 for a half day in a school or care home, usually sold in blocks or simple retainers. Two school contracts at £200 per week, plus a steady flow of family programmes, can push your therapy dog income into the £30,000 to £50,000 per year range alongside your existing work. The Level 6 Diploma in Therapy Dog Training is designed to move you into that bracket, so therapy work becomes a stable, high value part of your business rather than an occasional unpaid favour.
Fees and Payment Options
When you speak with an adviser, they will talk you through course fees, any current offers and the payment plan that fits your budget. Most learners start with a £199 deposit and a simple monthly schedule.
Spread the cost of your course over simple monthly instalments, with 0% interest on our in-house plans.
Secure your place with a £199 deposit, then spread the remaining course fees with simple monthly payments.
Our in-house payment plans do not require a formal credit check, keeping the process simple and accessible.
Pay your full course fee at enrolment and save 20% compared with the standard payment plan price.
What if I am an experienced trainer but new to therapy dog work?
That is exactly the jump this course is designed to help you make. We assume you already understand training and welfare, but need structure for selecting teams, planning visits and working with organisations. The Level 6 Diploma takes you from “I think my dog would be good at visits” to running defined therapy dog services that schools, care homes and other settings can rely on.
Do I need to already have links with schools or care settings to start?
No. Many learners start with no formal links and use the course to shape their offer, documents and talking points before approaching organisations. On your call, your adviser can help you think about where therapy work might fit in your area and how to begin those conversations once you are confident in your process.
How long will it take me to start earning from therapy dog work?
That depends on your starting network and how quickly you complete key modules. Some trainers pilot simple, low cost visits while they are still studying, others wait until they have a full framework in place. The course is built so you can begin shaping offers as you go, and your adviser can help you plan a route from first pilot visits to paid programmes.
I have seen schemes that give out simple therapy dog badges. How is this different?
Badge schemes usually focus on whether a dog and handler can pass a single assessment. They rarely address visit design, safeguarding, risk, or long term relationships with organisations. The Level 6 Diploma treats therapy dog work as serious professional practice. It gives you assessment tools, visit plans and policies so you can offer structured services that managers can sign off, not just “friendly dog visits”.
What if I am worried about safeguarding and working with vulnerable people?
That is a responsible concern. The course includes content on professional boundaries, safeguarding and multi agency working so you understand your responsibilities and limits. You will not be left to guess how to protect dogs, handlers and participants when things do not go to plan.
What happens once I qualify?
You can present yourself as an IICBT Therapy Dog Training Specialist with a Level 6 qualification behind you. That makes it easier to approach schools, care homes, clinics and community projects with clear offers, documents and standards. It also gives you a framework you can adapt to different settings as your therapy work grows.
Do you offer payment plans, or do I have to pay everything upfront?
On your call, your adviser will explain the course fee and any payment plans that may be available, so you can invest in this specialist route at a pace that fits your current income and business stage.
Why should I choose IICBT for therapy dog work instead of a simple badge or test scheme?
Most schemes focus on whether a dog and handler can pass a one-off assessment, not on how to design and run safe, effective programmes in real schools, care settings and clinics. The IICBT Level 6 therapy dog diploma treats this as serious professional work. You learn how to assess teams, plan visits, manage safeguarding and work with organisations long term, so you can offer therapy dog services that decision makers can sign off with confidence, not just “nice visits” that rely on goodwill.