Frequently Asked Questions
What is a therapy dog? A therapy dog goes into facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and other places to provide joy and comfort to those there.
How do I become a member? By passing the test, and completing registration.
I'm a therapy dog evaluator in another organization? Can I join CTDA? Very likely, yes! Therapy dog evaluators from other organizations are very welcome to apply to become evaluators at CTDA. There is a streamlined process for evaluators from other organization. Check out the evaluators page. Do keep in mind that many organizations will not allow members to be part of another organizations as well as their own. But we are very open for evaluators who want to make the switch.
How long does it take to become a member? Certified Therapy Dogs of America is happy to provide the most efficient process possible to potential therapy dog teams, while continuing to ensure the quality of the teams. First, you sign up for an evaluation with an evaluator, or a long distance evaluation, which varies depending on available tests. After the evaluation, you will submit your documents in the application to become a member from your portal. From here, it should take less than one business week for us to review your application.
What must my dog do to be ready to be a therapy dog? A therapy dog must be well behaved in order to perform its best. This usually consists of character - the dog is not aggressive, is amiable in a wide variety of situations, and skills - the dog is trained in obedience, and will happily obey its owner's commands. Many dogs have the potential to become therapy dogs, and some dogs just need a little training and socializing to become ready to be a therapy dog.
How do I find a facility to visit? One way is to simply reach out to a facility directly. Also, facilities may fill out the form on the facilities page on the website, and we decide they pass review, we will send it out to our dog teams in an email.
There are no evaluators in my area, what do I do? Its not a problem, there is a long distance option for places without a nearby evaluator. Check out the membership page for more details.
Is Certified Therapy Dogs of America a non-profit? Yes! It is a Non-profit 501(c)(3)
Does Certified Therapy Dogs of America provide insurance? Yes! They provide insurance through Kinsale Insurance Company up to $2,000,000 aggregate limit. There's a $1,000 deductible.