The AASC program is a fully online training program for school counselors nationwide that provides advanced training in working as a school therapy animal team.
AASC guinea pig team and child
Become an AASC team!
Four Compelling Reasons to Apply to the AASC Online Program
Reason 1
Develop Advanced AASC Competencies
This training provides 80 CEs of in-depth, structured learning that builds advanced knowledge and skills for implementing animal-assisted interventions in school counseling settings.
Reason 2
Gain Specialized Preparation for School-Based Counseling
Schools present unique legal, ethical, and systemic considerations. This training addresses critical school-specific topics, equipping AASC teams to operate confidently within K–12 settings.
Reason 3
Increase Professional Credibility
Completing an advanced training program through a respected university program enhances professional credibility with school administrators, families, and district leadership.
Reason 4
Improve Outcomes for Both Students and Therapy Animals
Through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction, participants develop practical skills that enhance intervention effectiveness and support animal well-being.
AASC Program Plan
This section provides information about the two online trainings offered through the AASC program. The AASC program provides 80 CEs of training that builds professional competencies—including ethical integration of animals into counseling interventions, goal setting, progress monitoring, and outcome-based practice—making teams genuinely school-therapy–ready, not just visit-approved. This program does not offer a Certification in AAC/AASC. See the Interested in Certification section below for more information.
Have AASC Teams? Will Travel!
School districts who have 8-10 school counselors interested in being certified can request for AASC trainers to travel to you! There are additional fees involved, and this can be discussed with the AAC Director, Dr. Elizabeth Hartwig.
Interested in Certification?
If you're interested in certification, you would need to participate in additional training. Certification involves passing an AAC Team Evaluation, participating an in-person training, Practicum in AAC, and completing online AAC Consultation. The evaluation and training are held on the TXST campus in San Marcos, TX in August. You can learn more about this on the AAC Certification Page.
| AAC Training | AAC Academy | AASC Online Trainings |
|---|---|---|
| Intro to AAC | ✔ | ✔ |
| Intermediate Methods in AAC | ✔ | ✔ |
| AAC Team Evaluation | ✔ | |
| Practicum in AAC | ✔ | |
| AAC Consultation (Sep-Feb) | ✔ | |
| Certification in AAC | ✔ | X |
Introduction
Introduction to AASC
This four-week online training provides an introduction to AASC with instruction on AASC history and theories, the human-animal bond, evidence-based research, animal communication, positive training approaches, getting school and district approval, AASC competencies, preparing the school for an animal partner, assessment, and theoretical applications in AASC.
Participants earn 40 CEs: 8 live webinar (online together) and 32 non-contact (reading and online learning activities)
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Learning Objectives
- Examine and discuss the foundations of AASC and the nature of the human-animal bond
- Distinguish between animal-assisted activities and AASC
- Identify evidence-based research in AASC
- Develop an AASC program request
- Evaluate elements of animal welfare and how they apply to AASC
- Assess knowledge of AASC readings
- Identify AASC Competencies in various categories
- Explore values about dominance theory as it relates to AASC
- Recognize canine stress signals and positive canine signals in pictures and videos
- Evaluate reasons for identifying and responding to animal communication in AASC
- Assess knowledge of AASC competencies
- Demonstrate positive training skills for animal partners
- Synthesize learning in the Intro to AASC training
Intermediate Methods
Intermediate Methods in AAC Training
This four-week online and two-day intensive synchronous training provides intermediate training in AASC in the context of school settings. Participants will learn individual, small group, classroom, and schoolwide AASC interventions, as well as student-affirming techniques to use in schools.
Participants earn 40 CEs: 12 live webinar (online together) and 28 non-contact (reading and online learning activities)
Prerequisite: Introduction to AASC
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Learning Objectives
- Identify benefits and challenges of AASC teams in schools
- Develop AASC school wide lesson plan for school implementation
- Demonstrate basic skills with animal partner
- Describe key concepts of a primary theory and apply theory to AASC services
- Develop AASC lesson plan for classroom activity
- Demonstrate how to teach others to greet your animal partner and assess animal consent
- Identify ways that animals and the human-animal bond can support children with diverse cultures and needs in schools
- Develop AASC lesson plan for a small group
- Demonstrate how to review informed consent while your animal partner is in a settle
- Describe three of the biggest takeaways from AASC training
- Develop AASC lesson plan for individual session
- Demonstrate loose leash walking, leave it, and limit setting skills skills with animal partner
- Assess knowledge of AASC readings
AASC Schedule
| AAC Training | Learning Modality | Training Dates | # CEs | Early Bird Fee Due Date | Student & Regular Rate Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Online | May 31, 2026, 4:00-6:00p CST | |||
| Introduction to Animal-Assisted School Counseling | Online | June 7, 14, 21 (Father's Day), & 28, 2026 (Sundays), 4:00-6:00p CST | 40 (8 direct, 32 indirect) | May 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| Intermediate Methods in Animal-Assisted School Counseling | Online | July 17 & 18, 2026, 9:00a-4:00p CST each day | 40 (12 direct, 28 indirect) | May 22, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
AASC Rates
| Training | Early Bird & Student Rate | Professional Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Animal-Assisted School Counseling | $ 800.00 | $ 900.00 |
| Intermediate Methods in Animal-Assisted School Counseling | $ 800.00 | $ 900.00 |
| Total | $ 1,600.00 | $ 1,800.00 |
AAC Academy Interest Meetings
If you are interested in applying for the AAC Academy, please plan to attend an online AAC Academy Interest Meeting where AAC trainers will review the AAC certification process and answer questions you have about the program. Check out the upcoming meeting dates and times!
Applying to the AASC Online Program
Eligibility Requirements
Prior to applying to the AASC program, make sure you have met or are working toward the eligibility requirements below. These are some of the eligibility requirements for the program:
- You must have a potential animal partner who is at least one-year-old, in good health, and has been cleared by a veterinarian.
- We do not train service animals or emotional support animals (ESAs). Please do not apply if your animal partner is a service animal or ESA.
- You must be willing to commit to both AASC trainings.
Program Acceptance
Applications will be accepted from February 1 to April 30 each year. Dr. Hartwig and the AASC trainers will review all applications and notify applicants of the decision during the first week of May.
To reserve your spot, you must pay the rates in full by the due dates listed on this page. If you do not pay by the due date, your will lose your spot and another applicant will be given the opportunity to participate in the program. Due to limited space, applicants who are not accepted into the program this year can apply next year for the AASC program.
Prior to Completing the AASC Program Application
Please plan on at least 30 to 45 minutes to complete this application. You will need the following items to complete this application:
- A photo of you and your animal partner (we will use this photo to welcome and announce the new cohort, so make sure it's a good photo of you and your animal with no other people or animals in the photo),
- Professional liability insurance (for the practitioner, because you will be working with clients; what you currently use for work/private practice),
- Letter of consent, if your animal partner belongs to someone else,
- Rabies certificate, and
- Canine Good Citizen or other volunteer training certificate (e.g., Pet Partners, ATD)
AASC Online Program Application
Applications are now open! You can apply to the 2026 AAC Academy cohort between February 1st and April 30th, 2026.
Cancellation Policy
Nonrefundable fees: There is a $100.00 nonrefundable fee for administrative costs associated with processing each payment or refund for training and consultation fees.
Cancellations: Written cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the training will receive a full refund. Cancellations within two weeks of the training, during or after the training, or no shows will incur a $200.00 nonrefundable fee. Participants who pay an early bird rate and request reimbursement for future trainings after attending one or more AAC trainings will be charged the regular rate for trainings attended.
Absence Policy: If a participant misses one day of the training for an emergency, the participant will make up the hours missed by participating in a make up session with a trainer to cover the content and skills that were missed. The fee for the make up meeting is $200.00. If a participant misses more than one day of the training, the participant can receive a prorated refund and will be asked to retake the training with the next cohort.