Application

Eligibility Requirements

Prior to applying to the AAC Academy, make sure you have met or are working toward the eligibility requirements below. There are some of the eligibility requirements for the program:

1. You must have a potential animal partner who is at least one-year-old, in good health, and has been cleared by a veterinarian.
2. 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.
3. For applicants with canine partners, you and your dog need to have obtained a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification prior to the beginning of the AAC Academy. You can find out more about the CGC program, trainers, and evaluators by going to the AKC CGC website or you can consult with our trainer, Laura Fennell at Fuzzy Matters ATX (virtually or in person). Start working on this prerequisite before you apply - ideally in the fall or early spring of the year before you apply. If you are working toward your CGC, please note that you can apply for the AAC Academy but cannot register for the Intermediate Methods in AAC training until you have met this requirement.
4. You must be willing to commit to all three AAC trainings and consultation during an AAC Academy cohort. Texas State University will only endorse participants to do AAC work when all AAC Academy certification requirements are met.

Program Acceptance

Applications will be accepted from February 1 to April 30 each year. Dr. Hartwig 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 the Schedule & Rates 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 AAC Academy.

Prior to Completing the AAC Academy 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 Certificate, if you have already completed this prerequisite.