ARAC offers both Canine and Equine Diploma programs for physiotherapists who are licensed in Canada, or were previously licensed and have retired.
Internationally trained physiotherapists interested in taking ARAC courses can apply for special permission to take the courses
Animal Rehabilitation Certification
ARAC promotes excellence in the field of animal rehabilitation by offering a process for credentialing and continued professional development for physiotherapists providing rehabilitative care to animals.
Canine Diploma Program
Candidates will be required to take both the introductory and advanced canine rehabilitation courses. The prerequisite for both courses is a license to practice physical therapy in their province (or equivalent). The Independent Learning Course: ‘Introduction to the Canine Patient’ has been created as an additional prerequisite and pre-reading material for the Introduction to Canine Rehab Course.
The ARAC courses are designed to augment PT knowledge and constitute 100 hours of course work (plus 100 hours of self-directed study). A description of the courses is found below:
Equine Diploma Program
Candidates will be required to take both the introductory and advanced equine rehabilitation courses. The prerequisite for both courses is a license to practice physical therapy in their province (or equivalent). The Independent Learning Course: ‘Introduction to the Equine Patient’ has been created as an additional prerequisite and pre-reading material for the Introduction to Equine Rehab Course.
The ARAC courses are designed to augment PT knowledge and constitute 100 hours of classroom work (plus 100 hours of self-directed study). A description of the courses is found below:
Continuing Education
Small Animal Neuro-Anatomical Acupuncture & Dry Needling Certification
PART 1 Course Description
This course is designed to transition physiotherapists who are educated
and rostered to needle in human practice into being able to select acupoints or myofascial trigger points to needle in small animal patients. The course is taught with a western neuroanatomical approach to acupuncture and dry needling. The online portion of this certification course consists of 15 lessons, examination questions that follow each lesson, and a final exam. Case studies are discussed as well.
PART 2 Course Description
This One-Day course is designed to transition physiotherapists who are educated and rostered to needle in human practice into being able to perform acupuncture or dry needling on the small animal patient. The course is taught with a western neuroanatomical approach to acupuncture and dry needling. The course will instruct participants in needling technique, point localizations, and practical dry needling skills on canine (or other small animal) patients. Safety and refinement of needling skills will be a focus. The entire course will be practical, as lecture materials will have been covered in the Online Part 1 course (prerequisite). Time will be allotted for questions and discussion.
ARAC Course Policies
Eligibility for registering for ARAC courses
Physiotherapists who are licensed in Canada or retired from practice in Canada are eligible to complete the ARAC Canine and Equine diploma series of courses. (Internationally trained physiotherapists interested in taking the courses can apply for special permission to take the courses).
Exceptions
- Students in their final year of a recognized Physiotherapy Program may complete the ARAC Independent Home Study course (Introduction to the Canine Patient or Introduction to the Equine Patient) only. Students must graduate and be a registered physiotherapist in Canada before participating in the Introductory or Advanced Canine or Equine Rehabilitation courses
- Veterinarians or veterinary technicians may be eligible (on a case-by-case basis) to complete ARAC courses, provided that they have certification in Canine or Equine Rehabilitation from a recognized institution
- Physiotherapists who are in the process of completing the ‘Introduction to the Canine Patient’ or ‘Introduction to the Equine Patient’ courses are eligible to register for the ‘Introduction to Canine/Equine Rehabilitation’ course(s), respectively, provided successful completion of the respective Home Study course examination. The exam must besubmitted at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the ‘Introduction to Canine/Equine Rehabilitation’ course (to allow enough time to be marked and processed).
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Payment for courses is due in full at time of registration without exception. The Animal Rehabilitation Association of Canada (ARAC) will not hold a course spot without payment even if registration form is completed. By registering and paying the course registration fees the registrant agrees to the following cancellation policy:
ARAC Course Discounts
There are no circumstances under which ARAC course fees will be discounted (to students, new graduates or other), beyond the course discount already offered to ARAC members vs non-ARAC members.
