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This course provides practical skills training and professional development. It is not a nationally recognised qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and is not delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Certificates are issued by Modern Education Australia and recognised by ICOES and eligible for CPD points.
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Courses/Animal Care/Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog …
Micro Certificate · 50 Lessons

Become a Therapy Dog Trainer in Australia

Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog Training

Learn how to assess, select, and train dogs for therapy and assistance work. Covers the difference between therapy dogs, emotional support animals, and trained assistance dogs.…

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50
Lessons
14h
Fast Track
126h
Study Hours
$19/week
From

What you get

Every lesson is delivered in multiple formats. Choose what works for you.

📖
Written lessons

50 in-depth lessons. Read at your own pace, highlight key sections, revisit anytime.

0 ready
🎧
Audio lessons

Listen while you drive, walk, or commute. Download MP3s or subscribe via podcast.

1 available
🎬
Video presentations

AI presenter walks through each topic with visual explanations. Watch at 1x or 1.5x.

1 available
📊
Slide decks

Visual summaries for quick revision. Reference material you can return to before exams.

Coming soon

Why Modern Edu

There's no shortage of learning options. Here's what makes this different.

Read, listen, watch, revise
Study the way that works for you.

Every lesson in four formats. Read it on the train, listen on a walk, watch it in bed. Same content, whichever way fits your life.

Your AI tutor, any time
Ideas worth talking through.

Ask questions about what you're learning, any time. Your tutor is trained on every lesson in this course, so answers are about the material you're studying — not the whole internet.

On your schedule
Fast-track or go deep.

Core material in as little as 14h. Full study path of 126h if you want more depth. Study in 15-minute chunks or sit for an hour — your call.

What you get

Everything you need to complete your Micro Certificate

✓All 50 lessons in four formats — read, listen, watch, or revise
✓A personal AI tutor trained on your course — talk ideas through any time
✓Self-paced — start tonight, study when it suits you, pick up where you left off
✓CPD-endorsed, ICOES-accredited certificate on completion
From $19 a week, or $399 upfront.
Try Lesson 1 free and see for yourself →

Who this is for

Adult learners in Australia

✓You want practical skills you can apply immediately — not academic theory
✓You prefer to learn at your own pace — mornings, evenings, or between jobs
✓You want a credential that proves you know your stuff — not just a completion badge

Your learning journey

50 lessons from foundations to certification. Each lesson available in multiple formats.

Understanding the Field: Roles, Rights, and the Australian Context
1
Therapy Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Assistance Dogs: What's the Difference
11 minAudioVideo
2
The Australian Legal Framework for Assistance Animals
11 min
3
State-by-State Public Access Rights: What Changes and Why It Matters
11 min
4
Assistance Dogs Australia: Standards, Accreditation, and What They Mean in Practice
11 min
5
Government Funding and Assistance Dogs: Support Roles and Where the Lines Are
11 min
6
Therapy Dog Visiting Programs: How They're Structured and Who Runs Them
11 min
7
Animal-Assisted Intervention: Where Therapy Dogs Fit in Clinical and Support Settings
11 min
8
Ethics and Welfare: Balancing the Dog's Wellbeing with the Work
12 min
9
Working with Disability and Mental Health Settings: Professional Expectations
11 min
10
Building Your Professional Foundation: Pathways, Credentials, and Where to Start
11 min
Selecting the Right Dog: Temperament, Breed, and Assessment
11
What Makes a Good Therapy or Assistance Dog: Core Temperament Traits
11 min
12
Breed Considerations: What Helps, What Doesn't, and What to Tell Clients
11 min
13
Age and Development: When to Assess and When to Wait
11 min
14
Standardised Temperament Testing: Methods, Tools, and Their Limitations
10 min
15
Conducting an Initial Temperament Assessment: A Practical Walkthrough
12 min
16
Assessing Stress Signals and Recovery: Reading the Dog Accurately
11 min
17
Evaluating Rescue and Rehomed Dogs for Therapy or Assistance Work
11 min
18
Health and Physical Suitability: What Trainers Need to Check
11 min
19
Communicating Assessment Outcomes: When a Dog Isn't the Right Fit
11 min
20
Building a Selection Process: Documentation, Records, and Consistency
11 min
Foundation and Public Access Training
21
Training Methodology for Assistance Work: Why Positive Reinforcement Is the Professional Standard
11 min
22
Core Obedience Skills: Building the Behaviours That Everything Else Depends On
10 min
23
Socialisation for Working Dogs: What It Means Beyond Puppy Class
10 min
24
Training in Real Environments: Shops, Public Transport, and Busy Spaces
12 min
25
Training Around People: Children, Mobility Aids, Crowded Settings
11 min
26
Training Around Medical Equipment and Clinical Environments
11 min
27
Greeting Behaviour and Contact Skills: Getting This Right Every Time
11 min
28
Public Access Standards: What's Required and How to Test for It
11 min
29
Managing Distraction, Arousal, and Off-Switch: Training the Working State
11 min
30
Building a Training Plan: Timelines, Milestones, and Realistic Expectations
11 min
Task Training: Mobility, Psychiatric, and Medical Alert Work
31
What Counts as a Task: The Legal and Practical Definition for Assistance Dogs
10 min
32
Mobility Assistance Tasks: Bracing, Retrieval, and Environmental Navigation
11 min
33
Training Retrieve and Object Tasks to Assistance Dog Standard
11 min
34
Psychiatric Assistance Dog Tasks: Interruption, Grounding, and Room Checks
11 min
35
Training Deep Pressure Therapy and Physical Grounding Behaviours
10 min
36
Medical Alert Work: How Detection Tasks Are Trained and What They Require
11 min
37
Seizure Response Dogs: Tasks, Training, and Realistic Scope
11 min
38
Matching Tasks to the Handler's Disability and Daily Life
11 min
39
Proofing and Reliability Testing for Task Behaviours
11 min
40
Knowing Your Scope: When to Refer and When to Collaborate
10 min
Handler Training, Certification, and Running a Professional Program
41
Training the Handler: Why the Human Side of the Team Is Often the Harder Part
10 min
42
Building a Handler Training Program: Structure, Sessions, and What to Cover
11 min
43
Team Assessment: Evaluating the Dog and Handler Together
11 min
44
Certification Pathways in Australia: What's Available and How to Navigate Them
10 min
45
Setting Up a Therapy Dog Visiting Program: Facilities, Agreements, and Protocols
11 min
46
Working in Aged Care and Hospital Settings: What These Environments Require
11 min
47
Working with Organisations: Volunteering, Contracting, and Professional Positioning
11 min
48
Insurance, ABN, and the Business Side of Running a Program
11 min
49
Dog Welfare in Working Life: Monitoring, Rest, and Knowing When to Retire
11 min
50
Capstone: Designing a Complete Therapy or Assistance Dog Program
11 min
🎓
Certificate of Completion

What you'll earn

Complete all lessons and pass every module assessment to receive your verified micro certificate.

Recognised by
ICOES accreditationInternational Council for Online Educational Standards
CPD accreditationContinuing Professional Development
This credential proves
✓
Assessment-gated — you passed, not just showed up
✓
Unique certificate number for digital verification
✓
126 verified study hours of applied learning
✓
Downloadable PDF — print it, share it, add it to LinkedIn
Micro CertificateModern Edu

Issued upon completion of all course modules with a passing grade on every assessment. Each certificate is individually numbered and can be verified through Modern Education Australia.

Modern Education Australia
Micro Certificate
This is to certify that
Your Name
has successfully completed
Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog Training
126 hours of study · All assessments passed
Date of Issue
18 April 2026
Certificate No.
PS-XXXXXX
Study Hours
126hr
ICOESCPD
Issued by Modern Education Australia · modernedu.com.au
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Pricing

Save when you pay upfront, or spread it over $25 a week. Either way, 7 days to change your mind — no questions asked.

Micro Certificate
$19/week
$479 total on payment plan
Save $80— pay $399 upfront instead
✓50 in-depth lessons across 5 modules
✓Written, audio, video, and slide formats for every lesson
✓Personal AI tutor trained on the course material
✓Formal assessment with credential and unique verification number
✓CPD-endorsed, ICOES-accredited credential on completion
✓Fast-track option (14h) for experienced learners
✓7-day money-back guarantee
🛡️
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Pay upfront and save. If the course isn't for you in the first 7 days, we'll refund you — no questions asked.
Enrol Now →Try Lesson 1 Free

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Modern Edu courses

About this course

Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog Training is a structured, self-paced online course designed for Australians ready to build practical skills. The course focuses on real-world application — skills you can put to use immediately.

The course includes 50 in-depth lessons across 5 modules. Each lesson combines written content, audio narration, and video walkthroughs so you can learn in the format that works for you — whether that's reading on a break, listening during a commute, or watching in the evening.

Every module ends with an assessment that tests real understanding and application — not memorisation. You need to pass each assessment to earn your Micro Certificate, which is individually numbered, digitally verifiable, and accredited by ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards) and endorsed for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points.

Total study time is approximately 126 hours, with a fast-track option of around 14 hours for experienced learners who want the core knowledge without extended explanations.

All content uses Australian English and references Australian standards, regulations, and industry norms.

Try Lesson 1 Free →
From$19/wkSave $80 upfront
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