Membership: Training & Certification

Trained and Certified Animal-Assisted Response Teams

All HOPE Animal-Assisted Response Teams go through comprehensive training for the skills essential to animal-assisted crisis response. With our initial training and continuing education, we make sure that all of our canine teams are prepared to bring Comfort In Times of Crisis at the highest standard.

Training & Certification Program

HOPE regions typically schedule training workshops once per year. We do require that interested people and their canines have 12 consecutive months of experience volunteering in animal-assisted activities/therapy with a formal animal-assisted activity/therapy (AAA/T) organization. Canines are the only animals we accept for screening and training.

Overview of the Certification Program

There are four elements to the HOPE certification training program:

1. Informational Video
2. Screening Evaluation
3. Certification Training Workshop
4. Continuing Education

Informational Video

An Informational Video gives prospective members a comprehensive overview of HOPE AACR. Prospective members have an opportunity to meet HOPE members and their canines.

Screening Evaluation

Screening evaluations are designed to help qualify handlers and canines for certification training. A screening consists of an in-depth interview, interactions with HOPE evaluators, obedience skills test, crate test, and a role-play scenario designed to test for crisis response aptitude.

Individuals without canines go though a similar screening process and are evaluated on their leadership skills and aptitude for assisting canine crisis response teams.

Certification Training Workshop

Our 3-day certification training workshop consists of comprehensive training for essential skills needed for animal-assisted crisis response. Some of the topics taught included:

• History of HOPE AACR and animal-assisted crisis response.
• The nature and spectrum of disasters; HOPE’s roles in responses.
• Learn how to communicate effectively in crisis situations for the purpose of providing comfort to affected people.
• Learn about emergency responders; types of responses; how and when we work with responders.
• Field training in emergency response environments, personnel, and equipment.
• Experience and learn about various modes of travel.
• Learn about the effects of stress on people and what to do.
• Learn how canines learn, and how they can be effective partners.
• Learn about canine stress, and what to do when stress happens.
• Learn and practice canine desensitizing and counter-conditioning.
• Practice skills by role playing in simulated crises.

Continuing Education

Continuing education for our response teams is vital for maintaining skills and readiness. We strive to:

• Reinforce and practice AACR skills to remain response ready.
• Participate in training exercises and drills with other agencies.
• Build cohesive response groups.
• Augment skills with relevant conferences, workshops, and courses.
• Maintain team skills through active participation in an AAT organization.
• We encourage members to volunteer with local emergency response/relief organizations, such as American Red Cross, CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), FEMA, etc.

2026 Screening and Workshop Dates and Locations

Screenings and workshops are subject to change.

• Central Gulf Coast Region
  • Screening: May 14, 2026 (La Porte, TX)
  • Workshop: May 15, 16, 17, 2026 (La Porte, TX)
• Midwest Region
  • Screening: September 19 and 20, 2026 (Naperville, IL)
  • Workshop: October 23-25, 2026 (Naperville, IL)
• Northeast Region
  • Screening: May 15 and 16, 2027 (Location TBD)
  • Workshop: July 30, 31 and August 1, 2027 (Location TBD)
• Pacific Northwest Region
  • Screenings: Spring and Fall TBD
  • Workshops: Spring and Fall TBD
• Pacific Southwest Region
  • Screening: January 10, 2026 (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Screening: January 24, 2026 (Fountain Valley, CA)
  • Workshop: February 20-22, 2026 (Fountain Valley, CA)
• Rocky Mountain Region
  • Screening: June10, 2026 (Bozeman, MT)
  • Screening: May 23, 2026 (Westminster, CO)
  • Workshop: May 28-30, 2026 (Colorado Springs, CO)
  • Workshop: June 11-13, 2026 (Bozeman, MT)
• Southeast Region
  • Screening: February 21 and 22, 2026 (Kannapolis, NC)
  • Screening: March 7 and March 8, 2026 (Atlanta, GA)
  • Screening: February 28 and March 1, 2026 (Gainesville, FL)
  • Workshop: April 17-19, 2026 (Gainesville, FL)

Regional Assignments for HOPE AACR

Pacific Northwest Region (PNW): AK, ID, OR, WA, British Columbia, Yukon

Pacific Southwest Region (PSW): AZ, CA, HI, NV

Rocky Mountain Region (RMR): CO, UT, MT, WY, KS, NE, SD, ND, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan.

Central Gulf Coast Region (CGC): AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Midwest Region (MWR): IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, Manitoba, Ontario

Southeast Region (SER): AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Northeast Region (NER): CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV, Labrador, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec