AAHEP - Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners

Application to the Register, and ongoing annual membership, means agreement to and a declaration of compliance with the following commitments (where applicable):

Accuracy and Integrity

• I confirm that the information provided by me in support of my application or annual renewal of registration is complete and accurate.

• I confirm that completion of the registration checklist and my signature serves as confirmation of my declaration of compliance.

• I confirm that I have an ongoing professional practice and commit to undertaking appropriate CPD to keep my skills up to date should there have been a gap in my professional practice (over 2 years).

Ethical and Professional Standards

• I confirm and agree that I will abide by the Register’s Ethical Basis for Good Practice and Framework of Professional Standards.

• I confirm that I will never take advantage of, nor enter into, any inappropriate physical or emotional relationships with a client or service user.

• I will keep my clients’ affairs confidential at all times.

• I shall never advise clients to discontinue any treatment prescribed by a GP or any other registered medical practitioner, and shall always respect the integrity of other healthcare professionals.

• I shall not claim to have qualifications or credentials I have not earned, or offer therapy or coaching in any modality for which I do not hold a qualification. I will not use designated letters to which I am not entitled.

• I will not become or remain a member of any organisation that has been found to be dangerous or fraudulent and may cause detriment to the Register.

• I will notify the Register of any unspent convictions or restrictions that prevent me from working with children or vulnerable adults. Including any disciplinary findings on the part of another regulator or accredited register.

• I will accept the authority of the Register, including any decisions reached by its Professional Conduct Review Committee regarding breaches of Professional Standards, the Ethical Basis for Good Practice, or this Declaration of Compliance, including suspension or termination of my membership for infringements of these commitments.

• I accept that any findings or sanctions imposed, where considered in the public interest, will be published online on the Register’s Professional Conduct Notices webpage.

Practice Standards

• I commit to having in place, and maintaining compliance with, a core set of policies, including general terms and conditions that support my practice.

• I will make my membership of the Register clear on my website, using the correct logo provided by the Register. Alongside this information I will make clear that the Register provides a means of raising concerns or complaints about the service or the provider of those services.

• I confirm and agree that I will abide by and align with the Register’s Framework for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Horses and provide a clear route for registrants or service users to raise concerns about the treatment of any animal engaged in the provision of services.

• I confirm and agree that I will maintain correct, complete, and up-to-date personal and professional details on my personal profile page of the AAHEP website as required for the Register.

• I confirm that I maintain current professional indemnity insurance sufficient for my area(s) of practice and that I will submit current copies of said policy as updated and amended from time to time.

• I confirm that I will engage, where appropriate, with my Local Authority to ensure that all applicable licensing is in place (or confirmed as not required) in line with The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

• I confirm and agree that I will ensure that I undertake and record CPD in line with the Register’s requirements.

• I confirm and agree that I will ensure that I have appropriate supervision in place in line with the Register’s guidelines (one hour per 25 hours of practice, or at least one hour every eight weeks), with higher requirements applying where dictated by other memberships.

• I confirm and agree that I will not make false or unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of Animal and/or Equine Assisted Services, and/or Horticultural and Nature-based therapies, nor undermine the services provided through conventional medicine and healthcare.

• I confirm and agree that I understand that confirmation of my compliance with professional conduct details may be disclosed to relevant parties, where deemed necessary or obligatory.

• I confirm that I understand and agree that non-compliance with this declaration may lead to the withdrawal and/or suspension of membership of the Register.

• I confirm that I am aware that the Register is accessible to the public via the AAHEP website and that my name, geographical location, contact details, and membership status will be publicly available.

• I confirm that I have never been the subject of formal disciplinary findings, upheld complaints, or suspension from any professional or regulatory body.

• I confirm that I will, if required, make all documents and records available under the Register’s audit requirements, including evidence of any complaints raised.

• I confirm that I have read and agree to be bound by the AAHEP Terms and Conditions as amended from time to time.

Documentation Required for Registration

• Copies of appropriate equine interaction-related qualifications, and any other supported practice.

• Copy of a Certificate of Proficiency from the Register, where required.

• Membership of associated professional bodies, lists, or registers, with membership numbers.

• General terms and conditions.

• Certification confirming the training of animals supporting the service(s). If working with Dogs. 

• Data protection/privacy policy.

• Data retention policy.

• Compliments and complaints policy.

• Safeguarding policy.

• Client waiver form.

• Current professional indemnity insurance.

• Copies of relevant risk assessments.

• Proof of First Aid certification or commitment that someone appropriately qualified is onsite at all times.

• Confirmation that all (if any) local authority certifications are in place and being complied with. 

• Confirmation of ongoing supervision commitments within professional registrations.

• Proof of current first aid qualification or confirmation of working only where qualified first aiders are on site.

• Confirmation that (where appropriate) up-to-date DBS checks are in place (or regional equivalent).

• Confirmation that client waivers and session records are maintained.

• Statement of completed CPD hours in the last 12 months (not required for first year).