AAHEP - Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners

The Register is exclusively for practitioners delivering Animal or Equine Assisted Services, or Social Farming/Horticultural therapies. 

Other Accredited or Recognised Therapies

Although the Register focuses on Animal or Equine Assisted Services, or Social Farming/Horticultural therapies, it also allows practitioners to record other accredited or registered therapies and services, such as counselling or occupational therapy, alongside their principal registration. These additional registrations are permitted only if the practitioner provides copies of relevant qualifications and proof of membership with an appropriate accredited register during the application process. Practitioners must inform the Register if such registrations are withdrawn or terminated for any reason.

The Register reserves the right to liaise with and exchange information with other registers regarding a practitioner’s registration or activities, especially in cases of potential or proven malpractice, maladministration, disciplinary actions, sanctions, or removal. If an applicant has ever been refused membership, sanctioned, or removed from such a register, they must disclose this during the application process or at any time thereafter.

Qualification Requirements for Other Accredited or Recognised Therapies

Educational standards for other accredited or recognised therapies are defined as qualifications that provide the skills, knowledge, and competence to work as a counsellor or psychotherapist. This includes a minimum of a diploma (Level 4) in allied health professions such as occupational therapy, counselling, or psychotherapy, and may also include a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

These qualifications are typically awarded by further or higher education institutions and must be comprehensive practitioner training programmes that include knowledge-based learning, ethical therapeutic competencies, and research awareness. Courses should last at least one year full-time or two years part-time, and must include supervised placements totalling at least 100 hours.

Adjunctive Therapies

The Register recognises that some practitioners may also offer other types of therapy. However, these are only recognised in the Register if they meet the accredited or recognised therapy criteria above. If you offer therapies beyond Animal or Equine Assisted Services, or Social Farming/Horticultural therapies.— such as reiki, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, homeopathy, or yoga — they are considered adjunctive therapies.

Even if you are registered elsewhere for these services, you must clearly separate them from your registered practice in all public and promotional materials, including websites and directory listings. When linking to the Register on your own website, you must clearly state that your Accredited Practitioner Register membership applies only to your registered practice(s). Care should be taken to ensure clients are not misled into believing adjunctive therapies are also covered.

Registrants must clearly distinguish between the practices and modalities for which they are registered with the Register and other adjunctive therapies.