PATH Intl. Credentialing Council Update

The purpose of today’s credentialing council communication is to expand upon information regarding the new PATH Intl. CTRI credential. We understand the eagerness to have all of the answers as soon as possible so that members are reassured about how to proceed in their career paths. We acknowledge there is a tremendous amount of information being presented at one time and yet, at the same time, still not enough. We will continue to do our best to communicate each new piece of information as clearly as possible and explain how it is a building block within the big picture. PATH Intl. has created a set of FAQs to address specific questions and scenarios posed by members related to the topics in this communication. Click here to view the FAQs.

Current PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor Candidates :

Pending Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor Applications

Candidates already in the process of certifying to become a registered therapeutic riding instructor may proceed and complete certification under the current registered certification program processes. Be aware we will soon be defining the date by which all pending candidates must complete registered instructor certification testing, including completion of on-site or video resubmissions. Setting this date involves taking into account potential impacts on candidates, mentors, centers and faculty/evaluators, so we want to do our due diligence in making that decision. The goal is that all candidates will be able to finish under the same processes they began within a reasonable amount of time.

Switching From the Registered Instructor Process to the CTRI Process

Current candidates will also have the option to drop their registered instructor application and submit a PATH Intl. CTRI application for the new process if desired. No components of the registered instructor application can be carried over to PATH Intl. CTRI applications. PATH Intl. CTRI applications must include full, complete documentation for all components in order to be considered for approval.

Current PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors :

Grandfathering and Recertification:

Grandfathering is a term that has many interpretations. Per NCCA standards, grandfathering in the sense of immediate conversion of a non-validated credential to a validated credential is not an acceptable way for an organization to issue or maintain a credential. Grandfathering instantly weakens a validated credential by diluting the pool of professionals verified to hold the credential. The PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor process is a non-validated process. As a result, any professionals holding the registered credential must be verified to possess competency at least equal to the PATH Intl. CTRI standards in order to be issued the PATH Intl. CTRI credential. We have developed a process by which registered, advanced and master instructors will be able to transition credentials without having to fully recertify. This process, called the “certification maintenance process,” will replace the current annual instructor compliance process for therapeutic riding instructors going forward. See the next section for details on the certification maintenance process. Read on to learn about the process by which registered credentials can be transitioned and skip ahead to learn about the procedures for transitioning other PATH Intl. credential(s).

Certification Maintenance Process to Transition Credentials and Replace Annual Instructor Compliance:

Beginning July 2019, PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors will have the opportunity to transition their instructor credentials via the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process. The credentialing council recognizes the economic realities of the EAAT field and has worked very hard to develop a process that reduces time and financial impact while still encouraging quality and continuous professional development. The process does not require completing any portion of the PATH Intl. CTRI application or certification exam and is designed to closely resemble the current annual instructor compliance. Completing the PATH Intl. CTRI maintenance process will take the place of annual instructor compliance requirements and effectively transition registered therapeutic riding instructor credentials to the newly developed PATH Intl. CTRI credentials. The requirements of PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process are as follows:

Every TWO years on the date instructor certification was granted:

1. Submit 20 hours of continuing education satisfying the following requirements:

a. 12 hours of disability education (DE)–defined as educational activities that provide the student with greater understanding of the physical, social, cognitive and/or behavioral impacts experienced by individuals with disabilities, mental health disorders or emotional trauma. The education received should help the instructor understand how to communicate with and more effectively instruct a wide range of EAAT participants in order to increase the efficacy of the learning environment.

b. 4 hours of core requirements (CR)–includes receiving personal riding lessons, coaching (or receiving coaching from) another PATH Intl. Certified Professional, attending a formal education event with an emphasis on instruction/teaching techniques, mentoring an Instructor in Training (only if the mentor has taken the PATH Intl. Mentor Training Course).

c. 4 hours of general continuing education (CE)–should reflect the overall purpose of all continuing education and the pursuit of professional development. These hours should encourage self-reflection, enhance instructor skills and techniques, and expand knowledge of EAAT, equine management and welfare.

2. Achieve a passing score on an online exam in the comfort of your own home (NOTE: this is NOT the same exam as the PATH Intl. CTRI certification exam; estimated time to complete is roughly 45 minutes). This unproctored exam is meant to serve as a refresher/review of critical knowledge such as but not limited to: safety awareness, PATH Intl. Mandatory Standards, precautions and contraindications, lesson planning concepts, task analysis, measurable objectives and riding theory. The exam may be retaken for a minimal fee.

3. Agreement to uphold the PATH Intl. Certified Professional Code of Ethics .

4. Possession of current Adult & Child CPR and basic first aid certifications .

5. Certification maintenance fee (remains to be determined by PATH Intl., but is projected to be less than the current annual instructor membership renewal fee).

Starting July 1, 2019, membership renewal will not be required as part of the certification maintenance process, though members will receive a discounted rate on the maintenance fee.

PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors who choose not to complete the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process will retain their registered credential until the new certification maintenance process is completed. Beginning in 2020 the PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor credential will be phased out. All registered instructors must transition to the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process no later than December 31, 2020, in order to maintain active PATH Intl. therapeutic riding instructor credentials.

All PATH Intl. Certified Professionals

Procedures for Transitioning to the New Certification Maintenance Process:

Due to the fact that PATH Intl. instructor members are all on unique membership renewal/instructor compliance cycles, there will be a transition period to allow members to determine when and how they would like to begin the new certification maintenance process. In an attempt to take into account the many scenarios the membership might face during transition, we continue to methodically develop processes pertinent to each certification. We appreciate the membership’s patience on this topic as we know it is a very real concern for many instructors at this point in time. The procedures for transitioning to the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process currently stand as follows:

1. Registered instructors with renewal dates between January 1 and June 30 can remain compliant by submitting their membership renewal fees and instructor compliance form as usual. Doing so means they will remain a compliant PATH intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor for one more year and be due to transition to the new PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process in 2020.

2. Beginning July 2019, PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors will have the opportunity to transition their instructor credentials via the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process. Completing the PATH Intl. CTRI maintenance process will take the place of the current annual registered instructor compliance requirements and effectively convert registered therapeutic riding instructor credentials to the newly developed PATH Intl. CTRI credentials, also initiating a two year certification maintenance cycle.

3. All existing registered instructors will be required to transition to the new PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process no later than December 31, 2020. This will mean that registered instructors newly certified in 2019 will NOT have to begin their certification maintenance earlier than anticipated based on the current annual renewal expectations.

4. Beginning July 2019, existing advanced, master, interactive vaulting and therapeutic driving instructors can complete the new PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process IN PLACE of the current instructor compliance process to retain their credential(s) AND receive acknowledgement as a PATH Intl. CTRI. They will then begin the two year certification maintenance cycle in place of the existing annual renewal process.

5. Advanced and master therapeutic riding instructors may choose to continue submitting renewal fees and instructor compliance forms annually as usual, for the time being. This will effectively renew their advanced or master certification, but will NOT result in dual recognition as a PATH Intl. CTRI. The advanced and master credentials will be up for review by the credentialing council in the near future, during which time the certification maintenance processes will be discussed and revised. A full transition process and period will be determined at that time.

6. PATH Intl. Certified Professionals holding ONLY a therapeutic driving certification (regardless of level) will continue submitting renewal fees and instructor compliance form annually as usual. They will NOT receive recognition as a PATH Intl. CTRI unless they are also a certified instructor who has completed the CTRI certification maintenance process. The therapeutic driving certification will receive its own certification maintenance process once that credential comes under the review of the credentialing council. A full transition process and period will be determined at that time.

7. Certified professionals holding ONLY a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning certification will continue to submit renewal fees and an instructor compliance form annually as usual. They will not receive recognition as a PATH Intl. CTRI unless they are also a certified instructor who has completed the PATH Intl. CTRI certification maintenance process. The ESMHL certification will receive its own certification maintenance process once that credential comes under the review of the credentialing council. A full transition process and period will be determined at that time.

We thank the membership for their engagement in this process, staying abreast of the changes and sharing their thoughts. We believe that the upcoming communications we have planned will provide much more clarity on the details of the PATH Intl. CTRI credential and certification process, as well as the overall picture.

Sincerely,

The PATH Intl. Credentialing Council