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Animal Care

SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention (RQF)

Study AAI theory, law, and ethics online and earn a regulated Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention.

6–12 monthsDuration
OnlineStudy Method
Level 3 RQFQualification Level
FlexibleStart Date

Is This Course Right For You?

This course is for you if...

  • You work with animals and want to understand how they can be used therapeutically to support human wellbeing
  • You are in a health, social care, or educational role and want to integrate animal-assisted intervention into your practice
  • You want a regulated, Ofqual-accredited qualification that is recognised by employers in the AAI sector
  • You are interested in the psychological, physical, and social benefits that structured AAI programmes can deliver
  • You want to work with a wide range of client groups — from children and young people to those living with disabilities or mental health conditions
  • You need a flexible online course that fits around professional or personal commitments

Your career after this course

  • Work as a qualified animal-assisted intervention practitioner in therapeutic, educational, or social care settings
  • Set up and manage structured AAI sessions with appropriate animals for a range of client groups
  • Understand the legal, safeguarding, and insurance frameworks that govern professional AAI practice
  • Progress to further qualifications in animal behaviour, animal-assisted therapy, or counselling
  • Support clients with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or autism through structured animal interaction
  • Contribute to multi-disciplinary teams in healthcare, education, or community support services as an AAI specialist

About This Course

The SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention (RQF) is a regulated qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), awarded by SEG Awards, an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation. The diploma provides a comprehensive, evidence-based introduction to animal-assisted intervention (AAI) — a rapidly growing professional field that uses structured, goal-directed interaction between people and animals to improve health, educational, and social outcomes for a wide range of client groups.

Across eight compulsory units, learners explore the theory and historical roots of AAI, the legal duties and safeguarding obligations of practitioners, the documented health and wellbeing benefits of human–animal interaction, and the practical skills required to plan, conduct, and review AAI sessions safely and ethically. The programme also examines the processes by which animals are selected and assessed for suitability, how practitioners identify and match the right animal to the right client, and the ethical responsibilities that protect the welfare of both the animal and the person receiving intervention.

Animal-assisted intervention encompasses a broad spectrum of practice: from animal-assisted activities (AAA) — which are informal, motivational interactions — through to structured animal-assisted therapy (AAT), delivered by credentialled health or social care professionals working in therapeutic contexts. This diploma provides the foundational knowledge base for practice across this spectrum, covering both the theoretical grounding and practical understanding needed to work professionally in the field.

Delivered entirely online through a flexible, self-paced learning platform, the qualification is assessed through written assignments for each unit — there are no examinations. On successful completion of all eight units, learners are awarded the SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention, a nationally recognised qualification for practitioners working across health, education, and community settings.

What You'll Study

Eight compulsory units cover the complete theoretical and applied knowledge base for animal-assisted intervention — from history and law to session planning, ethical practice, and client–animal pairing.

8 compulsory unitsNo examsOnline studySEG Awards regulated
01Theory and Historical Use of Animal-Assisted Interventions

Explore the theoretical foundations and historical development of animal-assisted intervention as a recognised professional discipline. This unit examines how the human–animal bond has been understood across cultures and eras, surveys the landmark research that established evidence for the therapeutic benefits of structured human–animal interaction, and considers how practitioners use data and outcomes evidence to justify and evaluate AAI programmes in modern health and social care settings.

02Lawful Duties of Animal-Assisted Intervention

Develop a thorough understanding of the legal, regulatory, and insurance landscape within which professional AAI practice must operate. This unit covers safeguarding requirements relevant to AAI, the regulatory bodies and professional standards that apply to practitioners, legislation relating to the welfare and use of animals in therapeutic contexts, and the types of insurance that protect both practitioners and the animal partners involved in AAI work.

03Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions

Examine the evidence base for the physical, psychological, and social benefits that AAI can deliver across different client populations. This unit investigates how structured animal interaction can support individuals with varying learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions, the impact of AAI on physical health outcomes including cardiovascular function, mobility, and pain management, how practitioners apply disability awareness in their practice, and the importance of adopting person-centred approaches that respect individual need and difference.

04Animal-Assisted Intervention Roles and Responsibilities

Clarify the distinct roles within an AAI team — including the handler, the therapy animal, and any supervising professional — and develop an understanding of the responsibilities each party carries. The unit examines the skills and attributes required of an effective AAI handler, the environmental factors that affect session quality and animal welfare, and the practical steps involved in planning, conducting, and evaluating a structured AAI session that achieves its intended therapeutic or educational goals.

05Client and Animal-Assisted Intervention Pairing

Develop the knowledge and judgement needed to identify the most appropriate animal for a given client or client group. This unit examines how to assess client needs, preferences, and contraindications; how to evaluate the suitability, temperament, and stress tolerance of candidate animals; and how to make evidence-informed pairing decisions that maximise therapeutic benefit while protecting the welfare of the animal. Learners also consider how to manage pairing in dynamic settings where client or animal behaviour may be unpredictable.

06Animal Welfare in Animal-Assisted Interventions

Place animal welfare at the centre of ethical AAI practice by developing a rigorous understanding of how to monitor, protect, and promote the physical and psychological wellbeing of animals participating in intervention programmes. This unit examines the Five Freedoms and Five Domains frameworks for animal welfare assessment, the behavioural indicators of stress and discomfort in therapy animals, rest and recovery requirements, and how to establish clear welfare standards and exit protocols that ensure animals are never used at the expense of their own wellbeing.

07Planning and Evaluating Animal-Assisted Intervention Sessions

Develop the practical skills required to design structured AAI sessions that are goal-directed, evidence-based, and tailored to the needs of specific client groups. This unit covers the process of setting measurable objectives for an AAI programme, selecting activities and animals appropriate to those objectives, risk-assessing the session environment, maintaining accurate session records, and applying systematic evaluation methods to monitor client progress and demonstrate outcomes to referrers and commissioners.

08Ethical Practice in Animal-Assisted Interventions

Examine the ethical principles that underpin professional AAI practice and develop a personal framework for ethical decision-making in complex or ambiguous situations. This unit addresses professional boundaries, confidentiality and consent, the management of dual relationships, the ethical tensions that can arise when client need and animal welfare appear to conflict, and how practitioners maintain the integrity and reputation of the AAI profession through transparent, reflective, and accountable practice.

What You'll Need

Open Entry — No Formal Qualifications Required

This Level 3 Diploma is designed to be accessible to learners with a range of professional and personal backgrounds. There are no specific formal entry requirements.

  • Aged 16 or over at the time of enrolment
  • No prior AAI or animal care qualifications are required
  • An interest in the therapeutic use of animals and in supporting the wellbeing of others
  • Access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection
  • Good written English to complete assignment-based assessments
  • Commitment to self-directed study of approximately 8–10 hours per week

Not Sure If You Qualify?

Our enrolment advisers assess each application individually. We look at your life experience, motivation, and readiness to study — not just your qualifications.

Speak to our team — we're here to help you find the right course and funding option.

Call 0800 088 5050

How You're Assessed

The diploma is assessed entirely through written assignments for each of the eight units. There are no examinations. Assignments are submitted online and marked by qualified assessors, with feedback provided after each submission.

Written assignment for each of the eight compulsory units — submitted online

No timed examinations — all assessment completed at your own pace

Assignments marked by qualified assessors with individual written feedback

Resubmission available where initial submissions require further development

All eight units must be passed to achieve the Level 3 Diploma

Assessment is pass/fail; no graded or distinction outcome applies

Where This Course Can Take You

The Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention opens pathways across health, social care, education, and animal services. Salary indications are based on 2024–25 UK advertised roles and sector data.

Animal-Assisted Intervention Practitioner

£22,000 – £30,000typical salary range

Deliver structured AAI sessions in healthcare, educational, or community settings, working with a range of client groups including children, older adults, and those with disabilities or mental health conditions.

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Co-facilitator

£23,000 – £32,000typical salary range

Support a qualified therapist or clinician as an AAT handler, managing the animal during structured therapy sessions in schools, CAMHS services, hospices, or rehabilitation settings.

Education-Based AAI Practitioner

£22,000 – £28,000typical salary range

Work with schools, pupil referral units, or special educational needs settings to deliver reading dog programmes, emotional regulation sessions, or other structured animal interaction activities that support learning and wellbeing.

Animal Handler – Care and Wellbeing Settings

£21,000 – £27,000typical salary range

Bring animals into care homes, hospices, mental health units, or rehabilitation centres to support the emotional and psychological wellbeing of residents or patients under appropriate clinical supervision.

AAI Programme Coordinator

£25,000 – £35,000typical salary range

Design, manage, and evaluate animal-assisted intervention programmes for charities, NHS trusts, or local authorities, overseeing practitioner teams, animal welfare standards, and outcomes measurement.

Self-Employed AAI Practitioner

£25,000 – £45,000typical salary range

Run an independent AAI service delivering sessions on a freelance or sessional basis to schools, care providers, private clients, or community organisations, with rates reflecting your specialism and caseload.

Ready to Unlock Your University Place?

Graduates of this course go on to universities across the UK, including Russell Group institutions. Enrol today and start your journey.

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Choose Your Payment Plan

All plans include the same full course content, dedicated tutor, and your awarding body certification.

Pay Monthly

£181.81

per month × 11 months

£9.99 deposit + £181.81 × 11 = £1,999.99 total

Includes

  • Pay just £9.99 deposit to enrol and begin studying immediately
  • Spread the cost over 11 interest-free monthly payments
  • Full access to all eight units and learning materials from day one
  • Dedicated tutor support and online assignment submission throughout
  • SEG Awards Diploma certificate issued on successful completion
Best Value

Pay in Full

£1999.99

one-time payment

Total: £1,999.99

Includes

  • Single payment — no monthly admin or ongoing commitments
  • Immediate enrolment and full access from day one
  • Full access to all eight units and learning materials
  • Dedicated tutor support and online assignment submission throughout
  • SEG Awards Diploma certificate issued on successful completion
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Frequently Asked Questions

Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is the broad umbrella term covering any structured, goal-directed interaction between a person and an animal that is designed to improve wellbeing or support a specific outcome. Within AAI, animal-assisted activity (AAA) refers to informal, motivational interactions delivered by a trained handler and animal — such as visiting a care home to allow residents to pet a dog. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a more structured, clinically supervised subset where the animal interaction is integrated into a formal therapeutic treatment plan delivered by a credentialled health professional. This diploma covers the full AAI spectrum, providing the knowledge base relevant to both.

No — the Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention is delivered entirely online and assessed through written assignments. You do not need to own or have access to a therapy animal to study or complete this qualification. The course teaches you the knowledge and principles of AAI practice; practical animal handling experience, where appropriate, would come through supervised practice and professional volunteering once qualified.

Yes — this is an SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), regulated by Ofqual, the UK's national qualifications regulator. SEG Awards is a reputable Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation. The diploma is recognised by employers, healthcare commissioners, and practitioners across the AAI sector as a rigorous, evidence-based qualification. It also provides a strong foundation for membership of professional AAI organisations and for further study in animal behaviour, counselling, or health and social care.

While dogs are the most commonly encountered animal in AAI practice in the UK, a wide range of species are used in different AAI contexts — including cats, horses (in equine-assisted intervention), rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and in some settings, farm animals and alpacas. The most appropriate animal depends on the client group, the setting, the goals of the intervention, and the welfare requirements of the animal. The course covers the principles of animal selection, suitability assessment, and welfare management across species rather than focusing on a single animal type.

This diploma provides the foundational knowledge and qualification you need to work professionally in AAI — including the legal, ethical, and practical frameworks for practice. Setting up an independent AAI practice also requires appropriate insurance, a suitability-assessed animal, experience delivering supervised AAI, and in many cases, membership of a professional AAI organisation. The course covers all the knowledge elements of this, and your graduate status will support you in meeting the professional standards required to practice independently.

Most learners complete the diploma in six to twelve months, studying around eight to ten hours per week. The course is fully self-paced and there is no fixed start date, so you can progress faster or slower depending on your personal and professional commitments. All eight units must be completed and assessed before the diploma certificate is issued.

The diploma prepares you to work with a diverse range of client groups — including children and young people, older adults, individuals with physical or learning disabilities, people with autism spectrum conditions, those with mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and individuals in rehabilitation or palliative care settings. The unit on health and wellbeing benefits covers evidence for AAI across all of these populations in depth.

Student Finance England funding is not available for this qualification. However, you can spread the cost with a flexible monthly payment plan — enrol for just £9.99 deposit and pay the remainder over 11 months. We accept payment by credit card, debit card, PayPal, and Klarna. If you are already working in a health or social care role, it is worth exploring whether your employer has a learning and development budget that could contribute to the cost of the course.

Animal-assisted activity (AAA) involves informal, non-goal-specific interactions between people and animals — for example, a handler bringing a dog into a care home for general enrichment. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is goal-directed and clinically supervised, forming part of a treatment plan managed by a qualified health professional. Animal-assisted intervention is the overarching term that covers both. This diploma qualifies you to work across the AAI spectrum and gives you the theoretical and ethical grounding to understand where your practice sits within it.

Everything Else You Need to Know

Study Support

  • Dedicated tutor assigned from enrolment throughout the qualification
  • Online learning platform accessible 24/7 on any device
  • All course materials and learning resources included
  • Written feedback from qualified assessors on every submitted assignment
  • Student support team available by phone, email, and live chat
  • Fully self-paced — no fixed lesson times or attendance requirements

Qualification Details

  • Awarded by SEG Awards — an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation
  • Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
  • Eight compulsory units covering theory, law, ethics, welfare, and practice
  • Diploma certificate issued on successful completion of all eight units
  • Recognised across health, social care, education, and animal sectors
  • Foundation for further study in animal behaviour, AAT, or counselling

Funding & Finance

  • Pay in full for £1,999.99 — immediate enrolment and full access
  • Monthly payment plan: £9.99 deposit then £181.81 × 11 months
  • Pay by credit/debit card, PayPal, or Klarna
  • Student Finance England not available for this qualification
  • 30-day money-back guarantee on all enrolments
  • Employer invoicing available for employer-sponsored learners

Hear From Our Learners

I've worked in a children's mental health setting for six years and always thought animal-assisted intervention was just about having a dog in the room. This diploma completely changed my perspective — the depth of the research base, the ethical frameworks, and the safeguarding knowledge gave me a genuinely professional grounding. I'm now running structured AAI sessions alongside our clinical team.

Joanna M.

SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention

I had a background in equine therapy volunteering but no formal qualification. The course gave me the theoretical foundation I was missing — particularly the units on animal welfare and ethical practice. I now feel I can articulate what I do professionally and confidently, and I'm in the process of setting up a small AAI practice working with schools.

David F.

SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention

Studying online while working as a care home activities coordinator was manageable because the platform let me dip in and out whenever I had time. The unit on client–animal pairing was particularly practical — it directly improved how I plan the pet therapy visits we run at our home. Thoroughly recommended for anyone in care who wants to formalise their AAI knowledge.

Susie K.

SEG Awards Level 3 Diploma in Animal-Assisted Intervention

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