The following is an explanation of how professional membership criteria are evaluated and investigated and provides guidelines for candidates.
Letters of Recommendation
Must include the full name, mailing address and email address of the referrer as well as the full name of the candidate and the specific professional membership category. The referrer is asked to attest to their own first hand knowledge of the candidate’s skill in relation to the particular professional membership category being applied for. They are asked to identify whether they believe that the candidate is competent to provide professional level services in the particular professional membership category being applied for. Referrers should refer to the core areas of competence and description of the category for indications of the competencies for that category. The AABP membership committee may follow up with the referrer.
Experience Hours Criteria
Experience refers to leading or directly assisting in the performance of services in relation to the particular professional membership category being applied for. It does not include education or seminar hours. Half of the hours may come from direct one-on-one mentoring or internship hours in which the candidate is actively working with companion animals with their guardians or coaching the client themselves on how to train their dog.