In order to become an instructor in a therapeutic/adaptive riding program, there are a number of requirements that must be met to ensure safe and effective teaching for riders with disabilities.  At The Shea Center, all instructors are credentialed as Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRI) through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.).  In 2019, PATH Intl. changed the certification process for prospective instructors, providing more options for people to prove they are qualified to be a CTRI instructor.  The process can take up to two years.  Below is a general outline to become certified to teach adaptive riding lessons.

The Basic Requirements

A person must be at least 18 years of age and obtain a CPR certificate in Adult and Child CPR and First Aid.  During the application process, candidates must also pass a Standards Exam through PATH Intl.

Application Requirements

To become CTRI certified, candidates must pay for application costs upwards of $250 depending on whether or not the person is a PATH Intl. member.  The application is available on the PATH Intl. website, but the fee must be paid in advance of submitting the application.  The application offers candidates many options to prove their qualifications.  The basics require that the applicant show evidence of:

• Equine Handling Skills (30 hours)
• Equine Management Skills

And documentation of:

• Experience Working with Individuals with Disabilities (minimum of 25 hours)
• Supervised Instruction of Therapeutic Riding Lessons (minimum of 25 hours)

PATH Intl. allows applicants to show evidence of their equine handling skills, equine management skills, and experience working with people with disabilities in different ways: For example, a person can provide evidence of working with individuals with disabilities in either a therapeutic riding setting or a setting that incorporates working closely with people with special needs.  This gives applicants more options to show their knowledge of disabilities and horsemanship outside of the therapeutic riding world.

The Video

To complete the application, the applicant must submit a video demonstrating his/her ability to communicate effectively with the rider being taught.  In this video, the applicant must teach a rider a prescribed pattern, which is available on both the application and the instructions to apply on the PATH Intl. website.  The lesson lasts between 10 – 20 minutes and must include a warmup, direct instruction on rein aides, rider and horse position, and overall understanding of horsemanship skills (correct gaits, diagonals, rein contact, etc.)  The pattern includes walk, trot, and canter, so the rider must be proficient in these gaits.  In order to pass the video submission, the instructor must express knowledge of riding and be able to communicate instructions effectively to the rider throughout the entirety of the lesson.  The video cannot be edited and must be a continuously filmed video showing the lesson from start to finish, mount and dismount included.  Once the video is completed, PATH Intl. asks that the applicant submit the video at the same time as the rest of the application to the PATH Intl. Dropbox.  Instructions for that submission are provided on the website as well.

Submitting the Application

To submit the application, the $250 application fee must be sent in first, and then the applicant will receive instructions to submit the application online.  The application can be submitted to PATH Intl. either via email or the website.  Along with the application and all of its many parts, the applicant must sign the PATH Intl. Code of Ethics form.  Once everything is submitted, the applicant will be directed on how to take the final multiple-choice examination.

The Final Exam

The final, proctored exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions that cover the basics of an adaptive riding program and what would be expected of a certified instructor.  The test consists of questions that may cover topics such as safety awareness, the PATH Intl. standards, lesson planning concepts, riding theories, and disability awareness (such as precautions and contraindications).  There is a list of study tips that would benefit an applicant on the PATH Intl. website.

Helpful Links 

• Roadmap to becoming a PATH Intl. CTRI 
• PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) job description
• PATH Intl. Code of Ethics
• PATH Intl. CTRI Exam Prep Fact Sheet
• PATH Intl. CTRI Application