Pet Partners' Fees

The fees necessary for becoming a Pet Partners team are outlined below.

Costs for a first-time registration include the following:

  • Handler Education: $80 for online; workshop fee varies
  • Team Evaluation: usually around $15-30 (see below)
  • Registration Fee: new teams $95/renewing teams $70, discounts available (see below)

Registration Fees:

Registration Type Fee 
New Team $95 
Renewing Team $70 
Discounted Fee* $50 
Additional Animal/Handler Fee** $30 

*Discounted Fee Qualifications 

If you meet any of the qualifications below, you are eligible for the $50 registration fee. 

  • Registering with a cat, made possible by a donation from Cat Person
  • Senior, age 55 or older 
  • Minor, under 18 
  • Member of a Community Partner Group 
  • Military or military dependent 
  • Individual with a disability 

**Additional Animal/Handler Fee Qualifications 

If you are registering with an additional animal OR registering as an additional handler for an animal currently registered in the Therapy Animal Program, you are eligible for the $30 registration fee. 

Note: You must have paid a registration fee of $50 or more in the past two years to qualify for the additional animal/handler fee. 

Additional Information for First-Time Registration

All prospective handlers must complete either the online Handler Course or in-person Handler Workshop. The cost of the online course is $80. In person workshops, taught by a local instructor, vary in cost depending on the expenses the instructor is taking on to provide the course and materials. Renewing handlers do not need to repeat their coursework unless they are renewing after a lapse of two or more years.

If there is more than one handler in the same household, the first handler will purchase the Therapy Animal Handler Course for $80. The second household member is then eligible for a $15 discount, while any additional household members receive it for free. Please contact us if you feel you are eligible for this discount.

Team evaluations are required for both new and renewing teams. Team evaluators may charge a fee for their evaluations based on the expenses incurred to hold an evaluation event. Fees average between $15-30, however specific event information for evaluations is available when you schedule your evaluation or browse the events calendar.

Registration fees are paid at the very end of your online registration process, after all your required registration information is received, reviewed, and approved by our staff. A standard new team registration fee is $95. Renewals must be completed for each team every 2 years, and a standard team renewal fee is $70. Discounted rates are available for seniors, members of the military, minors, and members of local Pet Partners Community Partner groups.

If you are comparing Pet Partners’ fees to the fees charged by other organizations, make sure you are comparing the total fees charged.  For example, Pet Partners’ registration fee includes the cost of a background check. Other organizations may charge for this separately but do not reflect the cost because it is paid to a third party.

Why does volunteerism cost money?

As a registered therapy animal team with Pet Partners, you receive a variety of benefits including liability insurance, volunteer support, access to resources, and free continuing education coursework. Your registration fee paid to Pet Partners covers only a portion of the costs to register and support a team for two years. Pet Partners relies on charitable donations and sponsorships to continue to make this program possible.