NARHA Center Membership Information and Benefits
Centers across the country offering equine assisted activities can gain access to the support, promotion and education offered through NARHA by becoming a NARHA Center. Centers are required to meet certain requirements prior to and after joining NARHA.
Once you are ready to join NARHA as a Center
Member, you can download a copy of the application and mail it to the NARHA
Office with a check or money order or you can fax it to 303-252-4610 with a
credit card number. You can also call 1-800-369-RIDE (7433) to request an
application over the phone.
Center
Member
Application
Center Membership - $225*
Facts about NARHA Center Membership:
o All centers must have either a NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor or a NARHA Instructor in Training (IT) prior to joining NARHA as a Center Member. Click here to learn more about the NARHA Instructor in Training (IT) program.
o Center Membership runs January 1st to December 31st. All centers are required to renew their center membership by December 31st each year regardless of their joined date. Centers that join on or after October 1st must pay full price to join but will only be required to pay a fraction of that amount for the following membership year.
o Upon purchasing a new center membership, a center’s status is listed as ‘Center Member’.
*Additional National Membership Fees of $3 per participant, volunteer, and employee are also to be paid to NARHA at the end of each membership year. Click here to learn more about National Fees.
NARHA Center Membership Requirements:
These requirements apply to all NARHA Centers regardless of membership or accreditation status. Failure to follow these membership requirements may result in loss of center membership and its benefits.
*New Center Members have 12 months from the time of membership purchase to acquire at least 1 (one) NARHA Certified Instructor.
NARHA Center Membership Levels
Center Members
Upon purchasing a new center membership, a center’s status is listed as ‘Center Member’. Center Members pay $225 in dues plus National Membership Fees annually. After 1 year of center membership, Center Members are eligible for accreditation.
Affiliate Center Members
After 3 years of center membership, Center Members must decide if they will participate in the accreditation program. If they choose not to participate, their membership status will change to 'Affiliate Center Member’. Affiliate Centers pay $275 in dues plus National Membership Fees annually. These centers are eligible for accreditation at any time. Unless an Affiliate Center Member becomes a Premier Accredited Center, they will remain an Affiliate Center Member for as long as they hold NARHA center membership.
NARHA Premier Accredited Centers (PACs)
Premier Accredited Centers (PACs) pay $325 in dues plus National Membership Fees annually. Their $325 payment includes their annual $100 accreditation fee. (PACs pay $100 per year over the span of their five-year accreditation.) If a PAC allows their accreditation to lapse, they become an Affiliate Center Member automatically and will remain as such until they choose to become accredited.
The following are lists of membership benefits at each of the 3 levels of NARHA center membership:
NARHA Premier Accredited Center Benefits Include:
v New in 2004
v
FREE access to the NARHA Center Administrator Database
1 (one) FREE NARHA Instructor Certification Application Fee
FREE access to the “NARHA Volunteer Self-Study Program” on the NARHA
Campus
1 (one) copy of the new NARHA Center Bulletin per edition (new newsletter
distributed quarterly)
Dedicated webpage on the NARHA website
v Other Great Membership Benefits
v
3 (three) copies of the NARHA Strides Magazine per edition
Preferred listing and referral service from the NARHA website
Low-cost liability and event insurance benefits
Annual updates to the NARHA Standards & Accreditation Manual
Ability to participate in the NARHA Awards Program
Participation in NARHA’s distinguished Accreditation Program
Beautifully inscribed Accreditation Plaque
Discount merchandise offers
Member Center Benefits Include:
v New in 2004
v
FREE access to the NARHA Center Administrator Database
1 (one) FREE NARHA Instructor Certification Application Fee
FREE access to the “NARHA Volunteer Self-Study Program” on the NARHA
Campus
1 (one) copy of the new NARHA Center Bulletin per edition (new newsletter
distributed quarterly)
v Other Great Membership Benefits
v
3 (three) copies of the NARHA Strides Magazine per edition
Listing and referral service from the NARHA website
Low-cost liability and event insurance benefits
Annual updates to the NARHA Standards & Accreditation Manual
Ability to participate in the NARHA Awards Program
Accreditation possibilities
Discount merchandise offers
Affiliate Center Member Benefits Include:
v New in 2004
v
Access to the NARHA Center Administrator Database
Access to the “NARHA Volunteer Self-Study Program” on the NARHA
Campus
1 (one) copy of the new NARHA Center Bulletin per edition (new newsletter
distributed quarterly)
v Other Great Membership Benefits
v
3 (three) copies of the NARHA Strides Magazine per edition
Listing on the NARHA website
Low-cost liability and event insurance benefits
Annual updates to the NARHA Standards & Accreditation Manual
Accreditation possibilities
Discount merchandise offers
For over 16 years, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association has been assessing administrative fees to those centers that have been using the NARHA insurance program benefits. These fees are collected to help support the work of NARHA committees as they plan, organize and develop important programs and services for NARHA Centers, Instructors and the members at large.
The work of these NARHA groups and committees has been extremely important to the growth and success of the membership and our community. The development of strong accreditation and certification programs has helped to maintain our insurance program premium at the lowest possible rate. Since the inception of the insurance program in 1986, our insurance program base premiums have increased by only $25 due to NARHA’s strong commitment to safety and quality programs and services.
In 1986, the NARHA Board of Directors made the decision to collect administrative fees at the same time of year that a NARHA Center was sent their insurance renewals and combined the mailing and payment. Only those centers participating in the NARHA insurance program submitted administrative fees. Over the years, various state laws have changed and have not allowed the association to combine this type of mailing.
The NARHA Executive Committee has reviewed the collection process of administrative fees and has received input from members concerning this process as well. A new fee structure was developed and implemented in the Fall of 2003. The plan consists of a method of assessing National Fees to NARHA Centers at the same time of year as the regular NARHA membership renewals. Instead of asking only a select few centers to participate in the program, all NARHA Centers are being asked to participate. For those centers that normally submitted administrative fees before (in July of each year), please be advised that the association will no longer be collecting administrative fees in the summer. Instead, NARHA will collect National Fees from all centers with center membership renewal each fall.
Thank you for your participation and membership with NARHA. Our Boards, Committees and Staff are here to assist you and help develop and grow our community.
On January 1, 2004 a new and improved process of becoming a NARHA Registered Instructor was introduced. As a result the following are the options for becoming a NARHA Certified Instructor at the Registered Level.
Option A
Attend and successfully complete a NARHA Approved Training Course which satisfies all certification process requirements.
Option B
A multi-step certification process that culminates in successfully completing an On-Site Workshop and Certification
Phase One: The following (A-F) needs to be completed within six months. The fee for phase one of certification is $40.00.
a. Send in NARHA application and fee.
b. Join NARHA with individual membership of $45.00.
c. Complete the NARHA Center Accreditation Course (CAT) in person or on-line at the NARHA Campus. (needs to be completed in 30 days)
d. Complete NARHA Instructor Self-Study on-line or hard copy. (needs to be completed in 60 days)
e. Achieve First Aid/CPR certification must have before exam is requested.
f. Request open book exam from NARHA hard copy or electronically. (needs to be completed in 30 days)
g. Successfully complete and pass open book Registered Instructor Examination.
Applicant has now achieved Instructor in Training (IT) status NARHA Instructors in Training have 12 months to complete the next part of the process. Instructor will receive letter and certification booklet.
Phase Two:
1.
Accumulate and record 25 hours of Practice Teaching Therapeutic
Horsemanship under the guidance of a NARHA certified instructor. Use
Documentation of Teaching Hours form found in the Registered Certification
Booklet.
2. Attend and successfully pass NARHA Registered On-Site Workshop and Certification. If they have taken a workshop in the past two years then they only need to do the certification. Cost currently vary from $300.00-$600.00
Criteria and application materials and can be obtained from the NARHA office free of charge by NARHA Individual Members and $10 for non-members. All Certification locations and dates will be advertised in all NARHA Publications. For more information about NARHA’s new Registered Instructor Certification process please call 1-800-369-RIDE.
rev
01/22/2008