“If you are considering taking the plunge and signing up for the CSAT course…all I can say is just do it!…I am totally relieved to have completed it and made it to the end, but I am also sad it ended as it was the BEST course I have ever signed up for.”
– April 2025 SACP Graduate
If you read the first blog about the Separation Anxiety Certification Program (SACP), then you caught a glimpse of how the program is centered on you, the learner, which is what makes the SACP truly extraordinary. But of course, you might also be wondering about other frequently asked questions beyond just “why this program?”. We are all busy people with limited time and financial resources to invest in our professional learning; we get that. So, here are our answers to some of those additional FAQs we often get about the SACP.
How is the course structured?
The SACP is a 15-week dynamic program structured to foster deeper learning. It is designed to fit around your existing work and other obligations, though it does require a minimum commitment of 10-hours per week with 3-4 of those hours being live in Zoom. The SACP’s fully remote nature maximizes geographic and time zone accessibility. In addition to the live Zoom sessions, which happen twice weekly, learners are expected to watch pre-recorded webinars and complete homework assignments between each live Zoom session. We also offer optional drop-in office hours several times a week for additional support. That is 150+ hours of personalized, self-directed, community-supported, collaborative learning!
How will my learning be assessed?
You’ll engage in regular formative assessment opportunities to guide and facilitate your learning such as whole-and-small group discussion in Zoom, interactive polls, exit tickets, and homework assignments. Each activity provides a unique opportunity to apply your program learning to real-world scenarios in a safe environment and to receive individualized written feedback on homework assignments from us to support your continued professional growth.
Students will also complete two summative assessments as part of their SACP experience – a midterm exam and a final exam. We understand test taking can result in feeling a little (or a lot!) nervous, so we hope you find it settling to know both exams are aligned with the program learning objectives, meant to reflect your learning from day one, and provide a variety of ways for you to demonstrate your learning. From our perspective, if there is anything surprising to you (or any student) on an exam, then we have not done our jobs as instructors.
What can I expect to know and be able to do after completing the program?
From how content is introduced and scaffolded to grounding your learning in real-world examples and relevant research, the SACP prepares you to successfully help dogs (and the people who love them) overcome separation anxiety. The impact of that work is priceless, and I say that with confidence having once desperately needed the help of a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and now having the honor of supporting others as a CSAT.
By the end of the program, you (among other things) will be able to:
- Understand the research and data informing separation anxiety training.
- Create and implement customized training plans for individual dogs suffering with separation anxiety.
- Build cooperative relationships with clients grounded in empathy and care.
- Counsel clients on a variety of topics including management and navigating regressions and plateaus.
- Collaborate with veterinary professionals and other members of a dog’s care team to best and most effectively help that dog.
You will leave the program with the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to join more than 250+ CSATs around the world in changing lives, one dog-and-human team at a time.
Will this program help me in other aspects of my behavior work if I want to continue working with behaviors other than separation anxiety upon graduation?
Absolutely! Learning doesn’t happen in a vacuum – the SACP will help you grow as a dog behavior professional. The knowledge and skills you will develop and refine are highly transferable and can elevate your work with all manner of behavior.
In the program, you will deepen your capabilities for reading canine body language, determining threshold, strategic data collection, and collaborative problem-solving – all essential for any behavior professional working any type of case. The program also strengthens your client communication skills, from setting expectations to counseling through emotional and complex cases. Whether you take the occasional separation anxiety case or specialize entirely in this work, you will leave with an improved set of tools to apply across a wide range of behavior cases.
What can I expect from my teaching team?
One thing we talk a lot about in the program with respect to prospective client discovery calls is the importance of setting clear expectations up front for working together. The client understanding their roles and responsibilities is equally as important to starting off on the right paw as them understanding what they can expect from you as the CSAT.
Here’s what you can expect from us:
- Respect for your time, experiences, and learning needs.
- Clear timely communication so you are not left guessing about important dates or program-related responsibilities.
- Commitment to creating a learning environment where your voice matters, your perspectives are valued, and your questions are welcomed.
- Constructive individualized feedback to support the growth of your skills and confidence.
- Ongoing encouragement because this work is challenging, and you are not alone.
Empathy, kindness, and compassion are not only the heart of our client relationships as CSATs, but also the heart of this program.
How do I get started?
We love this question! And, here’s how to take the next step: Fill out your application today: SACP Application Form. Still have questions? Be sure to check out the SACP webpage.
