ADI offers two categories of membership: Candidate and Full Membership

CANDIDATE STATUS will be offered to not-for-profit organizations that train and place Assistance Dogs that have provided the ADI regional board (or the ADI International board where there is no regional board) with:

1. A completed application form which will show a written mission statement indicating the intent to provide assistance dogs. The organization does not have to be a non-profit (or equivalent) in year one.
2. To apply for the second year of candidacy, an organization must have applied for its charitable equivalent (e.g. 501(c)(3). It must have written by-laws or equivalent.
3. To apply for third year candidacy, the organization must be a non-profit.
4. A signed agreement to adhere to the Standards and Ethics accepted by ADI for Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs, Guide Dogs and Social/Therapy Dogs from the organization's president.
5. A reference from an existing ADI Member.
6. Full payment of annual ADI fee which forms a registration fee in year 1 and is non-refundable.

Candidates have 5 years to achieve member status.

FULL MEMBERSHIP will be extended by the Board of ADI to organizations that train and place Assistance Dogs that have:

1. Provided ADI with a copy of their not-for-profit status (e.g.501(c)(3), charity registration number or the equivalent appropriate to a given country).
2. Provided a copy of their bylaws or constitution - the document that governs how they operate.
3. Completed an application form.
4. Provided a letter of recommendation from an accredited ADI member from your region, or an accredited member of ADI ( where there is no regional board).
5. Provided a letter from the organization's not-for-profit board President.
6. Provided 5 letters of reference (with contact information for verification) from graduates of the applying organization who have graduated within the last 5 years from the date of application for membership.
7. Agree to adhere to the Minimum Standards and Ethics accepted by ADI for Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs, Guide Dogs and Social/Therapy Dogs.
8. Been a candidate for at least one year and less than six years.
9. Paid the agreed annual fees and accreditation fees. Membership fees should be paid to the Secretary of the regional chapter where ones exists in the agreed regional currency, or the International Secretary (in $US) where not.

From 2011, all Full Members (voting) of ADI must be accredited by ADI or by the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

For more information contact: info@assistancedogsinternational.org

For Europe: info@assistancedogseurope.org