Q. Is the tuition tax deductible?
A. YES! It can be claimed as a business expense.
Q. How long will it take me to recover my investment?
A. You'll earn back your tuition fee with each student you teach, so every instructor is different.
Q. What does my tuition include?
A. Upon completion of an application, interview and self-driven Background Check, we then mail out your pre-course study materials which includes your instructor teaching manuals for basic, advanced, fundamentals, Back Country trail, I can help (kids manual), and Building your Business handbook. The course itself is 3 days in length and is a very BUSY and exhausting (but fun!) time. Training can be Flexable with you traveling to an Affiliate location or arranging for us to travel to you, Many Instructors choose to attend a pre-existing clinic on a training affiliates schedule (preferred so you can see how a class operates in real time) or we can do the bulk of the training online with an arranged day to meet up to cover Hands on Scenarios. Upon graduation you will be awarded a vest with the company logo embroidered on as well as the word 'INSTRUCTOR'. We also provide you with a vital signs kit, course outlines, a PowerPoint presentation that guides you through the courses, a private Facebook instructors group, a private instructor's resource page complete with demonstration videos. You will be 100% set up and ready to teach upon graduation!
Q. When I take the training, do I work for Equi-First Aid?
A. Students who successfully complete the instructor training course become independent from Equi-First Aid, not an employee. That means that you get to write off all your equine related expenses (including a portion of your horses at home provided you teach there once a year), travel and teach when and where and how often you want! We have instructors across the United States.
Q. Do I have to find my own courses to teach?
A. Yes and No. The bulk of your Student and Host locations will come from your connections in the equine world and your marketing efforts, however it is not uncommon for referrals to come in to our instructor team through the head office from time to time.
Q. Are there territories?
A. No. Territories are unnecessary. Not only do we currently offer 7 different training courses, but there are nearly 5 million people involved with horses in the United States, 1 million in Canada, 1.2 million riders in the UK... so there is plenty of clients for all our instructors to travel and teach wherever they want! We have one instructor who teaches at a guest ranch in Costa Rica every year. You are eligible to teach anywhere you'd like...... get that passport out!
Q. Are there payment plans?
A. Yes. You can split the tuition into a maximum of four equal payments. Certification is not awarded, however, until payment is made in full. *Refunds will not be issued to failed or withdrawn students. Tuition is non-transferable*
Q. So how does it 'work' when I teach?
A. Once you have a class scheduled at your own ranch or a host location, we advertise your course on the company website, and you advertise locally. The primary course is offered nation-wide at the standard fee of $169 You collect the fees from your students directly. You then order your course manuals from Head Office at a cost of $40.00 per student (includes their first aid manual, certificate of completion and normal/abnormal card). You will be responsible for your own teaching insurance and soft goods. Don't worry - we will go through all the 'business' end of things in your training, and you have unlimited phone coaching available!
Q. Do I have to re-certify at any point?
A. Yes, your certification is valid for 3 years. After 3 years you can re-certify via online exam, to obtain your lifetime certification and senior instructor status. This is a one-time cost of $299 and includes a short online exam.
Q. What kind of support do I have?
A. We really are a family. We have a private instructor only portal where you can download handouts, sample forms, emails, photos etc. We also have a closed Facebook group where instructors from across the states can share ideas, stories, and the like.
We also try to have a bi-ennial instructor conference. It isn't mandatory to attend however there is always great camaraderie, learning, updates on new ideas coming through and future programs we are developing, and it is a load of FUN.
Senior instructors are always available for phone or email support as well.
Q. Sounds great - how do I register?
A. Click the apply button to start your journey towards your dream job! Or set up a time for a phone call by using the contact us section if you have further questions.
(Make sure you've read the code of ethics form first, as they will form part of your instructor agreement.)