Animal Acupressure Academy Disclosure, Policies, and Procedures Animal Acupressure Academy provides education in animal acupressure, Traditional Chinese Medicine foundations, meridian theory, holistic animal wellness, and complementary animal therapies. Our courses are designed to support students in developing safe, ethical, and professional skills for use with animals. Animal Acupressure Academy is committed to providing high-quality education while encouraging students to work within their legal scope of practice, maintain professional boundaries, and prioritize animal welfare at all times. Educational Disclosure All courses, lessons, videos, manuals, handouts, and demonstrations provided by Animal Acupressure Academy are for educational purposes only. Animal acupressure and holistic animal therapies are complementary wellness practices. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, nor are they a substitute for veterinary care. Students are responsible for understanding that: • Animal acupressure does not replace veterinary medicine • Any animal showing signs of illness, injury, lameness, pain, neurological changes, infection, emergency symptoms, or unexplained behavioural changes should be referred to a licensed veterinarian • Practitioners must not diagnose, prescribe, perform invasive procedures, or advise clients to stop or alter veterinary treatment • Students and practitioners are responsible for following the animal health laws, regulations, and scope-of-practice rules in their own state, province, or country Animal Acupressure Academy encourages collaboration with veterinarians and other qualified animal care professionals whenever appropriate. Scope of Practice Disclosure Animal Acupressure Academy teaches non-invasive acupressure and holistic wellness techniques. These techniques may include touch-based assessment, acupoint stimulation, meridian tracing, passive touch, gentle pressure, observation, session planning, and wellness-based support. Students are expected to use the information taught in these courses responsibly and ethically. Animal Acupressure Academy does not authorize students to practice veterinary medicine. Completion of a course or certification does not override local laws, veterinary practice acts, title restrictions, or professional licensing requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to research and understand the laws in their area before offering services to the public. Certification Disclosure Certification through Animal Acupressure Academy indicates that the student has completed the required coursework, assignments, case studies, practical demonstrations, and evaluation process outlined for that specific course. Certification does not guarantee employment, legal permission to practice, business success, insurance approval, board certification, or acceptance by any outside organization unless otherwise stated by that organization. Certification reflects completion of Animal Acupressure Academy’s educational standards and practical assessment requirements. Students must complete all required components before receiving a certificate of completion or certification. Student Responsibility Students are responsible for actively participating in their education and completing all course requirements with honesty and professionalism. Students are expected to: • Watch required lessons and demonstrations • Read all course materials • Complete assignments, quizzes, case studies, and practical submissions • Ask questions when clarification is needed • Practice safely and appropriately • Work only with animals that are safe and suitable for student practice • Obtain owner consent before practicing on animals • Prioritize the comfort, safety, and emotional state of the animal • Stop a session if the animal shows signs of distress, discomfort, fear, aggression, illness, or worsening symptoms • Seek veterinary involvement when red flags are present Animal welfare must always come before course completion, technique practice, or student convenience. Animal Safety Policy Animal Acupressure Academy teaches animal-first, consent-aware, and observation-based approaches. Students are expected to work with patience, respect, and caution. Students should never force an animal to participate in a session. Any animal may communicate discomfort through body language, movement away, tension, defensive behaviour, changes in breathing, facial expression, or other stress signals. Students must stop, pause, or modify their approach when needed. Acupressure should not be performed on animals experiencing emergencies, severe illness, acute injury, uncontrolled pain, unexplained lameness, fever, infection, sudden neurological signs, severe behavioural distress, or any condition requiring veterinary care unless the student is working under appropriate veterinary direction. Veterinary Referral Policy Students and practitioners should refer to a licensed veterinarian when an animal presents with signs that fall outside the scope of complementary care. Referral may be appropriate when there is: • Sudden lameness or change in gait • Severe pain or distress • Fever or signs of infection • Open wounds, swelling, heat, or discharge • Difficulty breathing • Colic signs or digestive emergency signs • Neurological symptoms • Sudden behavioural change • Unexplained weight loss • Loss of appetite • Collapse, weakness, or inability to rise • Any condition that appears acute, severe, worsening, or unexplained When in doubt, students should pause hands-on work and recommend veterinary evaluation. Professional Conduct Policy Students are expected to conduct themselves with integrity, respect, and professionalism throughout their studies. Professional conduct includes: • Respectful communication with instructors, peers, animal owners, and professionals • Honest completion of assignments and case studies • Maintaining client and owner confidentiality • Staying within scope of practice • Avoiding medical claims or guarantees • Avoiding criticism of veterinarians or other professionals • Maintaining safe handling practices • Representing training and credentials accurately • Using appropriate language when discussing animal health and wellness Animal Acupressure Academy reserves the right to remove a student from a course or certification pathway if behaviour is unsafe, unethical, dishonest, disrespectful, or harmful to the reputation and standards of the Academy. Case Study and Practical Submission Policy Certification students may be required to submit written case studies, session records, videos, practical demonstrations, quizzes, reflections, or other assignments. All case studies must be original work completed by the student. Students must obtain consent from the animal owner before submitting written information, photos, or videos. Identifying client information should be kept confidential unless permission has been given. Video submissions must clearly show the student performing the required techniques safely and appropriately. The animal’s comfort, handling, and response will be considered as part of the evaluation. Assignments may be returned for revision if they are incomplete, unclear, unsafe, outside scope, or do not meet course standards. Grading and Feedback Policy Animal Acupressure Academy provides feedback to support student learning and professional growth. Feedback may include comments on technique, assessment, session planning, safety, professional communication, written documentation, or understanding of course concepts. Students may be asked to revise and resubmit assignments when needed. Revision is part of the learning process and does not automatically indicate failure. Certificates are issued only after all required components have been completed and approved. Course Access Policy Course access length may vary depending on the course purchased. Students should review the specific access period listed on the course sales page or enrollment information. Students are responsible for completing course requirements within the access period provided. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of Animal Acupressure Academy and may be subject to an extension fee. Course materials are for the enrolled student only and may not be shared, copied, distributed, resold, uploaded, or used to teach others without written permission. Refund Policy Due to the digital nature of online course materials, refunds may be limited once a student has accessed the course. Animal Acupressure Academy may offer refunds only according to the refund terms listed at the time of purchase. Refunds are not guaranteed for: • Change of mind • Failure to complete the course • Lack of time • Disagreement with course requirements • Failure to check local legal requirements before enrolling • Technology issues outside of the Academy’s control • Removal from a course due to misconduct or unsafe practice Students are encouraged to review the full course description, requirements, and policies before enrolling. Payment Policy Payment must be completed according to the terms listed at checkout. Students using payment plans are responsible for completing all scheduled payments. Failure to complete payments may result in suspended course access, withheld certificates, or removal from the certification pathway until the account is brought up to date. Certificates will not be issued until all course requirements and payment obligations have been completed. Technology Policy Students are responsible for having access to reliable internet, a device capable of viewing course materials, and the ability to upload required assignments or videos when applicable. Animal Acupressure Academy is not responsible for technical limitations caused by a student’s device, internet connection, software, browser, or third-party platform issues. Students experiencing technical difficulty should reach out for support with clear details about the issue. Intellectual Property Policy All course materials created by Animal Acupressure Academy are protected intellectual property. This includes, but is not limited to: • Course manuals • Videos • Lesson content • Diagrams • Handouts • Assignments • Quizzes • Protocols • Written explanations • Downloadable resources • Website content Students may use the materials for their personal education and professional reference. Materials may not be copied, shared, sold, reproduced, taught, uploaded, redistributed, or used to create another course, workshop, manual, or training program without written permission. Violation of intellectual property rights may result in removal from the course and loss of certification eligibility. Use of Course Materials in Practice Students may apply the techniques and concepts taught in the course within their appropriate scope of practice and in accordance with local laws. Students may not represent Animal Acupressure Academy materials as their own original teaching materials. Students may not copy course protocols, manuals, or lesson content into their own paid or free educational programs. Graduates may describe their completed training accurately, such as: “Certified in Animal Acupressure through Animal Acupressure Academy” or “Completed Animal Acupressure training through Animal Acupressure Academy” depending on the course completed. Students should not imply that they are veterinarians, licensed medical providers, or acupuncture practitioners unless they hold those credentials separately. Liability Disclaimer By enrolling in a course through Animal Acupressure Academy, students understand that they are responsible for how they use the information provided. Animal Acupressure Academy, its instructors, contributors, affiliates, and representatives are not liable for injury, loss, damages, legal consequences, business outcomes, animal responses, client disputes, or misuse of course information. Students are encouraged to carry appropriate professional liability insurance if offering services to the public. No Guarantee Policy Animal Acupressure Academy does not guarantee specific results from acupressure sessions, business outcomes, employment opportunities, income, board certification approval, insurance coverage, or legal permission to practice. Outcomes vary depending on the animal, practitioner skill, veterinary involvement, client communication, consistency, health status, and many other factors. Inclusivity and Respect Policy Animal Acupressure Academy welcomes students from a variety of educational backgrounds, animal care professions, and holistic therapy pathways. Students are expected to engage respectfully with others and maintain a supportive learning environment. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, plagiarism, or disrespectful conduct will not be tolerated. Communication Policy Students may contact Animal Acupressure Academy for questions related to course content, assignments, and certification requirements. Response times may vary depending on workload, holidays, and course volume. Students are encouraged to ask clear, specific questions and include relevant course/module information when requesting support. Policy Updates Animal Acupressure Academy reserves the right to update policies, procedures, course requirements, pricing, access terms, certification standards, and educational content as needed. Students will be expected to follow the policies in place at the time of their enrollment unless otherwise communicated. Student Agreement By enrolling in Animal Acupressure Academy courses, students acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to the disclosures, policies, and procedures outlined above. Students agree to practice safely, ethically, and within their legal scope of practice, while prioritizing animal welfare and professional integrity at all times.