CHA Program Member: an organization, business or facility that offers groups riding programs. Calendar year membership fees are $200. Program membership required to host clinics and for Site Accreditation.

CHA Individual Member: an individual instructor or guide that may have achieved some level of certification through CHA programs. Calendar year membership fees are $55. Individual membership is required to maintain instructor/guide certification; first year calendar membership is complimentary with first certification.

CHA Certification Clinic: a minimum of 40 hours of clinic time, usually over five days, following the specific format and course syllabus mandated for CHA certification. One scheduled clinic may have more than one clinic group and clinic type (types of clinics listed below).

Standard Certification Clinic: Focus on arena teaching and short trail rides. Includes demonstration lessons, classroom study and written test. Participants are evaluated by two CHA Certified Clinicians and may receive auditors recognition, Assistant Instructor certification, or certification as an English and/or Western Certified Instructor at one of four Horsemanship Levels.

Trail Certification Clinic: Focus on all forms of trail riding, includes demonstration lessons at the barn and on the trail, several nights on the trail and a written test. Participants are evaluated by two CHA Certified Trail Clinicians and may receive auditor's recognition, or certification as an Assistant Guide, Trail Guide, Overnight Guide, Packing Guide or Wilderness Guide.

Combined Certification Clinic: includes certification in both the Standard Instructor and/or Trail Guide programs, up to the :second level in each program.

Instructors of Riders with Disabilities: (IRD) For instructors working in programs that provide therapeutic, recreational or mainstream riding for people with disabilities. The focus is on the various considerations, adaptations, applications, contraindications, adaptive equipment and horses used in riding programs that deal with people with cognitive and physical disabilities. Standard Instructor certification is a prerequisite; certification can be earned as an Assistant Side Walker, Assistant Horse Handler, Assistant Instructor, Level 1-3 IRD, and IRD Clinician.

Seasonal Equestrian Staff Certification: (SESC) a non-renewable equestrian staff certification (expires at end of calendar year), available only to staff at CHA Program Member facilities, that work under a CHA Level 2 or higher certified instructor or guide. This is a 3-day clinic and only requires one clinician.

Clinic Group: a clinic group is up to eight participants (experienced sites may be granted permission to have a maximum of 10 participants in a group), with two CHA Clinicians. Host sites may run more than one group simultaneously, each with its own clinic staff.

Clinic Host Site: a CHA Program Member facility that has been approved by the CHA Program Director for hosting CHA Certification Clinics (see "Host Site Approval" on following page).

Host Site Contact: the individual at the host site that is responsible for organizing and facilitating the clinic.

Clinic Director (CD): a CHA Clinic Instructor that has agreed to direct the clinic and be responsible for time management, adherence to CHA certification procedures and submitting all required paperwork to the CHA office. The Clinic Director may or may not be one of the two required Clinic Instructors.

Clinic Instructor (CI): a CHA certified Clinician that has achieved CHA's highest level of certification and is able to certify other instructors/guides, along with another clinic staff. A TCI is a Trail Clinic Instructor; a DCI is a Disabilities Clinic Instructor.

Assistant Clinic Instructor (ACI): a CHA certified clinician-in-training can work with a CI to certify instructors/guides; ACIs must apprentice several clinics before applying for CI status. A TACI is a Trail Assistant Clinic Instructor; a DACI is a Disabilities Asst. Clinic Instructor.

Clinic Participant: a participant in a CHA clinic may audit the clinic for no certification, or may be a candidate for certification. Minimum age is 16 for Assistant certifications and 18 for Instructor or Guide certification (age requirements higher for IRD); maximum number of participants in a clinic group is eight; minimum number is five.

Certified Instructor/Guide: has successfully completed a CHA Certification Clinic and achieved Assistant Instructor/Guide certification, certification as an English and/or Western Instructor, or Trail Guide at one of four levels or certification as an Instructor of Riders with Disabilities (IRD). Certification is valid for three years from date of certification, if the individual maintains annual CHA membership. Certification is renewable if instructor/guide applies for renewal before the certification expires and shows evidence of continued work within the industry and 25 hours of continuing education. The only way to raise the level of certification is to attend another certification clinic.