Canine Rehabilitation Institute

What Canine Rehabilitation Institute does

Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) is a private educational institution offering post-graduate certification and continuing education in canine physical rehabilitation and veterinary acupuncture. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Janet Van Dyke and headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, CRI delivers five core certification programs — Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT), Certified Veterinary Acupuncture Therapist (CVAT), Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Technician/Nurse (CCRVT/CCRVN), Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA), and Certified Canine Orthotic & Prosthetic Professional (CCOPP) — targeting licensed veterinarians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, credentialed veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants. Each certification combines Thinkific-hosted online pre-course videos with intensive in-person hands-on labs at CRI's custom-designed facilities, including 'The Q' in Springfield, MO and a Denver-area facility in Aurora, CO, plus a European site in Belgium. The institute has certified more than 2,100 professionals across 29 countries since inception.

CRI's underlying pedagogy centers on a 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio, a volunteer 'Dog Professors' program that provides live canine subjects for hands-on practice, and RACE-approved curriculum recognized by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. The revenue model is tuition-driven: full certification programs price between $7,377 and $8,987 depending on track, with a 50% non-refundable deposit at registration and the balance due before class start; standalone CE courses range from $715 to $2,500. Supplementary revenue streams include a 40-hour internship module (mentor sites charge $150-$250/day), sponsorship and advertising inventory ($1,500/class Lunch & Learn, $1,500/year newsletter banner, $250/month social posts), and on-demand online CE. Courses consistently sell out months in advance, and 2027 tuition has been posted at modest price increases across tracks.

In January 2026, CRI was acquired by Paw Prosper, a Denver-based provider of pet wellness products. Dr. Kara Amstutz, former CEO, transitioned to Director of Clinical Education. The acquisition positions CRI to integrate professional education with Paw Prosper's wellness product portfolio while continuing to operate as a division under the existing CRI brand, faculty, and certification infrastructure.

Name

Canine Rehabilitation Institute

Legal name

Canine Rehabilitation Institute LLC

Website

https://caninerehabinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Canine Rehabilitation Institute is a private educational institution offering post-graduate certification and continuing education in canine physical rehabilitation and veterinary acupuncture to veterinarians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and veterinary technicians across 29 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Professional Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy (Hydrotherapy, Sports Med) (HLAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy & Pain Management (AFAEANAL), Veterinary Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy Centers (HLAMACAK)

Keywords

• Canine rehabilitation certification
• Veterinary acupuncture training
• Veterinary continuing education
• Animal physical therapy
• Veterinary professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Programs: Multi-module certification programs for canine rehabilitation (CCRT, CCRVT/CCRVN, CCRA), veterinary acupuncture (CVAT), and orthotic/prosthetic (CCOPP). Revenue generated through course tuition fees, 50% deposits at registration, and remaining balances due before class start. Total certification costs range from $7,900 to $8,987 depending on program and year.
2. Continuing Education Courses: Individual CE courses for professionals seeking to expand their knowledge without completing full certification. Includes business courses, diagnostic ultrasound, osteoarthritis symposium, and more. Full payment required at registration.
3. Internship Program: 40-hour supervised internships at approved sites as final module for certification. Many sites charge daily fees ranging from $150-$250 per day for mentorship.
4. Sponsorship and Advertising: Lunch & Learn sponsorship opportunities at $1,500 per class, newsletter banner ads at $1,500/year, and single social media posts at $250/month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) delivers post-graduate certification programs and continuing education courses for veterinary and physical therapy professionals in canine physical rehabilitation and veterinary acupuncture. Its core offerings are multi-module certifications (CCRT, CVAT, CCRVT/CCRVN, CCRA, CCOPP) that combine online pre-course videos via Thinkific with intensive in-person hands-on labs using live volunteer dogs, plus standalone continuing education courses on topics such as diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, osteoarthritis, and practice business management.

Product overview

Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of certification programs and continuing education courses for veterinary and physical therapy professionals in canine physical rehabilitation and acupuncture. The core certifications include CCRT (for veterinarians, PTs, and OTs), CVAT (for veterinarians in acupuncture), CCRVT/CCRVN (for credentialed veterinary technicians), CCRA (for non-credentialed assistants), and CCOPP (for orthotic and prosthetic devices). Each certification consists of multiple in-person course modules combined with online pre-course videos, culminating in clinical internships. CRI also offers standalone continuing education courses including diagnostic ultrasound, osteoarthritis management, exercise physiology, and business development. The institution operates from headquarters in Springfield, Missouri and Aurora, Colorado, with additional courses offered internationally in Belgium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) Certification
• Certified Veterinary Acupuncture Therapist (CVAT) Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,100+ professionals certified across 29 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paw ProspercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Paw Prosper, a Denver-based provider of pet wellness products, acquired Canine Rehabilitation Institute in January 2026. Dr. Kara Amstutz, former CEO of CRI, continues as Director of Clinical Education. The acquisition enables integration of CRI's professional education offerings with Paw Prosper's wellness products, positioning the company as comprehensive resource for animal health professionals.
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for the CVAT (Certified Veterinary Acupuncture Therapist) certification program. CRI's acupuncture training recognized as aligned with IVAPM's mission to advance pain management in veterinary medicine.
• Martin Buser's Happy Trails KennelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 4-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennels in Big Lake, Alaska for the Exercise Physiology of the Working Canine course. Students experience hands-on learning with elite Alaskan Husky sled dogs.
• Ellen Martens / Het WaterhofcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEllen Martens, PT, MPT, CCRT, therapist and owner of Het Waterhof in Velm, Belgium hosts CRI's European course offerings. Provides venue and local support for international students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CuraCore: CuraCore offers veterinary medical acupuncture and rehabilitation certification courses for licensed veterinarians, directly overlapping with CRI's CVAT acupuncture curriculum. Both target the same buyer persona (vet professionals seeking acupuncture certification) with similar hybrid in-person/online delivery.
• Chi University: Chi University is a leading provider of veterinary acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) certification programs, directly competing with CRI's CVAT program. Both institutions train licensed veterinarians in acupuncture with evidence-based and TCVM components, and both offer hybrid certification tracks.
• University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (CCRP program): The University of Tennessee offers the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) program, which is the most established direct competitor to CRI's CCRT certification. Both programs train veterinarians and rehab professionals in canine rehabilitation using hybrid online/in-person models with similar curricula and pricing.
• International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS): IVAS is a longstanding international certifying body for veterinary acupuncture, offering certification courses that compete directly with CRI's CVAT program. Both organizations train licensed veterinarians in acupuncture, and IVAS's globally recognized credential creates a high-bar alternative for the same target market.

Emerging players

• Healing Touch for Animals: Healing Touch for Animals provides certification in energy-based and complementary healing modalities for companion animals, partially overlapping with CRI's rehabilitation and acupuncture offerings. While more focused on energy work than physical rehab, it serves a similar audience of vet and rehab professionals seeking specialty credentials.
• Northeast Seminars: Northeast Seminars offers continuing education courses for veterinary and rehab professionals, including canine rehab and physical therapy topics. It overlaps with CRI's CE portfolio by serving licensed vets, technicians, and PTs seeking RACE-approved training, though it does not offer CRI's full certification tracks.

Broad incumbents

• VetBloom (Viticus Group): VetBloom, operated by Viticus Group (formerly WVC), is a major online veterinary continuing education platform offering RACE-approved courses across many specialties. It competes with CRI's online CE offerings and represents the larger incumbent model of scale-driven, on-demand CE delivery for veterinary professionals.
• North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) / VetFolio: NAVC is the largest veterinary continuing education organization in North America, offering a broad portfolio of CE content including some rehabilitation topics through VetFolio. NAVC competes with CRI on RACE-approved CE for veterinary professionals, but at a much larger scale and broader scope than CRI's specialized canine rehab focus.

Others

• American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV): AARV is the professional association for veterinary rehabilitation practitioners, providing continuing education, conferences, and resources to CRI's target market. While not a direct certification competitor, AARV is an ecosystem player that influences referral patterns, professional standards, and CE demand that CRI benefits from.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNejmoS5sZber6j4VC2VCSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CanineRehabInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canine-rehabilitation-institute-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/caninerehabinstitute_cri

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canine Rehabilitation Institute