The San Francisco SPCA
Academy for Dog Trainers Policy

Please review our policy before applying to the Academy. For further details of the application process, read Frequently Asked Questions

ENROLLMENT

CTC

Sessions fill in the order that we receive each application, without exception. If an application is incomplete, it will be returned without review. In order to be considered for acceptance to the CTC program, we require

(1)a completed application with all necessary paperwork
(2) completion of all pre-requisites BEFORE applying and
(3) the required deposit of $750 for the CTC program

Deposits can be paid by cash, check, MasterCard, Visa or Amercian Express. We are unable to consider applications without a deposit.


If an application is incomplete or not accepted, we will notify you by email/letter and your deposit will be returned.

Seminars

In order to be enrolled in a seminar, we require

(1)a completed registration form
(2) Full tuition payment

Payment can be paid by cash, check, MasterCard, Visa or American Express. We are unable to accept registration forms without payment in full.

If a program is cancelled, you will be notified and refunded in full.

WAIT LIST

CTC Wait List:
To be considered for a Wait List, we require:

• a completed application
• completed pre-requisites
• the required deposit

Wait List Process:

• The applicant indicates their session and wait list preferences on their application.
• Applicants choose both a first and a second choice session when possible (sessions can fill 2 - 6 months in advance).
• Student may be enrolled in one session (their second choice) while also wait listed for another (their first choice).
• If a space opens up and a student gets in and off of the wait list, we notify the student immediately (hopefully at least one to two months in advance of a program start date).
• If a space does not open up, the student will not be contacted and will remain enrolled in their second choice.

CTC Wait List-Only Status:

• Wait List -Only means that your application was accepted, but you are wait listed only; you are not actually enrolled. This can happen when:
• An accepted applicant chooses only one session preference, which is full, and elect to be on the wait listed rather than also enrolling in a second choice available session.
• Or both the applicant’s first and second choices are full. They choose to be on one or both wait lists.
• Wait List-Only may be appropriate for applicants who do not have flexibility in their schedules to choose an available sessions.
• Wait list-only applicants are sent our information-rich acceptance packet.
• Their application deposit is not charged unless they get off the wait list and become enrolled in a session.

The drawbacks of Wait List-Only:

• If a space does not open up for the applicant, their CTC application will be returned.
• $50 non-refundable acceptance packet fee will be taken out of their deposit. The applicant is eligible for a partial deposit refund of $700.
• If the applicant wishes to enroll in a later session, they must reapply with a new application and deposit. Enrollment cannot be deferred to a later session.

FEES

CTC program Fees:
$6500 Total
• $750 of this amount is due as a deposit with your CTC application.
• $5750 (the remaining tuition balance) is due 30 days prior to the session start date, as stated in each acceptance letter.
• $6500 total

If your payment is not received by the specified date, we will assume you have withdrawn from the program.

• You will lose your deposit, as per policy below, and your space will be offered to an applicant on the Wait List.
• Please remember to get your payment balance in on time if you want to keep your spot.

Seminar Program Fees:
Fees vary for each seminar. Specific seminar fee information is available on the seminar detail page and registration form. Payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Early Bird Seminar Discount Fees


• Academy Grads & SF/SPCA Staff
• Public (all others)

To receive the discounted fee, seminar payment & registration must be received before or up to the early bird deadline. Go to the particular seminar description for fee and date details.

Regular Seminar Fees


• Academy Alumni & SF/SPCA Staff
• Public (all others)

The Regular Fee applies to all registrations received after the Early Bird deadline. See each seminar description for dates, fees, and details.

All fees are subject to change.

PAYMENT

Check or Money Order: Made payable to: The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers
Credit Card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express.

Include credit card information with application and mail or fax to Academy. Applicants may also indicate on their application that they will call in credit card information once we confirm receipt of it.
Cash: must be paid in person by making an appointment with the Academy Coordinator.

Please note that the Academy does NOT accept payment in smaller installments.

SUBMITTING APPLICATION & PAYMENT

Mail To: The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers , 2500 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Fax To: (415) 554-3017
Phone: (415) 554-3095, the Academy Coordinator’s private line.

Leave a voice-mail message with credit card information.
In Person: To make an appointment to pay in person, call the Academy Coordinator at (415) 554-3095

REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS

CTC Program:

• If you need to cancel your enrollment in a CTC program, please notify us up to 60 days prior to the session start date so we can provide you with a partial refund of $600 ($750 deposit minus a $150 book and processing fee).
• If you cancel within 60 days of the program start date (from 59 days up to 1 day prior), you must forfeit the $750 deposit.
• If you cancel your enrollment on or after the start date of the CTC program, you must forfeit the entire tuition (both deposit and balance).
• We are unable to defer or switch enrollment to a future session.
• If you need to change your CTC enrollment to a future session, you must cancel CTC enrollment and reapply at a later date. Cancellation fees and deadlines apply.

SEMINAR Program:
All cancellations must be in writing (e-mail or fax):

• For cancellations made up to day prior to the seminar start date a cancellation fee of $35.00 will be charged.
• Tuition is NON-REFUNDABLE for cancellations made any time after 5 PM on day prior to start date and once seminar has begun.
• A written note back from The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, within 5 working days, will confirm your cancellation. Your cancellation is not valid without confirmation of receipt. This policy is without exception.

For ALL Programs:


• All cancellations must be in writing (e-mail or fax).
• A written note back from The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, within 5 working days, will confirm your cancellation.
• Your cancellation is not valid without confirmation of receipt.
• We are unable to offer any refunds, for any reason, after the program start date.
• If you cancel your accepted enrollment in a program and wish to attend a future session, you must reapply and submit a new payment for a future program. We are unable to defer your enrollment to a future session.
• If an Academy program is cancelled, enrolled students will be notified five weeks prior to a program start date whenever possible. In this case, all fees will be refunded.
• These policies are without exception.

back to top