How to become a Certified Dog trainer?

How to become a Certified Dog trainer? (Find Out)

Dog training has become the most respected and highly demanding profession in recent times. Dog training is a highly rewarding job both financially and mentally too. Dog training is only for those who love dogs. You get to be with the dogs throughout the day and if you are a dog lover then this can be a dream profession for you. 

You help people build a good relationship with their dog. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a spike in the employment rate of dog training jobs by 29 % in just 10 years. 

According to stats dog training in 1994 was a 17 billion $ Industry and during the last studies in 2021, it has become a 126 billion $ industry which shows that People have taken training as a full-time job. If you are a dog trainer and want to get certified you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will talk about two things

• Requirements for a dog trainer
• How to become a Certified dog trainer

REQUIREMENTS FOR A DOG TRAINER

Not all people can become dog trainers. Only those who have the below-mentioned qualities can become dog trainers.

1. Skill requirements 

• Good Observation
• Respect and love for dogs.
• Understanding canine behavior
• Ideas of how to make training an easy job.
• You should have an inquiry mind

2. Career Requirements

• A high school diploma is mandatory or equivalent.
• Experience with animals is necessary.
• Age should be 23 to 30 years old.
• Communication skills, problem-solving, active mind, stamina

If you have the above-mentioned qualities only then you can become a dog trainer and you should pursue your career as a dog trainer.

How to Become a Certified Dog Trainer?

If you fulfill all the qualities of a dog trainer, you are eligible to get certified and it is because all dog certification agencies take your test and only those people who fulfill the requirements of a dog trainer can pass the test.

DOG TRAINING CERTIFICATION COMPANIES

There are a lot of companies that certify you as a dog trainer after you fulfill their requirements but there are two specific parties whose certifications are recognized on an international level. These two are given below.

1. Certification Council for Professional DOG Trainers (CCPDT)
2. International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

Now let's talk about these two associations and their requirements and how you can get certified.

A. CERTIFICATION COUNCIL FOR PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS (CCPDT)

CCPDT is an internationally recognized council which has been serving for more than 4 decades now and their certification is valid in every country in this world. Now let's talk about how you can get certified from this council. They offer two types of certifications.

1. Certified professional dog trainer - knowledge assessed (CPDT-KA)

This certification Justifies that you have broad knowledge and you have great skills in ethology, dog training, theory learning, and giving instructions.

Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age
• High school diploma / GED / or Equivalent 
• 300 hours of dog training experience 
• 3 years of experience
• Attested motivation letter from any veterinarian, CCPDT-certified individual, or any approved professional.

FEES: This certification costs you around 400 $ when applying. Without applying fees you will not be able to apply for certification. The deadline for fees is given at the end of the application form.

TEST DETAILS: There are certain things that you should know about their test.

• The test is taken during the spring and Fall periods.
• The test consists of 200 MCQs.
• The duration of the test is 3 hours.
• The test is computer-based.

Syllabus for Test: 

• Instruction skills 48%
• Theory learning 36%
• Ethology 7%
• Animal husbandry 4%
• Equipment 5%

 How to Apply?

• Log in to their website.
• Search for CCDT-KA
• Go to candidate application. 
• Start new application
• Fill out the form.
• Submit the form
• Pay the fees

Only basic things are asked in the application form like email address, name, city, certificate type, and examination center.

2. Certified Professional DOG trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT - KSA)

Those people who not only have knowledge but also have broader skills and hands-on experience can go for this test. In this certification, your skills, training, and hands-on expertise are judged.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Only those people who have CPDT- Knowledge Assessed CERTIFICATION (mentioned above) can apply for this certification.
• While applying online you will have to upload a video of an assigned training exercise.
• Pay the fees online.

Fees: This certification will charge you 240 $ 240 and is mandatory. The deadline to lay the fees is given when you apply online.

Test Details: The test for this certification is different from the above certification. If includes

• Submitting video recordings of training exercises.
• 4 video recordings within 3 weeks.

Syllabus for Test:

This test does not have any Syllabus as your skills are being judged here. A few things should be shown by you while recording a video.

• Equipment for training 
• Proper skills for training 
• Modalities application 
• Instruction skills (important)
• Position statement.

How to apply:

• Go their website 
• Search for CPDT - KSA
• Search for an Application form.
• Start a new application.
• Fill out the application form.
• Submit the form after filling it out.
• Submit fees.

Application Form REQUIREMENTS: 

Only basic things are asked in the application form like email address, name, city, certificate type, and examination center.

B. International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

IAABC offers certification which is valid in every country of the world is an Australia-based company and gives training certification in dogs, cats, birds, equine, and shelter behavior.

They have been giving services for almost three decades and their certified trainers are more skillful and competent than any other certified trainers. Now let's move on to how to get certified by this esteemed council.

Course Details:

• Course duration: 20 weeks.
• Type: Instructed Course type 
• Tutors: CBDC, CPDT-KSA, KPA CTP
• The course starts on January 9, 2024.

Requirement: 

Anyone can apply for this certification as they do not require previous experience. They accept you even if you have zero experience. They teach and train you by themselves.

How to Apply? 

• Go to their Website.
• Open their Courses option.
• Search for a Professional Training Course and open it.
• Register for this course by tapping on the registration form.
• Fill out the whole application form.
• Pay the fees.
• The course will start on the mentioned date.
• After the completion of the course, IAABC will provide you the professional dog trainer certification.

FEES: The fee to apply for the course is 3800 $ which is very expensive and it is only because of its validation. This certification is valid all around the globe. This application fee must be submitted during the registration process. Only after paying fees, you can complete registration.

Application Form requirements:

Personal and basic things are asked during the application form which includes your name, address, email, country, state, zip code, and card information.

Conclusion

Being a Certified dog trainer can be complicated because some people find this whole process of applying, giving tests, and then getting certification. However, being verified can help you get more gigs and more clients resulting in more professional and career growth. I have mentioned these two certification councils above.

You can get certified by any of the above-mentioned councils as both of them are recognized internationally. If you have any questions, you can ask in the FAQ option. See you in the next guide. Take Care.