Dog Trainer Certifications
Certifications with the International Association of Canine Professionals
Founded in 1999, the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) established a high standard of practice for the industry and still strives to maintain recognition of this high standard for its members and the general public.
The IACP’s Certification Committee oversees certifications issued by the organization. This is achieved by establishing examinations based on clear standards for dog trainers and dog training instructors.
A major component of maintaining high standards is the continued growth and collaboration amongst senior professional peers within our industry. Early in 2020, the IACP Certification Committee embarked on revising exam contents and formatting, following the national accreditation standards set forth by the Institute of Credentialing Excellence (ICE).
Developing appropriate national and international standards has been complex due to the continued debates over “tools and methods” as opposed to recognizing only the evolving nature of canine training. The number of diverse training philosophies and the skill to effectively use them is a combination of art and science. Using standards similar to other government-regulated or licensed professions ensures our certification program takes this into account. IACP, as an international association, focuses our evaluation on the demonstrated humane training techniques and approaches used by canines professionals. We assess the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) of each trainer via a comprehensive evaluation of references of professionals with personal knowledge of the trainer, client feedback, as well as written and video submissions from the trainers seeking certification.
The IACP does not discriminate against training methods, tools or techniques in its certification exams but rather examines each dog trainer’s abilities to incorporate them effectively and humanely into a sound and well-rounded training program. All IACP certificants are held to the IACP Code of Conduct and the IACP Certificant Code of Ethics.
Note: Due to ongoing and continuous improvement efforts, some of the IACP certifications may be periodically placed on hold for revision. Certificants starting the process for a specific certification will be held to the standards of the version they are authorized to start under.In the event that the time period is passed without successful completion, certificates may be held to the new standard if the exam was revised in the interim.
Need to Renew Your Certification?
IACP Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment (PCKA)
The International Association of Canine Professionals is proud to relaunch the Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment! This assessment is available to both members and nonmembers. The assessment tests your knowledge on the basic usage of the prong collar. Hosted through a third party platform, the assessment is conducted through multiple choice questions and utilizes text, image, and video demonstrations. It should take less than 20 minutes to complete and those who finish will receive an immediate result. If you successfully pass the Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment, you will receive a digital certificate of your achievement.
To successfully pass the Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment, you must score a 90% or above. If you do not receive a passing grade on your first attempt, you will get one additional retake. If you do not receive a passing grade after your second attempt, you will not pass the Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment. You can purchase the assessment again at another time to retake the assessment.
Pricing
Members: $89
Non-members: $159
IACP Certified Dog Trainer Exam (CDT)
The International Association of Canine Professionals Certified Dog Trainer Exam (CDT) is an assessment that is designed to assess well-rounded Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) by recognizing a dog’s temperament, how to shape its behavior, and the ability to educate the dog’s owners. The portfolio assessment itself is a combination of written narrative reports and written client feedback that are reviewed by a panel of professional peers.
The Certified Dog Trainer Exam is a three part process. It requires an initial application, a completed exam portfolio and client references from each case study. The exam is administered by the IACP electronically and applicants can take the exam at their own pace, from home or on a mobile device. The CDT exam portfolio must be completed and submitted within 12 months of the start date.
