
About IACP Certification Programs
Webpage updated: September 9, 2021
Contact: certification@canineprofessionals.coms
Certifications with the International Association of Canine Professionals
Founded in 1999, the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) established a high standard of canine professionals 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 by establlishing standard examinations 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).
Due to this, some of the IACP certifications may be periodically placed on hold for revision while implementing this process.
Developing national standards has been complex due to the continued debates over "tools and methods”as opposed to the natural 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 the same base standards as other government regulated or licensed professions certify upon our certification program takes this into account and places merit of certification to each dog trainer's Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA), via a comprehensive evaluation of written and video submission along with references and more.
IACP's Certification program accurately and thoroughly assess skills by critiquing hands-on performance at progressive KSA levels beyond book learning based exams. 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.
Effective September 1, 2021, IACP certification exams are open to both IACP members and non-members who meet the required certification prerequisites.
Certification
Herm Sprenger & Prong Collar Knowledge Assessment | |
KSA Level | Apprentice |
Title Awarded | PCI-KA |
Certification Prerequisite | None |
Type of Exam | To be announced |
IAP Committee | Education (Email) |
Dog Trainer Foundation Exam | |
KSA Level | Practitioner |
Title Awarded | DTFC |
Certification Prerequisite | 1-year KSA Dog Training |
Type of Exam | 300 Multiple Choice Questions |
IAP Committee | Certification (Email) |
Certified Dog Trainer | |
KSA Level | Professional |
Title Awarded | CDT |
Certification Prerequisite | 3-years KSA Dog Training |
Type of Exam | 3 Case Studies teaching dogs, people, and Client Feedback |
IAP Committee | Certification (Email) |
Certified Dog Trainer Advanced | |
KSA Level | Advanced |
Title Awarded | CDTA |
Certification Prerequisite | 1-year CDT |
Type of Exam | 3 Live Videos Hands on Dog Training at advanced skills task |
IAP Committee | Certification (Email) |
Certified Dog Trainer Instructor | |
KSA Level | Expert |
Title Awarded | PDTI |
Certification Prerequisite | 6-months CDTA |
Type of Exam | 1 Lecture or Workshop Presentation Video, Course Outline, and Attendee Survey Forms |
IAP Committee | Certification (Email) |
Certified Service Dog TrainerGo to Exam | |
KSA Level | Expert |
Title Awarded | CSDT |
Certification Prerequisite | CDT |
Type of Exam | Live demonstration of specified service dog tasks |
IAP Committee | Service Dog (Email) |
Public Access Test Authorized AdministratorGo to Exam | |
KSA Level | Expert |
Title Awarded | PAT |
Certification Prerequisite | CDT |
Type of Exam | 25 Multiple Choice Questions and video conducting the PAT |
IAP Committee | Service Dog (Email) |
IACP exams are user friendly with free download at any time following the links on this webpage. Requests for hard copies of exam are available for $15.00 per exam by contacting IACP Administrative Office or telephone (512) 564-1011.
All IACP certificants are held to the IACP Code of Conduct and the IACP Certificant Code of Ethics.
Questions?