AKC Dog Training Certification Process and Requirements

To become an AKC Certified Dog Trainer, you'll need to meet the organization's certification requirements. The AKC offers three levels of certification: Certified Dog Trainer (CDT), Certified Advanced Dog Trainer (CADT), and Certified Master Dog Trainer (CMDT).

The AKC requires applicants to have at least 1 year of dog training experience and pass a written exam to become a CDT. This exam covers topics like canine behavior, learning theory, and training techniques.

To advance to the CADT level, you'll need to have at least 2 years of experience and complete a series of training exercises with a certified trainer. You'll also need to pass a practical exam that assesses your training skills.

Becoming an AKC Certified Dog Trainer can open up new career opportunities and help you stand out in the industry.

The S.T.A.R. Program is a foundational course that sets the stage for subsequent AKC obedience training. It's a great way to start your pup's training journey.

With hands-on sessions, interactive modules, and a focus on real-world scenarios, your pup is poised for growth. This comprehensive approach helps build a strong foundation for future training.

Our seasoned trainers provide personalized feedback, ensuring a lasting bond between you and your canine. They'll help you and your pup progress together.

The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is the perfect place to begin your dog's training journey.

With hands-on sessions, interactive modules, and a focus on real-world scenarios, your pup will be well-prepared for subsequent AKC obedience training.

Our seasoned trainers provide personalized feedback, ensuring a lasting bond between you and your canine.

This foundational course sets the stage for growth, laying the groundwork for your pup to thrive in obedience training.

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The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is a foundational course that sets the stage for subsequent AKC obedience training. With hands-on sessions and interactive modules, your pup is poised for growth.

Our seasoned trainers provide personalized feedback, ensuring a lasting bond between you and your canine. You'll notice a visible enhancement in your dog's behavior and skills as you progress from basic AKC puppy training to specialized AKC scent work training.

To earn the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Award, you'll need to test items and pledge, which can be found in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Overview brochure (PDF).

Becoming a certified owner through the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is a great way to start your dog's training journey.

The program initiates with hands-on sessions, interactive modules, and a focus on real-world scenarios.

Our seasoned trainers provide personalized feedback, ensuring a lasting bond between you and your canine. This foundational course sets the stage for subsequent AKC obedience training.

To become a proud AKC certified owner, you'll need to go through a straightforward AKC training certification process.

This process showcases commitment, perseverance, and the spirit of excellence, and it's more than just a certificate – it's a testament to your dedication and your dog's prowess.

You'll notice a visible enhancement in your dog's behavior and skills as you progress from basic AKC puppy training to specialized AKC scent work training.

Here are the steps to test and pledge for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy:

You can also find more information in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy brochure, available in PDF format.

The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) is a great resource for trainers looking to get certified. They were founded in 2000 and offer two types of certifications: CPDT-KA and CPDT-KSA.

The CPDT-KA exam is computer-generated and must be taken at one of their testing locations, covering topics like canine learning theory, ethology, and instruction skills. You'll need to answer 250 multiple-choice questions.

The CPDT-KSA exam is a bit different, formatted as practical training exercises that can be submitted via video recording. You'll have three weeks to submit four video recordings demonstrating your knowledge and skills in training, instructing, and training equipment.

To maintain certification status, you'll need to recertify every three years. For CPDT-KA trainers, this means obtaining 36 CEUs, while CPDT-KSA trainers need 12 CEUs of hands-on time and 36 CEUs of lectures and seminars.

The CCPDT also offers a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine – Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA) exam for those interested in canine behavior modification. This exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions, covering topics like applied behavior analysis, consulting skills, and canine body language.

To recertify as a CBCC-KA trainer, you'll need to obtain 36 CEUs, which must be in the areas of training and/or behavior. Hands-on credits are highly recommended and will count towards your CEUs, but they must be in behavior.

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To become an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy evaluator or instructor, you'll need access to the Evaluator Guide and Test Summary Form, which are available online and as downloadable PDFs.

The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program is a foundational course that sets the stage for subsequent AKC obedience training, with hands-on sessions and interactive modules that focus on real-world scenarios.

If you're interested in becoming a certified dog obedience instructor, you can look into the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), which has been certifying instructors since 1965. To be eligible for certification, you'll need at least two years of training dogs and instructing group or private lessons.

NADOI offers two types of memberships: Certified and Provisional. If you don't meet the requirements for Certified Membership, you can apply for Provisional Membership, which has its own set of benefits and limitations.

As a S.T.A.R. Evaluator, you'll have access to a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process. The Evaluator Guide (AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy) is a valuable resource that's available as a PDF download.

To conduct a successful evaluation, you'll need to complete a Test Summary Form, which can be found online or downloaded as a PDF. There are also two different Class Record Forms available for download: the 6 Weeks AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class Record Form (SMOTC) and the 6 Weeks AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class Record Form (Obedience Club of Daytona).

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You can order Test Kits for Evaluators through a downloadable PDF order form. This will ensure you have all the necessary materials to conduct a thorough evaluation.

The following resources are available to support your role as a S.T.A.R. Evaluator:

These resources will help you provide a thorough and accurate evaluation of puppies participating in the S.T.A.R. Puppy program.

The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, or NADOI, is a renowned organization that has been certifying dog obedience instructors since 1965.

Their mission is to certify instructors who are proficient in both training dogs and teaching their owners, with a focus on humane training methods.

The minimum requirement for NADOI membership is at least two years of experience training dogs and instructing group or private lessons.

NADOI offers two types of membership: Certified and Provisional. If you don't meet the criteria for Certified Membership, you can opt for Provisional Membership, which comes with some limitations.

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Provisional members can't vote or hold office, but they do receive all the publications and benefits included with Certified Membership. This membership is temporary, lasting a maximum of three years while you work towards completing your requirements for Certified Membership.

Additional certifications are available after six months of membership, including Puppy, Novice, Open, Utility, Tracking, and Basic Agility certifications.

To become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), you have to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

You'll also need to log a minimum of 300 hours of experience in dog training within the last 3 years. This hands-on experience is essential to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

To verify your experience, you'll need to provide a signed Attestation Statement from a certified professional, a veterinarian, or another approved professional. This statement is crucial to ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications.

The CPDT-KA exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, which will test your broad range of knowledge and skills in ethology, learning theory, dog training technique, and instruction.

You can get a feel for the CPDT-KA exam by taking two online practice tests for $99 each. Each test has 50 questions and takes 2 hours to complete. You'll get an instant score report showing your performance in each content area.

The practice tests are designed to mimic the actual exam, so you can experience the question format and style. However, keep in mind that passing the practice test doesn't guarantee a passing score on the exam.

Training classes are a great way to learn how to best communicate with your puppy.

Organized training classes provide an opportunity for your dog to socialize with other dogs, which is essential for their development.

In AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training classes, you'll get information on all of your puppy-raising questions, including housetraining, chewing, and teaching practical skills like coming when called.

These classes are a natural lead-in to the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, which rewards responsible dog ownership.

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AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training classes are an excellent first in-person training class for puppies, providing a good lead-in to earning the Canine Good Citizen title.

After completing AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training, you'll have access to additional resources, including:

Practice tests are a great way to get a feel for the CPDT-KA certification exam. You can purchase two online practice tests for $99 each.

Each practice test consists of 50 questions and you have 2 hours to complete them. You'll receive an instant score report after submitting the test, showing your performance in each content area.

The practice tests are designed to mimic the actual exam experience, so you can get comfortable with the computerized format and question style. Just keep in mind that passing the practice test doesn't guarantee a passing score on the actual exam.

It's a good idea to take one practice test when you apply for the certification exam and the other close to your exam date. This will give you a chance to review your progress and identify areas where you need to focus.