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Dee Ganley has earned Level 1 certification
through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT),
the first national certification for dog trainers in history.
Up until the creation of the Certification Council
for Pet Dog Trainers in 2001, there was no true certification
process for dog trainers. Many schools teach dog trainers and
offer certification for their specific programs. These certificates,
therefore, reflect the teachings and quality of a specific school.
Other organizations offer take-home tests for "certification."
The trainers are not monitored to make sure they are completing
the test without any assistance or collaboration, nor is the testing
process standardized.
The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers
is a true certification entity pursuing accreditation from NOCA,
the National Organization for Competency Assurance. The Council
administered its first test September 28 during the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Annual Educational Conference in Ellenville,
NY. The test site was professionally secured and moderated by
Professional Testing Corporation of New York. Dee took her test
in Boston on March 3 rd 2002 with 11 other trainers from the New
England area. This unprecedented process was originally implemented
by the APDT, the largest association of dog trainers in the world,
founded by noted veterinarian, behaviorist and author Dr. Ian
Dunbar.
Early on, the APDT recognized the need for certification
for its profession. Pet dog trainers needed a credible means of
measuring their knowledge and skills and the dog owning public
needed a credibale barometer for choosing a trainer. A task force
of approximately 20 nationally known dog training professionals
and behaviorists worked for three years to research and develop
the comprehensive written examination. The APDT also hired Professional
Testing Corporation to ensure the process met professional testing
standards. It then created a separate, independent council - the
Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers - to manage the accreditation
and pursue future development. Candidates who pass the exam will
earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation,
"CPDT," after their names. As creators of the examination,
the task force members have also earned the use of the CPDT designation.
All certified trainers must earn continuing education
credits to keep their designations, or take the examination again
in three years. With the inception of this certification, there
are now 236 Certified Pet Dog Trainers in the United States and
Canada.
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