Transfer Your Credential

Transfer Your Existing Credential or Gain a New One!

Does your existing pet industry credential not completely reflect your philosophy? Or perhaps you would like to use your existing credential to add a new one to your repertoire? If so, this is the place for you!

When you transfer your credential to a Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) credential, you will be in the company of colleagues who believe shock, choke, prong and pain, force, and fear are unnecessary!

Transferring your current credential or elements of it to acquire a PPAB credential can be done with minimal work and at a minimal cost. All you need to do is meet the eligibility criteria and provide the necessary proof of your existing credential.

In some cases, you may need to record a video or take an examination to ensure that your total transfer submission meets the minimum PPAB credential requirements. We will guide you through the process.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Choose Your PPAB Credential

Choose the PPAB credential level you would like to transfer to or add using a current credential you hold:

Canine Training Technician

A technician is skilled in the manual application of science and artistic endeavor and delivers results through empathy and mutual respect for both client and pet. At this level, the technician is capable of teaching pet manners classes with the knowledge of their own limitations in resolving behavior problems due to a lack of experience and/or further study. They have the ability to understand when a referral to a more qualified professional is necessary. This individual may operate a business specializing in group training services and/or work with, or for, a more qualified professional.

Professional Canine Trainer

A trainer is skilled in the application of science and artistic endeavor and delivers results through empathy and mutual respect for both client and pet, and also teaches obedience classes, pet manners classes, day training, private training sessions, and board and train programs that focus primarily on pet dog skills and manners. This level of service to the community would offer similar abilities as the technician, but with a deeper understanding of the scientific principles involved in training, as well as the ability to better understand and assist with minor behavioral problems and the knowledge of appropriate referral to an animal behavior consultant, when necessary.

Professional Canine Behavior Consultant

A behavior consultant is a professional who undertakes private consultations with pets and their owners and focuses primarily on modifying behavior problems that are elicited by the animal’s emotional state in a given context (e.g., fear, anxiety). Behavior consultants are often professional dog trainers who can competently teach pet manners classes, obedience classes, day training, private training sessions, and board and train programs that focus on pet dog skills and manners. For the purposes of this description, a behavior consultant is defined as a behavior and training professional skilled in the application of science and artistic endeavor who delivers results through empathy and mutual respect for both client and pet. The behavior consultant is aware of their limitations in terms of ability to prescribe psychotropic or any other kind of medication and diagnose illness, as well as their ethical responsibility in such cases, and can refer to a veterinarian or board certified veterinary behaviorist with greater academic and expansive knowledge.

Step 2: Check the Transfer Matrix and Review the Eligibility Criteria

Consult the Credential Transfer Matrix below to determine whether your current credential can be transferred to the PPAB credential you chose and what additional items you may need to submit. The credentials on this matrix have been audited by the PPAB team. If your current credential is not on the matrix and you would like to have it included, please ask the credentialing organization to complete this short form. Simply click on the form link to open it, then copy the URL and paste it into an email.

Next, review the eligibility criteria for the PPAB credential you chose in the Transferring Your Credential guide below. Ensure that you comply with and, where necessary, can provide evidence of all eligibility criteria for your chosen credential level. You will be required to attest that you meet the eligibility requirements for your chosen credential level during the application process.

To download each document, click on the pop-out icon in the top-right corner to open it in Google Drive, then click the download icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Drive page to save the document to your computer.

Step 3: Read the PPG Guiding Principles and Code of Ethical Conduct

You will be required to agree to both the Guiding Principles and Code of Ethical Conduct during the application process.

To download each document, click on the pop-out icon in the top-right corner to open it in Google Drive, then click the download icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Drive page to save the document to your computer.

Step 4: Complete the Application and Pay the Transfer Fee

Step 5: Transfer Your Credential

After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to the applicant area where you will find everything you need. You must start the transfer process within 90 days of your application. We will work with you to audit your current credentials and determine what is missing to expedite the transfer process. Need help or have questions? Contact us!