Apply for Professional Service Dog Trainer (PSDT-A) or Professional Assistance Dog Trainer (PADT-A) Accreditation

These programs are currently in a pilot phase. Please do not submit an application unless you were invited to do so until November 1, 2026.

Professional Service Dog Trainer (PSDT-A) or Professional Assistance Dog Trainer (PADT-A)

Welcome to the Pet Professional Accreditation Board’s (PPAB) Professional Service Dog Trainer–Accredited (PSDT-A) and Professional Assistance Dog Trainer–Accredited (PADT-A) application page. The PPAB program is independent of any industry trade school, college or credentialing body. To apply, you do not need to be a member of the Pet Professional Guild, but you must meet and maintain all eligibility criteria and ethical standards. 

Important Information

These two accreditations are considered supplemental for an established individual trainer whose knowledge has been assessed by an independent third-party examination company and whose selected performance skills have been tested by video or in person.

PCT-A and PCBC- A Accreditation Holders

If you are a PCT-A or a PCBC-A, you can apply to take the short supplemental examination covering Laws, Professional Consulting Skills, and Selecting Candidates. Once you have successfully completed the examination, you can submit your skill videos for the exercises identified below in the study guide.

Other Credential Holders

Knowledge-Based Assessment

If you do not already hold a Pet Professional Accreditation Board certification, please review the transfer matrix before applying to identify what additional materials you must submit beyond completing the short exam and submitting supplemental skill videos demonstrating your ability to modify behaviors.

If you have not had your knowledge assessed under these criteria, then you will need to apply for and sit the PCT-A examination.

If you have had your knowledge tested by a third-party independent examination company from an organization on our Transfer Matrix, then you are eligible to sit this short examination.

Skill Assessment

If an organization on our Transfer Matrix has assessed your performance skills, you may transfer that into PPAB and will be eligible to submit your supplementary skill videos.

If an approved educational provider has not assessed your performance skills in person or via video, you must submit skill videos meeting the PCT-A requirements before submitting your supplementary skills form from the Assistance Animal Study Guides.

Two Programs – Aligned Ethics. Choose either the USA PSDT-A Track or the UK PADT-A Track

USA Dog Trainers

Dog trainers in the USA should apply for the Professional Service Dog Trainer–Accredited (PSDT-A) credential.

UK Dog Trainers

Dog trainers in the UK should apply for the Professional Assistance Dog Trainer–Accredited (PADT-A) credential.

Study Guides

These guides were written to help you prepare for the PPAB Professional Service Dog Trainer (PSDT-A) or Professional Assistance Dog Trainer (PADT-A) assessments. Each guide also serves as a syllabus to assist you in working toward eligibility and to help you understand what is required to pass the assessments, including:

• Breadth and depth of knowledge you are expected to possess
• Fundamentals you should be familiar with
• Skills you need to be competent in
• Scenarios you must be able to address

To download a guide, 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 guide to your computer.

Road Map for Your PSDT-A or PADT-A Credential

Note: To apply, you must already hold the PCT-A Accreditation, having had knowledge independently assessed via a third-party examination board and skills assessed for performance competency.

Gatekeeper One – Apply for Assessment

• Click “Sign Up” on the appropriate card below to fill out the application form and pay the credentialing fee.
• After completing the application and paying the fee, you have six (6) months to complete the requirements for your credential.

Gatekeeper Two – Knowledge Base Assessment

• When you are ready, take the Knowledge Base Assessment Exam. You must take the exam within 30 days of your application being approved.
• When you receive confirmation that you passed your Knowledge Base Assessment Exam, move on to Gatekeeper Three – Skill Assessment.

Gatekeeper Three – Skill Assessment

• Submit your skills and coaching videos. You must submit your videos within 90 days of receiving confirmation of passing the Knowledge Base Assessment Exam.
• When you receive an email confirming the success of your skill assessment, you will be awarded the Professional Service Dog Trainer – Accredited (USA) or the Professional Assistance Dog Trainer – Accredited (UK) credential, as applicable.