Finding Accredited Dog Grooming Schools
Is There an Certified or Accredited Dog Grooming School Near Me?
Dog grooming schools aren’t accredited by a board. The reason dog grooming schools aren’t accredited is because accreditation is usually relevant when getting a degree. After all, if you are looking to get a degree in Biology and start at one school, you might want to know that in the event you move before you complete your courses, that the credits you earned at one accredited school will be recognized by another. While that makes sense for degrees, there is no degree in dog grooming. Dog grooming is a vocation which is why accreditation isn’t required or even desirable.
While accreditation for grooming programs isn’t necessary, that doesn’t mean there aren’t fantastic grooming schools to consider! but good dog grooming schools (like Animal Behavior College) are recognized by organizations like the International Association of Canine Professionals. This ensures you are getting the best training, and have the best opportunity for career success as a dog groomer.
Do I Have to Go to Dog Grooming School to be a Dog Groomer?
Currently, no state requires any particular training or certification in order to declare yourself a dog groomer. Some people feel they have a “knack” for grooming, having successfully clipped and styled the coats of their own dogs. That may certainly be the case, but there is so much more to learn in order to truly be a professional.
Furthermore, prospective employers are going to be looking for candidates who have education, experience, and certification before they consider someone who thinks they have a “knack.” The same is true for individual dog owners looking for a groomer. People respect credentials.
The good news is that you do not have to go to school for years. Most students at ABC are able to complete their certification in approximately 12 months.
What Is There to Learn Besides Bathing and Clipping?
Dog grooming involves so much more than bathing and clipping. ABC’s 11-stage dog groomer certification program covers, among other topics:
- Health and safety
- Dog and cat grooming
- Clipping techniques and control
- Breed profiles and mixed breed styling
- Ear, ear, nail, and skin care
- Pet CPR and First Aid
After the successful completion of the first nine stages, you will embark upon an externship with a local dog groomer. The externship requires a minimum of 150 hours of invaluable hands-on experience working with a professional groomer and his or her four-legged clients.
What Else Should a Certified Dog Grooming Program Provide?
Offering certification through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on experience are a must for any good program, but the best dog training schools commit themselves to the ultimate success of their graduates. For nearly twenty years, ABC has been dedicated to training AND HELPING dog groomers.
The career building stage of the curriculum focuses on preparing you to compete in the job market. Whether you want to have your own small grooming business or whether you would rather work for an established facility, this is an important part of the curriculum. Students learn the steps necessary to establishing themselves in business, including creating a business plan and a feasible budget along with marketing techniques. Resume building and interview etiquette also help prepare students to be competitive in the job market.
After earning your certification, ABC continues to support its graduates, offering a variety of alumni benefits. ABC offers discounts on pet insurance and other supplies, a low-cost website service, and lifetime access to curriculum. ABC also maintains a directory of its graduates where potential clients can search for qualified dog groomers nationwide and in all Canadian provinces. Finally, the school provides a private job posting site where employers can list openings, knowing that ABC produces highly qualified dog groomers. Our alumni group consists of over 24,740 graduates (and growing!) from all our pet related vocational programs. Becoming a member of our alumni group will not only afford you all of the benefits listed above, but will also allow you to be a part of a network of educated pet professionals from the worlds of dog training, cat training, veterinary assisting, pet grooming, aquarium maintenance and zookeeper assisting.
I’m Sold!
You can enroll in ABC’s dog grooming program any time. We would love to talk to you and set up an interview with an admissions counselor. Just give us a call at 800-795-3294.
