There’s No Such Thing as a Dog Grooming Degree
Is There an Certified or Accredited Dog Grooming School Near Me?
When you search for “dog grooming schools near me” you should concentrate on finding a school with a reputation for a great certification program because dog grooming is not a degree program. The grooming industry is unregulated and, as such, there is no accrediting body sanctioning schools that offer courses for dog groomers.
While dog grooming schools aren’t accredited by a board in the traditional sense, getting excellent training is vital to a successful career, and there are some fantastic grooming schools to consider! Good dog grooming schools (like Animal Behavior College) are recognized or approved by organizations such as 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!
“Yes! I’m sold! There is a great grooming academy near me!”
Want more good news? 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.