If you are wondering how to become a dog groomer but don’t know where to start, check out Animal Behavior College’s online dog grooming course. The program features a hands-on component–the externship gives you plenty of opportunity to practice your new skills once you’ve finished the online part of the course.
Since it’s online, the program is flexible. You can fit classwork into your schedule instead of the other way around. Working at the intended pace, the program can be completed in about 12 months.
With your ABC dog groomer certification in hand, you will be ready to start your new career.=
While there is no required path laying out how to become a dog groomer and no state requires any specific certification, it makes little sense to “hang out your shingle” as a dog groomer with no knowledge or experience. Would you trust your pet to such a person?
Even if you have helped out in a grooming spa or watched a hundred YouTube videos and practiced on all your friends’ dogs, there’s more to dog grooming than meets the eye.
Fortunately, our certification program includes in-depth coursework and an externship that will give you the knowledge, experience, and confidence to enter the job force well-prepared to succeed as a dog groomer.
Most people do not realize what a large base of knowledge goes into a successful grooming career. Among other topics, our coursework includes anatomy, breed characteristics, health and safety (including pet CPR and First Aid), grooming processes, skin diseases, dental care, restraint, and the particulars associated with grooming dogs with specific coat types or breed “styles.” There is also a stage in our grooming program designed to help you create a professional resume and/or build your own business.
A large part of your education is a 150-hour externship with a dog groomer in your vicinity. You will learn first-hand how to become a dog groomer under the watchful eye of a working professional.
The benefits of getting certified through ABC do not end when you finish the program. You will have lifetime access to our curriculum, should you need a refresher or to stay current in the field. More important, you will have exclusive access to our private job board, where employers across the U.S. and Canada post their searches for qualified groomers. Also, groomers certified by ABC will appear on our online Pet Groomer Directory. You can keep your profile updated so that pet owners in your area will be able to find you with a click of the mouse! Finally, you have the option of joining our alumni group. The ABC Alumni group consists of over 24,700 members including over 2,600 ABC certified groomers just like you. This means potential networking opportunities and the chance to build what we sincerely hope are lifelong professional connections.
Contact us at 800-795-3294. to arrange an interview with an admissions counselor. You can discuss your career choice, and they can answer any questions you might have. After that, you can apply for admission and, if applicable, financial aid.
Classes are online, and enrollment is open, meaning you can begin class any time.