The Obedience Certification Test is used to determine the police service dog’s ability and proficiency in performing off-lead obedience exercises; as well as, the handler’s total control of his or her K9. K9 teams must obtain Obedience Certification prior to testing for Aggression Control Certification.

The Aggression Control Certification Test is used to determine the police service dog’s ability, proficiency, and courage; as well as, the handler's control of his or her K9. K9 teams must obtain Aggression Control Certification prior to testing for Building Search Certification and/or Area Search Certification.

The Building Search Certification Test is used to determine the police service dog’s ability to find a hidden suspect or suspects in a variety of structures and/or open areas. K9 teams must have obtained Obedience Certification and Aggression Control Certification prior to testing for Building Search Certification.

K9 teams must obtain Obedience Certification and Aggression Control Certification prior to testing for Area Search Certification.

The Tracking/Trailing Certification Test is designed to test the K9 team’s ability to follow human scent (rafts) on grass, gravel, pavement, etc.

The Article Search Certification Test is used to determine the K9 team’s ability to find an unknown object in an open area. The K9 must alert to human scent on the hidden articles.

The Narcotics Certification Test is used to determine the K9 team’s ability and reliability to detect narcotic odors. This test is based on a pass or fail basis.

The K9 team should be able to locate all explosive training aids within a two meter radius of the source, without disturbing the source, regardless of the height of the source.

Kennel Masters successfully completing certification testing in a specific phase will be issued a certificate that will be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.

This is a 30-minute search, with a minimum of one training aid, a moving target, and you are allowed zero misses and zero false responses.

A prerequisite prior to certification is to ensure that the canine is not people aggressive, the canine is social and has the ability to tolerate crowds and be in close proximity to patrons.