Evaluators Make a Difference
The Service Dog (SD) Certification Program is designed to provide professional, cost effective evaluation to those teams that are currently left with no reliable options for testing and certification. Our network of skilled evaluators work to place certification within the grasp of privately trained service dog teams. We do not advocate for programs, or online companies that provide sight unseen certification papers for a fee. Proper certification is a true achievement, and is the culmination of years of hard work and training for a team. We believe that in-person testing should be the gold standard for evaluation and certification, lending credibility to the process. Videotapes can be edited, and are never permissible.
At the current time, we are only able to accept applicants from the United States.
The application process
We are actively seeking competent and compassionate evaluators nationwide. Once registered, your evaluator status will remain current for a period of 3 years, after which time it must be renewed. The SD Evaluator Guide includes all necessary application forms. We will post your contact information on our site for all testing candidates. In addition, evaluators will receive seasonal safety and training tips regularly in our monthly newsletter. Evaluators may earn up to a maximum of $50 per test in their spare time.
Please note that only evaluators who have already submitted their application and have been accepted into our network are authorized to administer our certification test.
You can locate the application in our SD Evaluator Guide Nov 2021 .docx
Important Note
There has been some recent confusion and we wish to clear this up. The purpose of this program is to allow qualified trainers to administer the FSDS Certification Test for the purpose of helping teams achieve certification. Thus, it is the team, and not the Evaulator who earns certification by participation in this program.
Please do not advertise that you are a “Certified Evaluator”. Use of the team “Qualified Evaluator” is acceptable.
We also note that this program permits to certify teams through the FSDS. Our test may not be used to certify dogs for other programs.
Qualifications
Please note that if you currently work with another service dog training program (501(c)(3) or for-profit, and are involved with training and evaluation of dogs for that program, you will not qualify for our network due to Conflict of Interest. Evaluators may not use the FSDS SD Certification test to evaluate dogs for other programs.
You will otherwise qualify for our program if you:
- are at least 18 years or age
- have no felony convictions on record
- submit the application to become a SD Evaluator along with the $50.00 non-refundable processing fee; this is renewable every 3 years.
- meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
- Have been a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator for at least one year; or
- Are a graduate of a professional Canine Obedience Instructor Training School (proof of graduation required); or
- Are a graduate of the FSDS Service Dog Training Program; or
- Have at least 2 years of documented experience working for a Service Dog Training Program (letter from program required)
Applications must be submitted by mail. All applicants must review the SD Evaluator Guide AND pass a written test to be considered. Please refer to Evaluator Guide for application materials. Incomplete applications will not be processed. The FSDS posts contact information for all of our evaluators in order to better connect test applicants with qualified evaluators.
Attention all Current Evaluators– we periodically update our manuals to reflect the most current policies and procedures. Please visit our site prior to administering a test to ensure that you have the current edition.
Please let us know if you have any questions about our program.
For inquiries, feel free to email us directly at info@servicedogsupport.org.