AMERICAN POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION

MASTER TRAINER ACCREDITATION

Members wishing to be accredited, as a Master Trainer of Police Work Dogs must conform to the following: 

1.      Applicant must be a Regular Member in Good Standing with the APCA.   

2.      Applicant must be a qualified Trainer for the discipline, which he/she is applying for.

3.      Active APCA Trainers must have been an accredited Trainer with APCA for a minimum of three (3) years.

4.      Dogs trained must be trained to this Association’s testing standards.

5.      The applicant must be a full time law enforcement officer who is either a K9 trainer or handler for his/her department for at least (2) years; or is a retired law enforcement officer and was the department’s full time K9 trainer or handler for at least (2) years; or was a law enforcement K9 officer for and is employed full time as the law enforcement agency’s K9 trainer for at least (2) years. 

6.      The Master Trainer standards must meet all local or area requirements and conform to the standards set forth by this Association.

7.      Applicant must be capable and experienced in training for any phase for which he/she is applying.

8.      The applicant must have a written letter of recommendation from at least two (2) APCA Master Trainers that holds accreditation in the disciplines he/she seeks to obtain.

9.      The applicant must send two (2) copies of his/her complete application package at least sixty-days (60) before the next meeting of the Accreditation Committee.   One (1) copy to the APCA Accreditation Committee Chairperson and one (1) copy to the Secretary.   The Chairperson and Secretary are to review these packages to see that all APCA requirements have been met.   If the package is not complete, the applicant will not be considered at the next accreditation committee meeting.   The application package will include:

a.       A current resume stating dates of his/her current employment, position, and job description.   Must include an account of his/her practical experience with working police dogs, their length of time as a handler and trainer, a list of dogs trained, and copies of applicable certificates.

b.      A signed waiver so employment can be verified.

c.       A letter of recommendation from at least two (2) Master Trainers (See # 8 above)

d.      All applicable critique sheets.

e.       A letter stating his/her reason for applying for the accreditation

f.        A copy of their training course (curriculum) he/she offers or assists within the training of police work dogs and a list of all K-9 teams trained by him/her, or at least of all K-9 teams, which they have assisted in training, whichever is applicable.

g.       Two (2) current photos of applicant. (1 submitted with each resume).

10.  Incomplete packages and packages not received postmarked by the deadline, will not be considered at the next meeting of the Accreditation Committee.   The Accreditation Committee Chairperson will return all incomplete packages with an explanation as to why they could not be considered.  They will then have to be resubmitted at a later date, after they have been completed.

11.  Applicants must pass a written and oral test before the Accreditation Committee.

12.  An accredited APCA Master Trainer will have the responsibility of testing and certifying police work dogs for this association..

13.  Upon initial accreditation as a Master Trainer, the applicant will serve a two (2) year probationary period.

14.  The Accreditation Committee has the authority to order a Master Trainer to appear before the accreditation committee board in response to any formal or informal complaint(s).   The Accreditation Committee also has the authority to temporarily suspend the Master Trainer’s privileges and rights until the Master Trainer appears before the Accreditation Committee or until a formal grievance is filed.   Said accreditation may be Removed or Revoked at any time by this Association for "Just Cause” after a full investigation and hearing is held by the American Police Canine Association Accreditation Committee.   Accreditation will be valid as long as the member remains in Good Standing and REMAINS ACTIVE.    Active is defined as certification of three (3) dog teams to APCA standards and/or one (1) APCA sanctioned workshop yearly.

15.  Normally, the Master Trainer will not have to appear before the Accreditation Committee in person to renew his/her status.   However, if for any reason the Accreditation Committee wishes to have the Master Trainer appear in person to discuss his/her renewal the Accreditation Committee Chairperson will have the authority to require the Master Trainer to appear before the committee in order to renew his/her status.   If the Master Trainer fails to appear, his/her status will not be renewed, and can be grounds to suspend or revoke his/her accreditation.

16.  An APCA Master Trainer applying for a new Master Trainer accreditation in a phase(s) that he/she does not already have with the APCA must only do the following:

a.       Submit a letter of written request.  

b.      Submit a resume, including information of all trained/certified dogs in the discipline applying for.

c.       Submit a letter of recommendation from an APCA Master Trainer that holds accreditation(s) in the area he/she seeks to obtain.

17.  The applicant must submit his/her completed application package at least sixty-days (60) before the next meeting of the Accreditation Committee.

18.  Appear before the APCA Accreditation Committee for an oral/written interview process.

19.  It shall be the responsibility of the Master Trainer to maintain all records of all testing and other assistance rendered.

20.  It shall be the responsibility of the Master Trainer to forward a copy of all certification(s) test sheets for teams that him/her has tested, to the APCA Secretary and Handler in a timely manner.   The Association copies are to be maintained by the APCA Secretary in the files of APCA.   The following information is also to be e-mailed the APCA President for his issuance of certificate to the certifying Master Trainer for his/her signature.

a.       Team Certifying

b.      Date of Certification

c.       Discipline of Certifying Team

d.      Four Digit Certification Number on Test Sheet

Once signed, the certifying Master Trainer will forward the four-digit certificate to the certified APCA Team.

21.  A current resume update will be submitted in writing to the APCA Secretary, no later than January 31st of each year for Master Trainer renewal status.   Failure to do so may result in suspension of his/her accreditation.   It is the responsibility of the Master Trainer to confirm that the APCA Secretary as required received their updated resume.

22.  A Master Trainer may only certify Canine Teams in specialties that the Master Trainer is accredited in.

23.  Classification of Master Trainers:                                                                                       Police Utility Work Dogs                                                                                                Police Narcotics Detection Dogs                                                                                    Police Tracking/Trailing Dogs                                                                                        School Resource Dogs                                                                                                   Police Explosive Detection Dogs                                                                                 Cadaver Detector Dogs