Understanding Pet Sitting Certifications

A guide to help you decide if pet sitting and dog walking certifications are right for your business

Here at Time To Pet, we often get asked about the various pet sitting certifications available to both pet sitters and dog walkers. Most commonly, pet care professionals ask, “Do I need to be certified to be a pet sitter?” This question is usually followed closely by, “How do I get certified?” This blog post will help you answer those questions and help you decide if becoming a certified pet sitter or dog walker is right for you. We'll also go over the different types of certifications that are available to professional pet care providers.

Do Professional Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers Need to be Certified?

First off — the question of if a pet sitter or dog walker needs to be certified. This is a great question, but it actually should be asked a little differently. Pet sitters and dog walkers should be asking, “Do I need a license, a certification, both, or neither?”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (part of the U.S. Department of Labor), licenses and certifications can be a confusing concept for many people.

The key differences are that a license:

• Is awarded by a governmental licensing agency
• Gives legal authority to work in an occupation
• Requires meeting predetermined criteria, such as having a degree or passing a state-administered exam

On the other hand, a certification:

• Is awarded by a professional organization or other non-governmental body
• Is not legally required in order to work in an occupation
• Requires demonstrating competency to do a specific job, often through an examination process

Now that we know the differences between a license and a certification, the first question a pet sitter or dog walker should ask is, “Do I need a license to operate as a pet sitter or dog walker in my city and state?”

To answer this question, you should contact your Secretary of State and your city or town hall. If they don’t have the answer, they should be able to point you to the correct person who does. A simple Google search for “Secretary of State contact info” for your state should give you the right contact information.

Some states and cities do require a business license, so it’s important to do some research on your local regulations. Whether or not you need to be licensed, you’ll want to be insured and bonded. These items are essential for giving your pet parents that extra peace of mind. Take a look at our Definitive Guide to Pet Sitting Insurance for more information on getting insured and bonded.

After you determine if you do or do not need a license, the question becomes, “Should I get a pet sitting or dog walking certification?” Remember from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — certification is not legally required in order to work in an occupation; however, it still may be a good idea.

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Pet Sitter

While certifications might not be required to run your pet care business, it still might be the right choice for you to pursue getting certified. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of pet sitting and dog walking certification.

Having an industry certification (not just those for the pet sitting and dog walking industry) can often demonstrate that the individual is committed to their craft and committed to upholding specific professional standards. Obtaining a certification can help you learn relevant skills and training that you may not have achieved otherwise. Depending on what certification you pursue, there may be additional benefits like access to other pet sitters, ongoing education, access to discounted services, and more. A certification might also help you market yourself and your business to new customers. Upon completion of most certifications, they will provide you with a badge to post on your website.

A few benefits of being certified:

• It shows your customers that you take your profession and the welfare of their pets seriously.
• Some certifications allow you access to resources and communities that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.
• Certifications like First Aid and CPR can be critical and even help you save a pet’s life. For more information, please take a look at our blog post on Pet First Aid for Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters
• Being certified can help you stand out from your competitors.
• Continually learning about your industry is a great way to stay on top of new trends and grow your business.

We’ve put together an in-depth guide with all the resources you need to start your dog walking business!

Which Pet Sitting Certification Should I get?

If you have decided that getting certified is right for you, the next thing you’ll need to decide is which certification to earn. For pet sitters and dog walkers, there are two main certification options — Pet Sitters International (PSI) and the National Association of Pet Sitters (NAPPS). If you also offer dog training, grooming, and professional kennel services, there are other certifications that you might want to look into pursuing. PSI and NAPPS mainly focus on dog walking and pet sitting.

Pet Sitters International (PSI)

Pet Sitters International is an extremely well-known education association for professional pet sitters. Their CPPS (Certified Professional Pet Sitter) certification is knowledge-assessed. It tests professional pet sitters on a general body of knowledge that they would gain through educational and professional experiences as a pet sitter. That means that there are no classes or coursework, but PSI will provide you with a study guide to prepare for the CPPS Exam.

To obtain and maintain the CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® designation, pet sitters must:

• Be a member of Pet Sitters International
• Successfully pass the CPPS Exam with a score of 80% or above
• Agree to adhere to PSI’s Recommended Quality Standards and Member Code of Conduct and Ethics, as noted in the PSI member and renewal applications
• Obtain a minimum of thirty (30) continuing education hours (CEUs) every three years and apply for the certification renewal

The application fee for the CPPS Exam is currently $275 at the time this blog was written. If you fail the test, there is a $79 retesting fee that must be submitted within thirty days of receiving a failing score.

If you aren’t quite ready for the CPPS Exam, PSI also offers online courses and additional certifications for Pet First Aid and Professional Pet Sitting as a Career.

National Association of Pet Sitters (NAPPS)

The other primary certification option is with the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. The NAPPS Certification is a broad-range, self-paced course covering a variety of relevant topics for pet sitters and dog walkers. The certification takes about four to six weeks to complete.

To obtain and maintain the NAPPS Certification, pet sitters must:

• Complete the NAPPS Certification Course within six months of enrollment
• Coursework and exam completion with an overall passing score of 75% or better
• The NAPPS Certification is good for three years. To re-certify after three years, you will need to complete 30 hours of continuing education or retake the exam at a discounted rate

The NAPPS Certification Course is available to members and non-members of NAPPS. The course and certification cost is currently $245 for NAPPS members and $395 for non-members.

NAPPS also offers a variety of other Pet Care Certificate Courses, such as: Caring for Parrots, Caring for Senior Dogs, Complete Horse Care, Feline Behavior Issues, and more.

Additional Certifications

Besides NAPPS and PSI, there are numerous other online classes and certification programs that you can explore to further your knowledge and expand your business. Here are a few additional certification programs that might be relevant to pet sitters and dog walkers offering other services:

• National Dog Groomers Association (NDGAA) offers membership and a certification program for dog groomers
• International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA) offers several certification programs for businesses that operate professional boarding facilities and doggy daycares
• American Red Cross offers an online course and certification in Cat and Dog First Aid
• Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) offers several certifications for professional dog trainers and behavioral consultants

Should I become a Certified Pet Sitter?

As you can see above, there are a variety of certifications available to professional pet sitters and dog walkers. Each offers its own unique benefits and commitments — time and money. After doing some research, you might decide that one or more of the certifications mentioned in this blog post is right for you. A pet sitting certification can be a great way to add extra credibility to your business and stand out from your competitors.

Of course, there are lots of other ways to stand out. You can focus your time and energy getting testimonials from clients, creating a referral program, building relationships with other pet care businesses, and learning skills on your own. You should also factor in that getting a certification will be a commitment of your time, energy, and usually some financial resources.

So, to answer the question of if a pet sitter or dog walker should be certified — it depends. It depends on you, the type of business you are running, the type of information you are looking for, and how much time, energy, and money you are willing to commit.

Happy Sitting!