As a follower of my blog the availability of independent third party pet care certification is great news.
You value education and prioritize safe pet care practices. The challenge is getting pet parents in your market to understand the difference this makes.
This month the Professional Animal Care Certification Council announced the testing window for their first exam. You have the opportunity to be first in your market to earn the designation of Certified pet care certificationProfessional Animal Care Provider, CPACP.
Earning this certification validates knowledge in the three core areas of animal health and behavior, operational safety and good staff management practices. The Provider exam is for those providing hands-on care of pets so this is the certification your staff should aspire to obtain.
Pet Parents quickly realize that PACCC does provide “certification that pet parents can trust” as their volunteer Melissa shared:
“I have been with the PACCC for a few months now and it has already made a positive impact on my clients. I had two clients recently sign on with us by mentioning my involvement in PACCC and what changes the group is trying to make in the Pet Care Industry. As I was giving a tour of the facility, both were having difficulty deciding between us and another business in our area, and when I told them all of our selling points they were the most impressed with my involvement in PACCC. One of the clients now brings her puppy every day to daycare and the other just had her first stay with us, both clients are happy, and I am extremely glad that I got involved with PACCC.”
For your business the benefits of professional certification include:
- Independent validation of the safe, quality care you provide pets
- Ability to recruit and retain high quality employees seeking a career in pet care
- Improved teamwork between pet care professionals that share high standards
- External validation of operating procedures and systems implemented by a industry leading pet care business
PACCC volunteers continue their work on two additional exams that will be available in 2017. The Certified Professional Animal Care Manager, CPACM, is designed for managers working in pet care. For business owners or operators the Certified Professional Animal Care Operator, CPACO, exam will be available.
For more information on the requirements to sit for the Provider exam and the detailed knowledge outline be sure to download the Exam Handbook from the PACCC Website. There is also a video there that provides details on PACCC and the exam process if the certification program is new to you.
Keep in mind the last day to register for the November 5-19 exam window is Saturday, October 17th. As a co-founder and sponsor of PACCC we are very excited about this big step forward in the professionalism of our industry.
Your registration for the exam is definitely news worthy in your local market. PACCC has created a marketing package to help you explain certification to your clients. You can find details on the package on their website.
With certification the pet care industry now has an easy way for pet parents to identify the care providers that truly put pet knowledge and safety first. Be a part of the inaugural class of certified professionals and you’ll easily stand apart from your competitors.
Let us know in the comments below if you or any of your staff are registered for the Provider exam.