You’re already an experienced & knowledgeable dog trainer - ABTC assessment proves it.

Get ABTC registered without paying thousands for stuff you already know inside out

If you’ve ever considered becoming an ABTC registered practitioner… then stopped and baulked at the idea of starting from scratch and spending hours studying something you already know like the back of your hand… APEL is the answer.

You don’t have to spend two years and thousands of pounds just to cover old ground that’s already embedded in your practice and your brain.

And you don’t have to take another course.

Instead, you can be assessed for what you already know and do effectively in your work with dogs and people.

Apply Now

What on earth is APEL?

APEL stands for Assessment of Prior Experience and Learning. It’s how you can get assessed for the years of learning you’ve already done and your years of practice that have layered together to make you an outstanding dog trainer.

And it’s ideal if you struggle with formal education or academia - because it’s not about writing an enormous dissertation or having exemplary grammar.

It’s about evidencing your knowledge, skills and practical application to prove you're already an exceptionally capable and practised professional in your industry.

Demonstrate your knowledge & evidence
your expertise

Assessed by independent industry experts

Showcase your knowledge & practical skills

Rewards your significant prior investment in education

The APEL route to ABTC registration costs hundreds, not thousands - because you’ve already invested heavily in your profession.

How it works

Your assessment is broken down into two phases, as set out by the ABTC. This allows you to focus on one bit at a time, no task switching required!

Knowledge & Understanding

You complete a written assessment paper set by the ABTC, then have a relaxed conversation with us over video to talk through your answers.

If you show the knowledge, that half is signed off. No course required. And nobody gives two hoots about your grammar, punctuation or spelling.

Practical

Skills

You send us a few short videos of you training, along with your plans and records - and we assess whether your practical skills meet the standard.

You’ll be guided and supported to set up the filming and on what to capture, so you’re not left spending hours trying to get the angle right.

No travel or accommodation needed - everything is done completely online.

What skills do you need?

This route to becoming ABTC registered is designed for experienced trainers who have clients, experience, and ample knowledge acquired from years of learning and practice.

You’ve attended conferences or webinars, read the books, learned from colleagues and done the in-person work with dogs and their people for at least a couple of years.

What you don’t have is a formal qualification that’s recognised by the ABTC - and you’re loathed to fork out for something that’s not going to teach you anything new.

APEL exists to recognise your knowledge, experience and expertise.

So you’re not punished or held back because you don’t have the ‘right’ bit of paper.

Not sure if you’re ready?

If there’s one thing we know after decades of working with dog trainers, it’s that self-doubt lurks in the shadows even when you’ve got years of experience.

We don’t want you to pay for an assessment that you’re not ready for, so we’ve built you a quick quiz to help you identify whether there are any gaps to fill before you begin your assessment.

Take the readiness quiz

How long does it take?

The assessment duration is largely led by you. We’re available to review and evaluate your assessment quickly and in line with the required evidence to meet ABTC standards.

Typically, it can take anywhere from 12 weeks to a year, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to it.

What does assessment give you

Passing your assessment gives you access to join the ABTC register. Their website attracts over 20,000 visitors a month and they’re the go-to resource referenced by the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea and even Defra for owners looking for a dog trainer.

Once you’ve passed your assessment, you’re eligible to join the register through joining one of their practitioner organisations.

Your assessment has two halves, and both have to be signed off before you can register, in the order ABTC sets:

1. Knowledge & Understanding, evidenced through the APEL written paper and your video conversation with us.

2. Practical Skills, evidenced through the short videos and records you send us, once your Knowledge & Understanding is signed off.

Only when both halves are complete and you've been certified are you eligible to join the ABTC register, which you do by becoming a member of a practitioner organisation like The Dog Trainer School.

Being on that register matters: it's the independent directory owners and organisations turn to when they're looking for a professional they can trust.

How much does it cost?

There are two roles that you can apply to be assessed for with The Dog Trainer School, an Animal Trainer or an Animal Training Instructor. Each role is detailed below, alongside the requirements for assessment and transparent pricing.

Animal Trainer
(AT)
Level 3

Trains the dog themselves.

Practical assessment:
Access to at least one dog you can train and film.

£550

Apply Now

Animal Training Instructor (ATI)
Level 4

Teaches a PERSON to train their own dog.

Practical assessment:
A group class with 3+ handlers and dogs AND at least one 1-2-1 client.

£600

Apply Now

The price is all inclusive of: your Knowledge & Understanding assessment, the Practical Skills assessment, and certification.

Apply now!

Secure your place with a £100 deposit

Payment plans available.

Apply now

Please note, upon passing assessment, to join the ABTC register you will need:

• To pay an £18 registration fee directly to the ABTC
• To be a member of a practitioner organisation (TDTS is a practitioner org, others are available!)

How do I get added to the ABTC register?

Once you’ve passed your assessment and become certified, you are eligible to join a practitioner organisation and get listed on the ABTC register.

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council is a charity, so they rely on trusted and approved organisations like The Dog Trainer School to track and log CPD and look after their registered practitioners.

The Dog Trainer School Membership gives you access to the register once certified - and all the CPD you need to maintain your registration for just £19.99 a month.

Our membership for dog trainers gives you so much more than registration on the ABTC directory though.

You’ll get instant access to:

★ Our full resource library
★ Full course plans & workshop templates
★ Handouts & cheat sheets
★ Weekly live clinics

★ Q&As
★ Business builder sessions
★ T&C templates, onboarding resources and more
★ Priority access to practical skills workshops and in-person events

Plus you’ll be eligible to become a Dog Trainer School Product tester - which gives you access to free products that’ll far outweigh your membership fee.

What role should I apply for?

The Animal Trainer (AT) role is for individuals who train animals directly - so it’s the right role if you do walk and trains, board and trains, or training walks.

The Animal Training Instructor (ATI) role is for individuals who teach people how to train their dogs. You’ll need at least 3 clients or members of the public to partake in your assessment so you can demonstrate both 1-2-1 training and group training.

I don’t run classes, how can I pass the practical assessment?

If you only run one-to-ones or work solely online, then applying for an Animal Trainer role might be better suited. You need only one dog to train for the practical assessment.

What if I fail the assessment?

Firstly, we will do our best to help make sure you’re ready for the assessment before you take it - you can take our free readiness quiz here or book a free call to talk it through with us here.

If there is a part of the assessment that you don’t pass, you’ll receive clear written feedback on why - so you know what you need to focus on to meet the standard.

Once you’re ready to retake, you can simply re-submit the specific parts that were needed for a resubmission fee of £125. You don’t have to redo the whole thing or pay the full assessment fee again.

There's no limit on attempts and no time pressure.

Do I need to be academic to do the written assessment?

Absolutely not! Nobody cares about your spelling or your punctuation, this is not an evaluation of your writing skills. The sole goal of the assessment is to evaluate your knowledge and understanding - whether you do that in 3 concise paragraphs or 10 long winded ones has no bearing on your competence as a dog trainer.

Will this get me more clients?

Nothing is guaranteed to get you more clients - and if anyone promises you that, beware! Evidencing your capabilities and competence can help you show potential clients that you’ve been independently assessed and are a professional practitioner. Being on the ABTC register can help you get in front of more people looking for professional help. But it’s not a guarantee that it’ll automatically bring you more clients.

If you choose to join The Dog Trainer School membership then you will get ample support with the business side of things - as well as training clinics, CPD and resources for the practical side of your training business.