Get PACCC Certified
Built on the Knowledge and Experience You Already Have.
PACCC certification is an independent, third-party credential for pet care professionals working in boarding, dog daycare, dog walking, pet sitting, grooming, and training. There are three levels: Provider, Manager, and Operator, and you can start at whichever level matches your current role. Certification requires passing a proctored exam developed by the Professional Testing Corporation. Exams are offered in scheduled windows each year and can be taken in person at a testing center or online from anywhere.
- Developed with the Professional Testing Corporation
- Independent nonprofit certification body
- 3 credential levels
Which certification is right for me?
You don't need to earn one level before moving to the next.
Pick the level that matches the work you do today.
CPACP
Certified Professional
Animal Care Provider
Providers handle the daily care of animals at a professional pet care business. That includes boarding staff, dog daycare attendants, pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, bathers, trainers, and customer service team.
Exam fee:
$385
Best fit if you:
Care for animals directly, don’t manage staff
CPACM
Certified Professional
Animal Care Manager
Managers oversee the daily operation of a professional pet care business. You're accountable for quality of care, for the pet parents you serve, and for the staff you supervise.
Exam fee:
$485
Best fit if you:
Supervise staff, own daily operations
CPACO
Certified Professional
Animal Care Operator
Operators are responsible for the business as a whole — safety, culture, staffing, and standards. The Operator exam covers Provider and Manager knowledge as well, which is why it's longer.
Exam fee:
$585
Best fit if you:
Own or direct the business
* PACCC is a nonprofit. These fees cover administration of the exam by the Professional Testing Corporation, an independent testing company separate from PACCC. The separation is what makes this a genuine third-party certification rather than a self-issued certificate.
Key dates: 2026 exam windows
Seats at each testing location are limited. Once your registration is approved, schedule your date as soon as you receive your authorization email.
Spring 2026
Testing Window
May 2–16
Registration Deadline
April 1
Fall 2026
Testing Window
November 7–21
Registration Deadline
October 9
How to get certified in four steps
Read the Candidate Handbook
The handbook is the authoritative source for eligibility, the body of knowledge your exam covers, fees, policies, and scoring. Read it before you register.
Choose in-person or online
You can take your exam at a testing center or remotely from your home or office. If you're testing in person, check which dates and locations are available near you before registering.
In the scheduler, choose "Professional Testing Corporation" as the Test Sponsor, then "Professional Animal Care Certification Council" as the Program.
Register and pay
Complete your registration through Professional Testing Corporation. No supporting documents are required. You'll get an email confirming your registration was received.
Trouble with the registration form? PTC's support center can help, or call (212) 356-0660.
Schedule your exam
Once your registration is approved, PTC emails you a scheduling authorization within six weeks of the testing window opening. That's when you pick your date, time, and location. Seats are limited, so schedule promptly.
Prepare with confidence
The exam tests knowledge you likely already use every day, but knowing where your gaps are makes the difference.
Practice exams
Online practice exams show you where you're strong and where to study. Take one before you register, or between registering and testing.
PACCC prep
Structured prep resources aligned to each level's body of knowledge.
Continuing Education
Continuing education from PACCC approved providers builds the same knowledge base the exams draw from.
Why a PACCC exam means something
PACCC exams are built to assessment industry standards in partnership with the Professional Testing Corporation. Every question is written by subject matter experts in that specific level of animal care, then reviewed by psychometricians and by expert panels drawn from across the industry. Questions are screened for accuracy, for bias and stereotyping, for consistency, and for genuine relevance to animal care practice. Anything that doesn't hold up is cut. After each exam is administered, PACCC and PTC review how every question actually performed and revise accordingly.
Why a PACCC exam means something
- Written by a subject matter expert at that certification level
- Edited and psychometrically reviewed by PTC
- Reviewed and revised by a panel representative of the industry
- Screened for bias, accuracy, and relevance — or eliminated
- Proofread and entered into the item bank
- Reviewed again by PTC and PACCC's development committee
- Performance analyzed after administration, then refined
Every professional who earns a PACCC credential is listed in our public directory, where pet parents search for certified care in their area.
Your credential after exam day
PACCC certification is maintained, not just earned. Certified professionals recertify on a set cycle by accumulating continuing education units from approved programs. It keeps the credential current and it's part of why pet parents can trust it.