We have 2 ways of applying for Dog Trainer membership:

1. We invite direct applicatons form candidates who have already been assessd and approved for ABTC ATI. Acceptance of a direct application for Dog Trainer Membership will be subject to evidence of your previous assessment and a "Get-to-know-you" interview. Please complete the Dog Trainer (ATI Already Assessed) application form at the bottom of this page.

2. We invite other applicants to apply via our 3 stage assessment process consisting of;

• Stage 1 Written assessment to asses the ABTC Knowledge and Understanding Criteria (K&U)
• Stage 2 Final K & U evidence gathering  via further written or informal zoom chat.
• Stage 3 Observed practical and Post practical discussion.

 Applicants are welcomed from established dog training instructors, who have successfully trained and instructed a significant range of dog breeds and their owners. 

Please read ABTC ATI Standard  and Am I ready for assessment? before applying.

If you think you are ready, fill in and submit the Application for Dog Trainer Assessment (found at the bottom of this page). If successful you will receive an invoice of £200 for the Stage 1 written assessment plus £75 membership fee (please note this fee is prorata depedning up on when you join) once payment has been received you will receive your written assessment.

When filling in the pack you will also need to provide us with;

• Risk assessment - this should cover your venue and also potential risks of running a class / one to one session.
• An anonymised copy of a training record that covers at least 2 sessions.
• Any training/information/homework sheets/handouts
• Weekly lesson plans for your training course
• Class booking form
• Post course client evaluation form (if used)
• A record of your last 12 months CPD detailing the amount of hours, what was learned and how you may have put that information to use. 

Your completed assessment should be returned to us within 6 weeks.

Once your completed assessment is received, it will be assessed independently by two assessors. It is not expected that all K & U will be fully met at this stage but in order to proceed to Stage 2, the assessors much agree that there is only a small amount of evidence left to gather. 

The remaning evidence is gathered at Stage 2. To proceed to Stage 3 practical assessment all 30 of the ABTC ATI Knowledge and Understanding must be fully met. If we feel that you are not ready to proceed to the practical assessment, you will join our organisation as a student member while gaining further experience and knowledge. Please be aware that £75 of your payment covers the student membership and the remaining is non-refundable.

If you are deemed ready to proceed to Stage 3 practical assessment, you can then book onto one of our assessment days. To confirm this booking, you will need to pay the final £200. 

The practical assessment will be held indoors and you will be required to teach a 30 minute lesson to 4 owners and their dog's a selection of the following exercises:

• Down
• Leave
• Loose lead walking
• How to play with your dog
• Not jumping up
• Wait or stay

Some of the dogs in the class maybe more experienced than others. The class will be observed by two assessors, after which there will be a break followed by a post practical discussion. In order to be successful all of the ABTC ATI Performance Criteria need to be fully met. 

Get your written assessment done as dates for practical assessment will be announced soon.

If you are successful you will become a Full TCBTS Dog Trainer Member and be listed as on the ABTC ATI register (for which there is an additional £15 annual fee)

The annual fee fo full TCBTS Dog Trainer Membership is £75.

Only full dog trainer members are entitled to use “TCBTS ATI” after their names. Use of “TCBTS“ is personal to them, must only be linked directly with the member’s name and cannot be used by any other organisation of which that TCBTS member is a part.

All TCBTS Dog Training Members must carry professional indemnity and third party insurance. 

All TCBTS Members must comply with the TCBTS Code of Practice.
 

Membership Application Forms

Application For Dog Trainer Assessment

Dog Trainer (Already ATI Assessed)