Benefits of Membership
- Access to a member's forum for networking and discussion of all matters companion animal behavior.
- Listing on the web site directory.
- Opportunity to apply for AABP Professional Membership with its associated benefits.
- Use of "AABP Member" logo
- Free back issues of the official AABP peer-review journal, the Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior
- Listing of your books or DVDs on the web site
- Discount on AABP symposiums and conferences when and if available
- Professional Membership: Emphasized listing on the web site
- Professional Membership: Official "AABP Professional Membership," which may be used for marketing purposes
- Professional Membership: Use of the AABP Professional Member logo
Membership Categories
General Membership
General membership is our primary membership category and although it is used as a stepping stone to Professional Membership, it is not necessarily the goal of all General Members to seek Professional Membership. General membership would be ideal for students who are working toward Professional Membership status but is also appropriate for those seeking simply to support the mission and access the member benefits. The journal and the email discussion list would be particularly useful for students.
Scroll to bottom of page to join
Professional
Membership
Professional Members are competent behavior technologists (application of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems) and strongly dedicated to professionalism and nonaversive methods. Click here for an elaboration of these terms. The Professional Membership categories and AABP awarded designations awarded are:
- Professional Dog Trainer (PDT)
- Professional Dog Behavior Consultant (PDBC)
- Professional Parrot Behavior Consultant (PPBC)
- Professional Cat Behavior Consultant (PCBC)
- Professional Animal Behavior Consultant (PABC)
The criteria for Professional Membership is posted below. There are generally two ways to demonstrate competence in each Professional Membership category's core areas of competence: Primary Certification, and Formal Education. In this manner, the candidate may demonstrate their competence in either manner. Click here to see criteria for Certifying Body Approval and click here to see criteria for Approved Education Provider Approval criteria.
Professional Dog Trainer (PDT) Membership Criteria
Professional Dog Trainers may train dogs directly or coach
clients on how to train their dogs, usually in a proactive manner to achieve
specific behavior goals. Professional Dog
Training is distinguished from the
other Professional Membership categories in that Trainers are more focused
on preventing problem behavior situations proactively by working with clients
and their dogs to develop appropriate behavior patterns. They also educate the public and colleagues on animal
behavior. Click here for a more in-depth description of professional membership category definitions.
Candidates may meet the requirement to demonstrate competence in the core areas of competence by means of formal education, other certifications or by taking the AABP Proficiency Exam or any combination of these to meet each criterion.
Core Areas of Competence (Click here for details)
- Coaching / Instructing and Professional Relationship / Case Management
- Principles of Learning and Behavior
- Training Technology
- Professional Ethics
- Biological Context for Behavior (aka Species Typical Behavior) (Dog)
Certification, Education &/or Exam
- Coverage of all core areas of competence with either current certifications; formal education; AABP Proficiency Exam (Exam available soon). Any combination of the these may be used. See below for details.
Experience
- 300 hours professional training experience within the last 5 years.
Ethics Commitment
- Declared commitment to work in accordance with, and be bound by, the AABP Professional Practice Guidelines and Policies.
Insurance
- Provide professional training, coaching or consultation services only under protection from professional liability insurance, where applicable, be it under your own name, your business name or the business name of an employer you work for, and not participate in professional activities not covered by appropriate professional liability insurance.
References (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 2 letters of recommendation from among current AABP Professional Members or from veterinary behaviorists, certified applied animal behaviorists, certified dog behavior consultants, or a sitting board member or director/executive from BACB, CCPDT, IAABC, ABS or faculty or board members of approved educational institutions attesting to your professional competence.
Supervision (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 30 hours supervised training skills development with an established professional (i.e., AABP Professional Member; CCPDT-KA; IAABC Certificated member; Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia). If education option included 30 hours of supervised training skills development, it may be used to satisfy this requirement).
Mechanical Skills Proficiency
- Demonstration and, successfully demonstrate hands on mechanical skills. NOT YET REQUIRED. TO BE PHASED IN. WE MAY REQUIRE THIS ONLY FOR A 2ND LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP RATHER THAN AS PART OF THIS BASIC LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP.
Below are the certifications and formal educational programs that may be used toward demonstrating meeting core areas of competence. Any combination may be used.
- Companion Animal Sciences Institute: Professional Dog Training Science and Technology Certificate program (Cert.PDTST) (All core areas).
- SF-SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers' Certificate in Training and Counseling program (All core areas).
- Pat Miller's Peaceable Paws program.
- CAP 3 certification through Kay Laurence (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Karen Pryor Academy (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Dee Ganley’s Internship program (All core areas of competence.)
- Living and Learning with Animals; Living and Learning with Parrots (Susan G. Friedman) (Counts toward "Principles of Learning" core areas of competence.)
- University courses covering core area of competence
- IAABC dog related Certification (All core areas),
- Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia and membership in the Delta Professional Dog Trainers Association (All core areas),
- CCPDT CPDT-KA certification (Counts toward Coaching/Instructing; Principles of Learning and Behavior; Biological Context for Behavior)
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Counts toward "Principles of Learning and Behavior," "Functional Assessment," "Behavior Change Procedures and Programming")
Professional Dog, Cat or Parrot Behavior Consultant (PDBC; PCBC; PPBC) Membership Criteria
Professional dog, cat or parrot behavior
consultants are species specialized behavior technologists who consult with clients, and in some cases, work directly with a
client’s companion animal toward meeting specific behavioral objectives,
preventing and/or resolving problem animal behavior, and ultimately
strengthening the human-nonhuman animal relationship. They also educate the
public and colleagues on animal behavior. The focus on resolving problem
behaviors distinguishes the consultant from the trainer category. Click here for a more in-depth description of professional membership category definitions.
Candidates may meet the requirement to demonstrate competence in the core areas of competence by means of formal education, other certifications or by taking the AABP Proficiency Exam or any combination of these to meet each criterion.
Core Areas of Competence (Click here for details)
- Coaching / Instructing and Professional Relationship / Case Management
- Principles of Learning and Behavior
- Training Technology
- Functional Assessment
- Behavior Change Procedures and Programming
- Professional Ethics
- Biological Context for Behavior (aka Species Typical Behavior)
Certification, Education &/or Exam
- Coverage of all core areas of competence with either current certifications; formal education; AABP Proficiency Exam (Exam available soon). Any combination of the these may be used. See below for details.
Experience
- 400 hours professional training experience within the last 5 years.
Ethics Commitment
- Declared commitment to work in accordance with, and be bound by, the AABP Professional Practice Guidelines and Policies.
Insurance
- Provide professional training, coaching or consultation services only under protection from professional liability insurance, where applicable, be it under your own name, your business name or the business name of an employer you work for, and not participate in professional activities not covered by appropriate professional liability insurance.
References (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 2 letters of recommendation from among current AABP Professional Members or from veterinary behaviorists, certified applied animal behaviorists, certified dog behavior consultants, or a sitting board member or director/executive from BACB, CCPDT, IAABC, ABS or faculty or board members of approved educational institutions attesting to your professional competence.
Supervision (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 30 hours supervised training skills development with an established professional (i.e., AABP Professional Member; CCPDT-KA; IAABC Certificated member; Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia). If education option included 30 hours of supervised training skills development, it may be used to satisfy this requirement).
Mechanical Skills Proficiency
- Demonstration and, successfully demonstrate hands on mechanical skills. NOT YET REQUIRED. TO BE PHASED IN. WE MAY REQUIRE THIS ONLY FOR A 2ND LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP RATHER THAN AS PART OF THIS BASIC LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP.
Below are the certifications and formal educational programs that may be used toward demonstrating meeting core areas of competence. Any combination may be used.
- Companion Animal Sciences Institute: Professional Dog Training Science and Technology Certificate program (Cert.PDTST) (All core areas).
- SF-SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers' Certificate in Training and Counseling program (All core areas).
- Pat Miller's Peaceable Paws program.
- CAP 3 certification through Kay Laurence (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Karen Pryor Academy (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Dee Ganley’s Internship program (All core areas of competence.)
- Living and Learning with Animals; Living and Learning with Parrots (Susan G. Friedman) (Counts toward "Principles of Learning" core areas of competence.)
- University courses covering core area of competence
- IAABC species specific related Certification (All core areas),
- Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia and membership in the Delta Professional Dog Trainers Association (All core areas),
- CCPDT CPDT-KA certification (Counts toward Coaching/Instructing; Principles of Learning and Behavior; Biological Context for Behavior)
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Counts toward "Principles of Learning and Behavior," "Functional Assessment," "Behavior Change Procedures and Programming")
Professional Animal Behavior Consultants (PABC) Membership Criteria
Professional Animal Behavior Consultants are generalist or species-independent technologists of behavior who consult with clients, and in some cases, work directly with a
client’s companion animal toward meeting specific behavioral objectives,
preventing and/or resolving problem animal behavior, and ultimately
strengthening the human-nonhuman animal relationship. They also educate the
public on animal behavior. The focus on resolving problem behaviors
distinguishes the consultant from the trainer category. The AABP Professional Animal
Behavior Consultant designation is general and broad rather than specific to
a particular species. Click here for a more in-depth description of professional membership category definitions.
Candidates may meet the requirement to demonstrate competence in the core areas of competence by means of formal education, other certifications or by taking the AABP Proficiency Exam or any combination of these to meet each criterion.
Core Areas of Competence (Click here for details)
- Coaching / Instructing and Professional Relationship / Case Management
- Principles of Learning and Behavior
- Training Technology
- Functional Assessment
- Behavior Change Procedures and Programming
- Professional Ethics
- Biological Context for Behavior (aka Species Typical Behavior)
Certification, Education &/or Exam
- Coverage of all core areas of competence with either current certifications; formal education; AABP Proficiency Exam (Exam available soon). Any combination of the these may be used. See below for details.
Experience
- 400 hours professional training experience within the last 5 years.
Ethics Commitment
- Declared commitment to work in accordance with, and be bound by, the AABP Professional Practice Guidelines and Policies.
Insurance
- Provide professional training, coaching or consultation services only under protection from professional liability insurance, where applicable, be it under your own name, your business name or the business name of an employer you work for, and not participate in professional activities not covered by appropriate professional liability insurance.
References (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 2 letters of recommendation from among current AABP Professional Members or from veterinary behaviorists, certified applied animal behaviorists, certified dog behavior consultants, or a sitting board member or director/executive from BACB, CCPDT, IAABC, ABS or faculty or board members of approved educational institutions attesting to your professional competence.
Supervision (waived for those with IAABC certification)
- 30 hours supervised training skills development with an established professional (i.e., AABP Professional Member; CCPDT-KA; IAABC Certificated member; Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia). If education option included 30 hours of supervised training skills development, it may be used to satisfy this requirement).
Mechanical Skills Proficiency
- Demonstration and, successfully demonstrate hands on mechanical skills. NOT YET REQUIRED. TO BE PHASED IN. WE MAY REQUIRE THIS ONLY FOR A 2ND LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP RATHER THAN AS PART OF THIS BASIC LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP.
Below are the certifications and formal educational programs that may be used toward demonstrating meeting core areas of competence. Any combination may be used.
- Companion Animal Sciences Institute: Professional Dog Training Science and Technology Certificate program (Cert.PDTST) (All core areas).
- SF-SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers' Certificate in Training and Counseling program (All core areas).
- Pat Miller's Peaceable Paws program.
- CAP 3 certification through Kay Laurence (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Karen Pryor Academy (Counts toward “Training Technology” core area of competence)
- Dee Ganley’s Internship program (All core areas of competence.)
- Living and Learning with Animals; Living and Learning with Parrots (Susan G. Friedman) (Counts toward "Principles of Learning" core areas of competence.)
- University courses covering core area of competence
- IAABC species specific related Certification (All core areas),
- Cert IV Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society Australia and membership in the Delta Professional Dog Trainers Association (All core areas),
- CCPDT CPDT-KA certification (Counts toward Coaching/Instructing; Principles of Learning and Behavior; Biological Context for Behavior)
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Counts toward "Principles of Learning and Behavior," "Functional Assessment," "Behavior Change Procedures and Programming")
How to Join
- Agree to the terms below and pay the membership fee (below) which is $60 / year in Canadian funds.
- We will then list you in the directory with "Pending" and send an invite for the member's forum and send you a declaration regarding the terms to sign and send in (Membership is not established until the declaration is received and membership is no longer "Pending")
- When we receive the signed declaration, we will replace the "Pending" membership with your General Membership
- Then, you may then seek AABP Professional Membership if you wish and take advantage of other member benefits
Terms of Membership
By joining the AABP, you acknowledge that you will conduct yourself in accordance with the AABP Professional Practice Guidelines (including the mission and methodological stance), that the content of this web site and any and all policies, procedures, member's benefits or requirements for continued membership may change without notice and that members are to maintain current familiarity with them. Any membership may be declined or revoked by the AABP at its sole discretion. Notwithstanding, the AABP may decline a membership request if we have some specific demonstrable reason to believe that the candidate currently does conduct themselves in contravention of the AABP Professional Practice Guidelines and we have no reason to believe they are about to discontinue the practice. Furthermore, the email list, just like membership, is a privilege and any member who breeches the "rules," including to be kind and professional to others on the list, may be moderated or removed from the list or have their membership revoked without refund at the sole discretion of the moderator (appeal to the Advisory Board available).
Click the button below to join as an General Member (please enter full name too).
How to Apply for AABP Professional Membership
To Apply for AABP Professional Membership, first make sure you are a General Member, and then email us through the 'contact us' page for an application form. For candidates taking the exam, there will be a one-time $60 examination evaluation fee.
Notice:
The AABP provides professional membership and only asserts that the trainer or consultant has demonstrated that they meet the criteria stated here or what was stated when the member applied. We cannot guarantee anything beyond this and we assume no liability or responsibility for the actions or inactions of any 'approved" organization or member.