Requires licensure of dog trainers.

A4206

ASSEMBLY, No. 4206

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires licensure of dog trainers.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the licensure of dog trainers and
supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Dog Trainer Licensing Act.�

���� 2.��� As used in this act:

���� �Board� means the Dog Trainer
Board of Examiners established under section 3 of this act.

���� �Director� means the Director
of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

���� �Dog training� means the
handling or training of dogs for a fee, salary, or other form of compensation.

���� �Dog trainer� means a person
engaged in the practice of dog training or behavior modification who is
licensed pursuant to the provisions of this act.

���� 3.��� There is created within
the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety the
Dog Trainer Board of Examiners.� The board shall consist of nine members who
are residents of this State and who shall be appointed by the Governor, as
follows: two shall be public members to represent the interests of the public,
pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1971, c.60
(C.45:1-2.2); one member shall be from a department in the Executive Branch of
State Government, pursuant to the provisions of subsection c. of P.L.1971, c.60
(C.45:1-2.2); three members shall be, except for the members first appointed, dog
trainers licensed pursuant to the provisions of this act; two members shall be
veterinarians licensed in this State; and one member shall be affiliated with
an animal protection group. �The Governor shall appoint each member, other than
the State executive department member, for terms of four years, except that of
the members first appointed, two shall serve for a term of four years, two
shall serve for a term of three years, two shall serve for a term of two years,
and two shall serve for terms of one year.� Any vacancy in the membership of
the board shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the
original appointment. �No member of the board may serve more than two
successive terms in addition to any unexpired term to which the member has been
appointed.

���� 4.��� The board shall organize
within 30 days after the appointment of its members and shall annually elect
from among its members a chairperson and vice-chairperson, and shall appoint a
secretary who need not be a member of the board.� The board shall meet twice a
year and may hold additional meetings as necessary to discharge its duties.� A
majority of the board membership shall constitute a quorum.

���� 5.��� The board shall:

���� a.���� adopt a seal to
authenticate its records and proceedings;

���� b.��� prescribe rules
pertaining to types and methods of examination of applicants for licensure;

���� c.���� examine and pass on the
qualifications of applicants for licensure under this act, and issue a license
to each qualified and successful applicant, attesting to the applicant�s
professional qualification to practice as a dog trainer;

���� d.��� keep records of its
proceedings and a register of all persons to whom licenses have been issued,
and a record of all license renewals, suspensions and revocations;

���� e.���� maintain records of
expenses incurred by members of the board in the performance of their duties;

���� f.���� take disciplinary
action, in accordance with P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.), against any dog
trainer who violates the provisions of this act or any regulation promulgated
hereunder;

���� g.��� adopt rules and
regulations pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as it deems necessary to administer the provisions of this
act; and

���� h.��� pursuant to P.L.1974,
c.46 (C.45:1-3.1 et seq.), prescribe or change the charges for examination,
licensure, renewal and other services performed.

���� 6.��� There shall be an
Executive Director of the board appointed by the director who shall serve at
the director's pleasure. �The salary of the Executive Director shall be
determined by the director within the limit of available funds. �The director
may, within the limits of available funds, hire any assistants as are necessary
to administer this act.�

���� 7.��� No person shall
practice, attempt to practice, or hold himself out as being able to practice
dog training unless that person is licensed in accordance with the provisions
of this act.

���� 8.��� To be eligible to be
licensed as a dog trainer, an applicant shall fulfill the following
requirements:

���� a.���� be at least 18 years of
age;

���� b.��� be of good moral
character;

���� c.���� have successfully
completed high school or successfully passed a high school equivalency
examination developed by the General Education Development (GED) Testing
Service;

���� d.��� have successfully
completed a minimum of 300 hours in dog training, under the supervision of, and
documented by, a dog trainer licensed pursuant to this act, within the three
years immediately preceding application for licensure under this act pursuant to
the following:

���� (1)�� of the 300 hours
required, no less than 225 hours shall include training in conducting group dog
training classes, conducting private dog training classes, and consulting with
clients;

���� (2)�� of the 300 hours
required, up to 75 hours may include work as a licensed dog trainer�s
assistant, work as a veterinary technician or assistant, work as a dog groomer,
volunteering at an animal shelter, designing dog training lesson plans, or
consulting with a licensed dog trainer on client cases;

���� (3)�� hours of experience
gained as a licensed dog trainer�s assistant may count toward the hours
required under paragraph (1) of this subsection provided that the applicant�s
role as an assistant includes actively instructing a client or training a dog;

���� (4)�� if any of the hours of
experience gained under paragraph (2) of this subsection are not under the
supervision of a licensed dog trainer, the applicant shall provide
documentation from any other person that supervised the applicant, including,
but not limited to, a veterinarian, an owner or supervisory employee of a dog
grooming business, or a supervisory employee of an animal shelter; and

���� (5)�� the 300 hours of
experience required under this subsection shall not apply to any applicant who
submits proof satisfactory to the board no later than 180 days after the date
procedures are established by the board for applying for licensure under this
act that the applicant has engaged in the practice of dog training in this
State continuously for at least one year prior to the effective date of this
act; and

���� e.���� pass an examination
administered or approved by the board to determine the applicant's competence
to practice dog training; except that this requirement shall not apply to any
applicant who submits proof satisfactory to the board no later than 180 days
after the date procedures are established by the board for applying for
licensure under this act that the applicant has passed any Certification
Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) certification examination, or any
other examination that is determined by the board to be a substantially similar
assessment of dog training skills and competency, prior to the effective date
of this act.

���� 9.��� Each applicant for a
license as a dog trainer shall be examined by the board.� The examination shall
be held at least twice a year at the times and places to be determined by the
board.� The board, in consultation with the Certification Council for
Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), shall adopt as the examination required
under this section any examination as developed and administered by CCPDT, or
any other examination that is determined by the board to be a substantially
similar assessment of dog training skills and competency.

���� 10.��� a.�� All licenses shall
be issued for a three-year period and shall be renewed upon filing a renewal
application.

���� b.��� All applicants shall pay
a fee for licensure and renewal for licensure under this act.� Fees shall be
determined by the board and established by regulation.� The revenue generated
from these fees shall not exceed the operating costs incurred by the board in
administering this act.

���� c.���� A license shall not be
renewed until the license holder submits satisfactory evidence to the board
that during the preceding three years the license holder has completed such
continuing education credits as are to be determined by the board pursuant to regulation.�
The board shall approve, in consultation with the Certification Council for
Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), continuing education credits that build upon
the basic knowledge of dog training and which enhance the competency of the
license holder.� The board may make exceptions from the continuing education
requirement in emergency or hardship cases with the approval of an affirmative
vote of a majority of the board.

���� 11.��� This act shall take
effect on the 180th day next following enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill provides for the
regulation and licensing of dog trainers.� The bill establishes the Dog Trainer
Board of Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law
and Public Safety, which will consist of nine members.� Two members will be
public members; three members will be licensed dog trainers, except for the
members first appointed; two members will be veterinarians licensed in this
State; one member will be affiliated with an animal protection group; and one
member will be a State executive department member.

���� The bill permits the board to
establish fees for those licensed under the bill and incorporates the terms of
the law on fees of professional boards, P.L.1974, c.46 (C.45:1-3.1 et seq.),
and the uniform enforcement and procedure act, P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et
seq.), for enforcement of standards and punishment of violations.

���� To be eligible to be licensed
as a dog trainer, an applicant shall: be at least 18 years of age; be of good
moral character; have successfully completed high school or successfully passed
a high school equivalency examination developed by the General Education
Development (GED) Testing Service; have successfully completed a minimum of 300
hours in dog training under the supervision of, and documented by, a dog
trainer licensed pursuant to this bill in the three years previous to applying
for licensure; and pass an examination administered or approved by the board to
determine the applicant's competence to practice dog training.

���� The examination required by
the bill must be held at least twice a year at the times and places to be
determined by the board.� The board, in consultation with the Certification
Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), must adopt as the examination
required of applicants for licensure under this bill any CCPDT certification
examination, or any other examination that is determined by the board to be a
substantially similar assessment of dog training skills and competency.

���� The bill provides an exemption
from the requirement that an applicant for licensure successfully complete a
minimum of 300 hours in supervised dog training if the applicant provides proof
satisfactory to the board that the applicant has engaged in the practice of dog
training in this State continuously for at least one year prior to the
effective date of the bill.� There is also an exemption from the requirement
that an applicant for licensure pass an examination administered or approved by
the board if the applicant provides proof satisfactory to the board that the
applicant has passed any CCPDT certification examination, or any other
examination that is determined by the board to be a substantially similar
assessment of dog training skills and competency, prior to the effective date
of the bill.

���� The bill provides for licenses
to be issued for a three-year period, and will be renewed upon filing a renewal
application.� A license will not be renewed until the license holder submits
satisfactory evidence to the board that during the preceding three years the
license holder has completed such continuing education credits as are to be
determined by the board pursuant to regulation.� The board will approve, in
consultation with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
(CCPDT), continuing education credits that build upon the basic knowledge of
dog training and which enhance the competency of the license holder.� The board
may make exceptions from the continuing education requirement in emergency or
hardship cases with the approval of an affirmative vote of a majority of the
board.