Creates New Jersey Dog Trainer Licensure Board.

A4207

ASSEMBLY, No. 4207

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates New Jersey Dog Trainer Licensure Board.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning the regulation 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 Training Licensure Act.�

���� 2.��� As used in this act:

���� �Approved certification
program� means an examination-based dog trainer certification that is
accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and is approved
by the licensure board established under section 2 of this act, and any other
examination-based dog trainer certification programs approved by the board. An
approved certification program shall (1) include minimum education or
experience eligibility requirements, as defined by the board, (2) require its
certified dog trainers to adhere to policies equivalent to or more restrictive
of aversive practices than the Joint Standards of Practice, Professional Code
of Ethics, and Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Effective Behavior
Intervention Policy as developed by the Association of Professional Dog
Trainers (�APDT�), the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
(�CCPDT�), and the International Association of Behavior Consultants (�IAABC�),
and (3) require for maintenance of certification at least 36 continuing
education meeting standards defined by the board per three-year period.

���� �Board� means the New Jersey
Dog Trainer Licensure Board established under section 3 of this act.

���� �Director� means the Director
of the Division of Consumer Affairs.��

���� �Dog behavior consultant�
means an individual who is engaged in the practice of evidence-based applied
behavior analysis and behavior modification of dogs, in areas such as fear,
phobias, compulsive behaviors, anxiety, or aggressive behavior, when performed
for a fee, salary, or other form of financial compensation.

���� �Dog trainer� means an
individual who is licensed pursuant to this act to perform dog training.

���� �Dog training� means the
training or behavior modification of dogs or serving as a dog behavior
consultant, when performed for a fee, salary, or other form of financial
compensation, other than on an incidental basis ancillary to other services,
such as dog grooming or dog walking. For purposes of this definition, dog
training does not include:

���� (1)� training of dogs by
active military service members in connection with their military service
roles, by active law enforcement in connection with K-9 training, or by
incarcerated persons under the auspices of a program in a penal institution; or

���� (2)� the services offered by a
kennel club affiliated with or licensed or sanctioned by the American Kennel
Club or the United Kennel Club if those services are offered exclusively to
club members.

���� �Good professional moral
character� means the individual has not abused a position of trust or engaged
in fraud or in conduct that poses a substantial risk to the health or safety of
the public or of animals under the person�s care or supervision, or that the
individual has demonstrated sufficient evidence of rehabilitation commensurate
with the seriousness of the person�s past misconduct, as determined by the
board.

���� �Industry recognized
standards� means the Joint Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least
Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Effective Behavior Intervention Policy as
developed by the APDT, CCPDT, and IAABC, and effective as of January 1, 2019.

���� 3.��� There is hereby created
within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public
Safety the New Jersey Dog Trainer Licensure Board.� The board shall consist of
nine members who are residents of this State.� Except for the members first
appointed: four members shall be licensed dog trainers, at least one of whom
shall hold a professional certification as a dog behavior consultant; one
member shall be a veterinarian licensed pursuant to P.L.1938, c.277 (C.45:16-1
et seq.) and who is either a board-certified veterinary behaviorist certified
by a program recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners and the American Veterinary Medical Association or has professional
certification in dog training; two shall be current or former dog owners who do
not work as professional dog trainers and do not receive income or financial
benefit from dog training businesses; one member shall be affiliated with a
nonprofit animal welfare group; and one member shall be a State executive
department member appointed pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.1971,
c.60 (C.45:1-2.2).� Of the members first appointed, the four members who are
dog trainers shall be professional dog trainers who hold certification in dog
training from an approved certification program accredited by the National
Commission for Certifying Agencies.

���� Each member, other than the
State executive department member, shall be appointed for a term 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 one year.� Any vacancy in the membership of
the board shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided
for the original appointment.� No member of the board shall serve more than two
successive terms, not to include any unexpired term to which the member has
been appointed to fill a vacated position on the board.

���� 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 a vice chairperson, at least one of
whom shall be a dog trainer.� The board shall also appoint a secretary who need
not be a member of the board.� The board shall hold regularly scheduled
meetings 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.��� review and determine the
sufficiency of 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 qualifications to practice as a dog trainer in
this State;

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

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

���� e.���� 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 regulations promulgated
hereunder;

���� f.���� administer oaths, issue
notices, issue subpoenas in the name of the State to any party or entity that
may possess relevant information regarding the subject of any investigation,
including to compel production of documents or testimony, receive testimony,
conduct hearings, institute court proceedings for contempt testimony or
obedience to its orders and subpoenas, take evidentiary depositions, and
perform such other acts as are reasonably necessary under this act or other
laws to carry out its duties;

���� g.��� institute proceedings in
courts of competent jurisdiction to enforce its orders and the provisions of
this act, obtain court orders and injunctions to halt unauthorized practice,
and present to the proper authorities information it believe indicates an applicant
or licensee may be subject to criminal prosecution;

���� h.��� establish rules and
regulations:

���� (1)�� pertaining to
recognition of approved certification programs and required qualifications of
applicants for licensure or other authorization to practice as dog trainers;

���� (2)�� to grant reciprocal
licensure to individuals who provide dog training or serve as a dog behavior
consultant who hold current certification in dog training from an approved
certification program and hold a dog trainer license issued by another state;
and

���� (3)�� as the board deems
necessary, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedures Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.),� to administer the provisions of this act;

���� i. �publish and maintain on
its website a list of approved certification programs, as well as a list of
approved dog trainer education programs that meet minimum education
requirements for approved certification programs; and

���� j.���� charge a fee for
initial licensure and license renewal, reactivation or reinstatement; and
provisional and temporary limited permits.

���� 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.��� Except as otherwise
allowed by the board, no individual shall practice, attempt to practice, or
hold themselves out as being able to practice dog training in this State unless
licensed or provisionally permitted in accordance with the provisions of this act,
or is a licensed professional in a closely-allied profession who holds an
advanced degree or certification deemed by the board to be equivalent to the
certification in dog training issued by an approved certification program, to
include board-certified veterinary behaviorists certified by a program
recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and
the American Veterinary Medical Association and veterinary technicians holding
Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior) certification.

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

���� (1)�� be at least 18 years of
age;

���� (2)�� be of good professional
moral character, as defined in section 2 of this act; and

���� (3)�� hold current
certification in dog training from an approved certification program or current
certification as a certified applied animal behaviorist or associate certified
applied animal behaviorist.

���� b.��� An individual may be
eligible for initial licensure without certification, pursuant to paragraph (3)
of subsection a. of this section, if the individual can demonstrate, as
determined by the board, the following:

���� (1)�� at least one year of
performing dog training services continuously prior to the effective date of
this act; and

���� (2)�� compliance with policies
equivalent to or more restrictive of aversive practices than industry
recognized standards, which the individual shall affirm to remain in compliance
with upon issuance of a license.

���� 9.��� a. The board shall issue
to eligible applicants provisional dog trainer permits that authorize an
individual to provide dog training services in the State under the supervision
of, and documented by, a dog trainer licensed pursuant to this act, for the duration
of one year from the date of issuance of the provisional permit.� A provisional
permit may be renewed for subsequent one-year periods.

���� b.��� Prior to providing dog
training services, the provisional permit holder shall disclose in writing to a
customer that the provisional permit holder is not a licensed dog trainer in
the State and is providing dog training services under the supervision of at
least one licensed dog trainer, with the licensee identified by name.� The
supervision shall entail responsibility for the quality of the services
provided by the permit holder.

���� c.���� To be eligible for a
provisional dog trainer permit under this act, an applicant shall fulfill the
following requirements:

���� (1)�� be of good professional
moral character, as defined in section 2 of this act; and

���� (2)�� agree to abide by
policies adopted by the board that are equivalent to or more restrictive of
aversive practices than the industry recognized standards.

���� 10.� a. All licenses shall be
issued for a three-year period and may be renewed upon filing of a renewal
application meeting the requirements of this section.

���� b.��� Pursuant to subsection
j. of section 5 of this act, all applicants shall pay a fee for initial
licensure and renewal of a license.� The board shall set fees such that revenue
generated from the fees is not expected to exceed the operating costs incurred by
the board in administering this act.

���� c.���� An initial license
shall not be renewed until the licensee submits satisfactory evidence to the
board that the licensee holds current certification with an approved
certification program, or current certification as a certified applied animal
behaviorist or an associate certified applied animal behaviorist.

���� d.��� Any individual
authorized to practice dog training in this State may perform dog training
services in person and by live, remote means for any dog located in this State,
and except to the extent restricted or prohibited by the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the dog is located, for any dog located outside of this
State.

���� 11.� The board shall adopt
rules and regulations to allow for:

���� a.���� temporary limited dog
training services by out-of-State practitioners who hold current certification
from an approved certification program, or current certification as a certified
applied animal behaviorist or an associate certified applied animal behaviorist,
but who do not hold a license in this State, for no more than five days per
calendar year in the aggregate; and

���� b.��� out-of-State providers
of dog training services who hold current certification from an approved
certification program, or current certification as a certified applied animal
behaviorist or an associate certified applied animal behaviorist, to apply for
temporary limited permits that authorize the individual to work in this State
as a dog trainer for no more than 60 days in any calendar year in the
aggregate.

���� 12.� a.� The board shall
investigate all complaints relating to the proper practice of any licensee or
holder of a provisional or temporary limited permit under this act and
complaints relating to any violation of this act.� The board may impose
disciplinary measures based on a finding of a violation under a preponderance
of the evidence standard.� The board may, during the pendency of an
investigation and disciplinary proceeding, summarily suspend the license or
provisional or temporary limited permit of a dog trainer upon a preliminary
finding by the board of probable cause to believe that the individual poses a
substantial and imminent risk to the health or safety of the public or of
animals under the care or supervision of the licensee or holder of a provisional
or temporary limited permit.

���� b.��� The board, after a
hearing pursuant to regulation it shall establish, may:

���� (1)�� revoke or suspend a
license or a provisional or temporary limited permit of a dog trainer;

���� (2)� deny or revoke
eligibility for the license or provisional or temporary limited permit;

���� (3)�� reprimand, censure or
otherwise discipline an applicant seeking initial licensure or an initial
provisional or temporary limited permit, a licensee, or a holder of a
provisional or temporary limited permit by placing conditions on an
individual�s continued authorization to practice.

���� c.���� For the board to take
action pursuant to subsection b. of this section, proof satisfactory to a
majority of the board shall demonstrate that an applicant seeking initial
licensure or an initial provisional or temporary limited permit, a licensee, or
a holder of a provisional or temporary limited permit:

���� (1)�� fraudulently procured a
license or provisional or temporary limited permit under this act;

���� (2)�� committed an offense
against any provision of the laws of this State relating to the authorized
practice of dog trainers or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder;

���� (3)�� engaged in gross
misconduct in providing dog training services, practiced fraudulently,
practiced with gross incompetence or with gross negligence on a particular
occasion, or practiced with negligence on repeated occasions;

���� (4)�� provided dog training
services while the individual�s ability to practice in a safe and competent
manner was materially compromised in a way that posed a substantial risk to the
health and safety of the public or of animals under the care or supervision of
the individual;

���� (5)�� provided dog training
services while under the influence of alcohol or a drug described in this
subsection and while habitually intoxicated or addicted to, dependent on, or a
habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other
drugs having similar effects, other than with respect to lawful use of
medications in accordance with a prescription issued to the individual;

���� (6)�� knowingly and for
purposes of fraud, deception, or personal gain allowed, aided, or abetted an
unlicensed and unauthorized individual to perform activities requiring a
license or provisional or temporary limited permit under this act, excluding
activities permissible under any provision of the laws of this State relative
to the training of aspiring dog trainers;

���� (7)�� has committed fraud or a
criminal offense that reasonably calls into question the ability of the
individual to practice as a dog trainer without posing substantial risk to the
health or safety of the public or of animals under the care or supervision of the
individual;

���� (8)�� engaged in conduct in
material violation of industry recognized standards, or standards equivalent to
or more restrictive of aversive practices that have been adopted by the board
pursuant to subsection h. of section 5 of this bill;

���� (9)�� failed to adequately
supervise the dog training services of a provisional permit holder who provides
those services under the supervision of the licensee; or

���� (10)� violated any rule or
regulation of the board governing the practice of dog trainers.

���� 13.� a. No individual filing a
complaint or reporting or providing information pursuant to this act or
assisting the board at its request in any manner in discharging its duties and
functions shall be liable in any cause of action arising out of the receipt of
that information or assistance, provided that the individual making the
complaint or reporting or providing that information or assistance does so in
good faith and without malice.

���� b.��� During the pendency of
the proceeding, the board shall keep confidential any complaint, report,
record, or other information received or kept by the board in connection with
an investigation conducted by the board pursuant to this section, except with
respect to any action that the board takes affecting the right to practice of
the individual.� After the board has disposed of the matter under investigation
by issuing an order to show cause, by dismissing a complaint, or by taking
other final action, investigative records or information of the board shall not
be kept confidential except to the extent that disclosures of records or other
information may be restricted as otherwise provided by law or by the board�s
regulations.� The requirement that investigative records or information be kept
confidential shall not, at any time, apply to requests from the individual
under investigation or the complainant, or information the board reports to
other New Jersey, out-of-State or federal agencies, boards, or institutions as
the board shall determine by regulation.

���� 14.� a. Except as provided in
this act, as of the effective of date of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), whoever, not being lawfully authorized to
provide dog training services in this State by holding a license or provisional
or temporary limited permit under this act or as otherwise permitted by rules
and regulations adopted by the board, holds themselves out in this State as a
dog trainer or provides or attempts to provide dog training services in this
State, or whoever provides dog training services under a false or assumed name
or under a name other than those by which the individual is authorized by the
board to practice, or whoever impersonates another dog trainer, or whoever
practices or attempts to practice any fraud in connection with the filing of an
application for a dog training license or provisional or temporary limited
permit, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the board and shall be punished
by a civil fine or not less than $200 nor more than $3,000.

���� b.��� Violations involving any
fraudulent act or practice in relation to a consumer or the State constitute an
offense under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).� In such matters and any
matter involving animal cruelty or neglect, the board shall, in addition to any
discipline it imposes, report those matters to the proper authorities for
criminal prosecution under any applicable criminal statute.

���� c.���� An individual rendering
dog training services in violation of this section shall recover no
compensation for those services, and a court may order an individual convicted
of an offense under this section to pay restitution to individuals who incurred
damages as a result of the convicted individual�s offense.

���� 15.� Sections 1 through 6 and
section 11 shall take effect immediately and the remainder of this act shall
take effect on the first day of the 11th month next following enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates a �New
Jersey Dog Trainer Licensure Board� in the Division of Consumer Affairs, part
of the Department of Law and Public Safety, to regulate the practice of dog
training.� The board is to consist of nine members appointed to four-year terms.�
No member is to serve more than two consecutive terms.

���� Among the stipulations in the
bill is that an individual is to be licensed or be issued a provisional or
temporary limited permit to provide dog training, as defined in the bill.� The
issuance of a temporary limited permit is directed to out-of-State individuals.�
A provisional permit is intended for State residents who have not met all
requirements for licensure.

���� Individuals eligible for
licensure are to be 18 years of age, of �good professional moral character,� as
defined in the bill, and hold current certification in dog training from an
approved certification program or current certification as a certified applied
animal behaviorist or associate certified applied animal behaviorist.� The bill
also provides for initial licensure of individuals without certification, if
the individual demonstrates at least one year of performing dog training
services continuously prior to the effective date of the bill. Additionally,
compliance with policies equivalent to or more restrictive of aversive
practices than industry recognized standards has to be proven and the
individual has to affirm that they will remain in compliance when issued a
license.

���� Among other items in the bill
is the establishment of: (1) the responsibilities of the board, which includes
the development of rules and regulations for granting licensure through
reciprocity; (2) a system directing the board on its responsibilities in the
event of unlicensed practice; (3) the licensure renewal as every three years;
and (4) the requirements for licensure renewal.