Earn a nationally recognised qualification online, at your own pace, with expert trainers supporting you every step of the way.
The trainers are so passionate and knowledgeable. I felt supported every step of the way!
A Certificate IV qualification recognised in every state and territory.
Flexible, self-paced learning that fits around your work and life.
Plenty of time to study at a steady, manageable pace.
Ongoing guidance from our teachers, trainers and student support team.
A low $300 enrolment fee to start, then simple monthly payments.
Put your skills into practice with real dogs during your work placement.
Trusted industry partners and recognition
The ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training is the nationally recognised qualification for people who want to work in dog training. You’ll learn to understand, train and modify animal behaviour using modern, ethical methods.
Study the theory online, then build real skills on a hands-on work placement. Graduate ready to work as a professional dog trainer or behaviour specialist, or choose the Assistance Dog stream to specialise.
Starting out and ready to turn a love of dogs into a qualified career.
Already in daycare, boarding, grooming or rescue, and ready to formalise your skills.
Ready for a new career with dogs, studying around the job you have now.
Upskilling yourself or your staff with a nationally recognised qualification.
Your qualification opens a range of animal training careers, from dog trainer and behaviour specialist to assistance dog trainer.
Our team brings more than 120 years of combined experience across Australia’s animal care industry.
Partners including Assistance Dogs Australia, PIAA and Mars Petcare, and help finding your work placement.
The Certificate IV can lead to four main career paths in animal training. Here’s what each one looks like.
01Teach dogs and the people who love them, in classes, one-on-one sessions or your own business.
02Assess behaviour, build behaviour plans and help dogs settle into the right home.
03Train dogs that support people with disability and help handlers build working partnerships.
04Apply training science beyond companion dogs, from scent detection to exhibited animals.
I genuinely enjoyed the course… Now I am qualified to work as a dog trainer!
Australians love their dogs, and that means work for people who understand them.
of Australian households have a pet
Animal Medicines Australia, Pets in Australia 2025of households have at least one dog
Animal Medicines Australia, Pets in Australia 2025spent on pets in a year, up 35% since 2022
Animal Medicines Australia, 12 months to March 2025people work as animal attendants and trainers
Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 3611, Feb 2026Four simple steps: enrol online, study online, get hands-on experience, then graduate. Our team supports you the whole way.
Choose your stream, complete your enrolment online and pay the $300 enrolment fee to secure your place. Then book a welcome call and we’ll get you set up and ready to start.
Work through your 16 units online, whenever and wherever suits you. It’s self-paced, so it fits around your job and family, with your course teachers and student support team on hand for guidance, feedback and regular check-ins.
Put your skills into practice with 80 hours of hands-on training at a facility of your choosing. We’ll help you find a placement through our industry partners, or you can complete it at a business you already work for. It’s where everything comes together, and it’s a lot of fun.
Assistance Dog stream: 80 hours at an ADI or GHAD accredited organisation, plus 40 hours of pet care placement.
Receive your nationally recognised Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training, and step into your new career as a qualified dog trainer.
Both options are the same nationally recognised Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training (ACM40322). Choose the one that matches the work you want to do.
01 · Certificate IVCertificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training (ACM40322)
02 · Certificate IVCertificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training (Assistance Dog Training)
The key facts about the ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training, all in one place.
Secure your place with a $300 enrolment fee, then spread the rest over interest-free monthly payments. The same fees apply to both course options.
Total course fee: $5,000, with no interest.
Secure my place for $300You can pay the full course fee of $5,000 in one payment. Businesses enrolling staff can choose the option that works best for them.
A strong foundation in behavioural science and modern, ethical training methods, across 16 units of competency.
ACMBEH301Identify behaviours and interact safely with animalsRead body language and behaviour, recognise signs of stress, fear or aggression, and approach and handle animals safely.
ACMBEH402Develop, implement and monitor enrichment strategies for animalsDesign enrichment that keeps animals mentally and physically engaged, then monitor how well it’s working.
ACMBEH403Evaluate animal conditioning methodology and program designCompare training methods and design structured, ethical training programs grounded in learning theory.
ACMBEH404Condition animal behaviourUse classical and operant conditioning, good timing and reinforcement to teach and change behaviour.
ACMGEN303Assess the welfare status of an animalAssess an animal’s physical and emotional wellbeing and recognise when its welfare needs aren’t being met.
ACMGEN304Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplacesLook after your own wellbeing and support your team in emotionally demanding animal care work.
ACMGEN402Advise on animal industry compliance and practicesUnderstand the laws, codes and standards that apply to working with animals, and advise clients and colleagues on them.
ACMWHS401Maintain workplace health and safety processesIdentify hazards, manage risks and follow the safety processes that protect people and animals.
ACMADT301Select appropriate equipment for an assistance dog and handlerChoose harnesses, leads and other equipment that suit each dog, handler and task.
ACMADT401Assess prospective handler’s suitability for an assistance dogAssess whether a person’s needs, lifestyle and abilities suit an assistance dog partnership.
ACMADT402Instruct handlers with disability to train assistance dogsTeach handlers with disability to train their assistance dog and maintain its skills.
ACMADT403Train dogs using operant and classical conditioning techniquesApply conditioning techniques to train assistance dogs in reliable, practical behaviours.
ACMADT501Plan and conduct assistance dog training in specific and complex tasksPlan and deliver training for complex, task-specific assistance work.
Your remaining units are electives that round out your 16 units of competency.
We’re not just a college that teaches about the pet industry. We come from it, and we’ve spent decades building it.
Our roots are in owning and running dog training and pet care facilities across Australia for more than 45 years. What you learn comes from real-world experience, not just a textbook.
$300 to secure your place, then interest-free monthly payments. One clear course fee for both options.
Course teachers, a student support team and regular check-ins, from enrolment to graduation.
We work with leading pet businesses and organisations nationwide, and help you find your work placement.
We don’t stop at the certificate. Our goal is a clear pathway from your first unit to your first role in the industry.
The Pet Industry College is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 70236), delivering qualifications recognised in every state and territory.
1,300+ students trained across Australia, with 250+ studying with us right now.
Studying with The Pet Industry College helped me turn my love for animals into a real job. I now work full-time at a dog daycare and love every second of it.
The trainers are so passionate and knowledgeable. I felt supported every step of the way!
The course was easy enough to complete while also still working. I have worked with animals for 6 years and still learnt so much.
I’ve really enjoyed the units on animal care and welfare. I’ve felt genuinely supported with regular check-ins and guidance from the teachers and course advisors. Their ongoing support made the whole experience enjoyable
I genuinely enjoyed the course. I found all of the animal behaviour and handling units very interesting. Now I am qualified to work as a dog trainer!
Thank you Pet Industry College. I enjoyed my study and training.
A free 20-minute call to talk through the course, your goals and your options.
Book a free call Send an enquiryNo. There are no formal entry requirements for the ACM40322 qualification, and you don’t need to be working in the industry already. The course is designed for anyone passionate about working with animals, whether you’re starting out, upskilling or formalising years of experience. Like all nationally recognised training, you’ll need a Unique Student Identifier (USI), and we’ll guide you through it when you enrol.
Yes. The theory is 100% online and self-paced, so you can study from anywhere in Australia around your job and family. Plan on around 15–20 hours a week, doing more in quiet weeks and less in busy ones.
You’ll complete 80 hours of hands-on practical training at a facility of your choosing. We’ll help you find a placement through one of our industry partners, or you can complete it at a business you already work for.
Assistance Dog stream: 80 hours at an ADI or GHAD accredited organisation, with limited placements at Assistance Dogs Australia’s National Training Centre in Sydney, plus 40 hours of pet care placement.
Up to 14 months. That gives you plenty of time to study at a steady, manageable pace around work and life.
Pay $300 to secure your place, then 11 interest-free monthly payments of $400 and one final payment of $300. You can also pay the full $5,000 upfront, and businesses enrolling staff can choose the option that works best for them.
It means the qualification meets Australia’s national training standards and is recognised in every state and territory. You’ll graduate with a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training, issued by The Pet Industry College (RTO 70236).
Start your online enrolment in minutes, send us a question, or talk it through with a course advisor first.
A course advisor will get back to you.
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