Certification Standards

Master Trainers will act as the certifying authority for all United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA) certification testing. Teams successfully completing certification testing in a specific discipline or phase will be issued an official UPWDA Certificate. Each certificate issued by UPWDA will be assigned a unique certificate number and will remain valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance.

A 15-day administrative grace period may be applied following the expiration date of any certificate. The purpose of the grace period is to prevent unintended lapses in certification status that could impact active law enforcement or contractor operations. The grace period is intended solely to maintain operational continuity and does not replace the requirement for timely recertification.

Teams remaining beyond the grace period without successful recertification will be considered expired and ineligible for certification representation until testing requirements are successfully completed.

Under no circumstances will whips of any kind be utilized during a certification test offered by the United Police Work Dog Association. Pinch collars and electronic collars may be worn by the canine during the testing procedure; however, collars of this type may not be activated during any certification phase.

While the canine team is certifying, the electronic collar remote must be given to the Master Trainer administering the certification phase. At no time during the certification test will the handler be permitted to possess the electronic collar remote.

During any United Police Work Dog Association function, any Master Trainer or Trainer observing what he or she believes to be cruel and/or abusive treatment or behavior towards a canine reserves the authority to terminate an existing exercise immediately. The team will not be authorized to participate in the remainder of the function.

The Master Trainer or Trainer will provide written documentation to the Accreditation Board concerning the facts pertaining to the incident for further investigation and/or decision. The Accreditation Board will issue a decision as to whether or not the team will be allowed to participate in and complete the remaining functions. The Accreditation Board retains sole authority pertaining to the issuance and/or revocation of all Master Trainer and Trainer accreditation and all canine team certifications.

The Accreditation Board also retains sole authority as to the implementation and/or discontinuance of all United Police Work Dog Association Certification Testing Standards (UPWDACTS). Decisions issued by the Accreditation Board pertaining to accreditation and certifications shall be final and may not be overruled by the Executive Board. Decisions issued by the Accreditation Board are not subject to a membership vote.

Any Police Service Dog Team failing any certification test(s) may reapply for testing at the next and most convenient testing time and date.

Any association member failing a certification test(s), believing to have been judged unfairly, will, at the time of the test, notify the Master Trainer of his or her appeal(s). The member shall file a written report of their personal observations and the reasons they believe to have been judged unfairly.

The Master Trainer, upon being notified of the appeal, will file a written report of his or her observations, all certification test sheets, and his or her basis for failing the team.

All reports will be filed within thirty (30) days of the certification test to the President of The United Police Work Dog Association. The President will then appoint an appeals committee, and all reports or copies thereof will be forwarded to the committee by the President. The appeals committee's findings will be returned to the President, at which time the President will forward a copy of the findings to the member and the Master Trainer.

The decision of the appeals committee must be by a majority vote and it will be final.

Police Service Dog Teams desiring to be tested and certified under the United Police Work Dog Association standards must be, at a minimum, a regular member and in good standing with the United Police Work Dog Association.

There will be no charge for United Police Work Dog Association certifications. Master Trainers may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses or be given a reasonable stipend to cover travel-related expenses.