International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)

What International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) does

The International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) is a US-based non-profit professional association founded in 1999 to set standards and provide resources for the dog training profession. It serves 3,000+ members across 40 countries and all 50 US states, including dog trainers, behavior consultants, veterinarians, groomers, dog walkers, boarding facility managers, and shelter workers. The organization is headquartered in Lampasas, Texas with a Chicago mailing address and operates with 13 employees.

IACP's product portfolio centers on professional certification and continuing education: the Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) examination and multiple Knowledge Assessments validate practitioner competency; the annual IACP Educational Conference (2026: August 18-20 in Newport Beach, CA) and the co-located Canine Science Summit deliver in-person and recorded education through the Teachable platform; a webinar series and the Dog Pro Radio podcast provide ongoing content. A public Trainer Directory, including specialty listings such as Prong Collar Knowledge Assessed Trainers, channels consumer demand to certified members.

IACP generates revenue through recurring annual membership dues, one-time conference and event registration (members $645, non-members $745, gala $100), certification and assessment fees, and a multi-tier vendor sponsorship program (Titanium and Platinum tiers) featuring training-equipment and pet-business companies such as Dogtra, Herm Spranger, E Collar Technologies, SpotOn, Highland Canine Training, and Unleashed Consulting. Distribution is predominantly self-serve through the iacpdogs.org website, complemented by regional Pack Meetups, legislative alerts, and advocacy led by a Director of Oversight and a Legislative Committee Chair.

Name

International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)

Legal name

International Association of Canine Professionals

Website

https://iacpdogs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) is a US non-profit membership association founded in 1999 that certifies, educates, and advocates for 3,000+ dog trainers, behavior consultants, veterinarians, and other canine professionals across 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Welfare Certification Services (AFALAMAE)

Keywords

• Dog trainer certification
• Canine professional association
• Professional dog training education
• Canine behavior training
• Veterinary continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide professionals access to certifications, educational resources, legislative advocacy, trainer directory listings, member support, and networking opportunities.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual educational conferences (members $645, general admission $745, gala $100) and regional pack meetups.
3. Certification Programs: Fees for Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) exam and IACP Knowledge Assessments that validate professional knowledge and experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IACP is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers paid certifications (Certified Dog Trainer exam and Knowledge Assessments), an annual educational conference plus regional summits and meetups, ongoing webinars and recorded conference content, and a public Trainer Directory. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues, certification and assessment fees, conference and event registrations, industry sponsorships, and donations, with the association also providing legislative advocacy on behalf of canine professionals.

Product overview

The International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) is a professional membership association offering a portfolio of certification, education, and networking services for dog trainers and canine professionals. The core offerings include the Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) Exam and Knowledge Assessments for professional certification, the IACP Annual Educational Conference and Canine Science Summit for in-person education, and the IACP Webinar Series and Conference Recordings for ongoing professional development. Supporting services include the Trainer Directory connecting members with certified professionals, the Dog Pro Radio Podcast for industry content, and regional Pack Meetups for networking. The organization also provides legislative advocacy and member resources as part of its professional development ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) Exam
• IACP Knowledge Assessments
• IACP Annual Educational Conference
• IACP Conference Recordings

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unleashed Consulting Co.coreOthersTitanium-level sponsor providing business consulting services to the canine training industry. Their sponsorship supports IACP's mission to advance the dog training profession.
• Highland Canine TrainingcoreOthersTitanium sponsor and host of IACP Pack Meetups including the North Carolina event at Highland School for Dog Trainers.
• SpotOn (Fence)coreOthersTitanium sponsor providing dog fence and containment solutions to the canine industry.
• PocketSuiteminorOthersPlatinum sponsor offering dog training business software solutions.
• Business Insurers of the CarolinasminorOthersPlatinum sponsor providing insurance products tailored for dog trainers and pet businesses.
• K9 Kennel BossminorOthersPlatinum sponsor offering kennel management and facility solutions.
• DogtraminorOthersPlatinum sponsor and e-collar manufacturer that has partnered with IACP for webinar events including the 200:iQ product launch.
• Herm Sprenger USAminorOthersPlatinum sponsor and manufacturer of training equipment including prong collars and other training tools.
• E Collar TechnologiesminorOthersPlatinum sponsor and manufacturer of electronic collar training systems.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Academy for Dog Trainers: The Academy for Dog Trainers is a leading dog training school offering certification programs. Comparable as a training-career education provider targeting the same professional audience, though it is a school rather than a membership association.
• Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior: Karen Pryor Academy offers clicker training certification and continuing education for dog training professionals. Comparable as an education and certification provider for canine professionals, but focused on positive reinforcement.
• Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior: Victoria Stilwell Academy provides online and in-person dog training certifications and continuing education. Comparable as a certification-focused education provider targeting professional dog trainers.

Direct peers

• National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI): NADOI is a long-standing (founded 1965) professional association for dog obedience instructors with a certification program. Similar mission of professionalizing dog training, overlapping member base, and competing certification offerings.
• Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT): APDT is the largest U.S. professional membership association for dog trainers and behavior consultants, offering memberships, educational conferences, and webinars. Directly comparable to IACP in mission, target audience, and revenue model.
• Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT): CCPDT is an independent certifying body for dog training professionals (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA), directly competing with IACP's Certified Dog Trainer exam. Highly comparable along certification product and customer base.
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC): IAABC is a professional association for animal behavior consultants offering certification, webinars, and conferences. Comparable to IACP in serving canine behavior consultants and offering similar membership and certification products.
• Pet Professional Guild (PPG): PPG is a membership organization for pet professionals that advocates for force-free training methods and offers educational events, certifications, and member resources. Directly competes with IACP for canine professionals but on the opposite side of the training-tools debate.

Broad incumbents

• American Kennel Club (AKC): AKC is a broad canine-focused organization offering events, education, legislative advocacy, and a national network. Comparable in canine-focused programming and advocacy, though more oriented to dog ownership and breeding than to training professionals.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): AVMA is the largest U.S. professional association for veterinarians and plays a major role in legislative advocacy on animal-related policy. Comparable in association structure, legislative advocacy, and continuing education, but veterinarians rather than trainers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canineprofessionals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)