Standards

Certification Standards, Rules, Policies and Procedures

Any Narcotic Detection Canine team which receives certification from said Association is evidence that the team has satisfactorily met and passed all applicable standards as set below. Certification by Association certifies the canine team ( dog and handler ) and is valid for one calendar year from date of issue. The certification is non transferable. If the canine is assigned to a new handler then that team will have to be re-certified.

Certifying Officials
Certifying officials will be any member so designated by the Association Board of Directors. The Association board of directors may, upon their review and discretion of an applicant’s qualifications, appoint said applicant as a certifying official.

To qualify as a certifying official one should have:

A) A minimum of ten years experience as a full time law enforcement officer and five years experience specifically as a drug detection canine trainer.

B) A full time law enforcement officer who as a Drug Detection dog handler has completed a formalized course by a recognized drug detection dog trainer and has at least 2 years experience handling a drug detection dog and completed 200 hours as assistant in training, under the direction of a recognized drug detection trainer.

And

C) Completed an 8 hour Association certifying officials course.

D) Supplied to the association board of Directors all relevant documents necessary to satisfy the minimum requirements of being a Association certifying official.

Controlled Substances
All controlled substances utilized during a certification shall have been tested by a local, state or federal laboratory for authenticity.

Only actual narcotics (controlled substances) will be used during the certification process. Controlled substances utilized are: Marijuana / Hashish, Cocaine /Crack Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.

A minimum of two training aids from each category will be utilized during certification.

Controlled substances used during certification shall be at least 3.5 grams in weight, but no more than 900 grams.

There will be a total of ten (10) training aids utilized during certification. These will be placed at the discretion of the certifying official.

All training aids shall be placed in the training areas no less than thirty minutes prior to canine team inspection.

Search Areas
To effectively evaluate the dog detection team the certification process will include the following areas;

A) Buildings
Should be of a size that is regularly encountered by canine teams. Individual room size can vary but should not exceed 1200 sq. ft. A minimum of three rooms will be utilized.

B) Vehicles
Three vehicles shall be used. Vehicle training aids may be hidden as either exterior or interior at the discretion of the certifying official.

C) Packages and luggage
A minimum of six pieces will be utilized. The actual physical locations and environment will be at the sole discretion of the certifying official.

D) Distraction aids
Distraction aids can be utilized during the certification process but will not be placed in close proximity to actual controlled substance training aids.

E) Exterior searches. ( open field) May be utilized by the certifying official solely at their discretion. Field area will not be any greater than 3600 sq. ft.

Time of Search
Time of search for each area will be at the discretion of each certifying official, based on location, environment etc. The certifying official may discontinue an exercise if it is determined by the certifying official that excessive time has been used by the canine team.

Complaints
It is the responsibility of each handler to have any questions clarified about the certification prior to deployment of the dog on the search exercise.

Any complaints about the certification process or conduct by a certifying official or Association member shall be set in writing and forwarded to the Association board of directors within ten days of the incident.

Certifying officials are not required to explain their evaluation and will not enter into a discussion with any persons disputing an evaluation process.

Costs / Fees
If certification is requested outside designated Association training, the requesting agency shall pay in advance and be responsible for all necessary incurred travel, meal, lodging or other related expenses for the certifying official.

Each canine detection team who attempts to certify shall be assessed a one time fee of $25.00 (US). Each team who successfully passes certification shall receive within 30 days of certification, a Letter of Certification from the Association. The association will retain a copy of the Letter of Certification for each dog team.

A new $25.00 fee will only be assessed when the canine or handler changes and is attempting certification for the first time.

Certification Records
All records are the sole property of the Association and are non transferable unless otherwise specified.

Alerts
It is the responsibility of each handler to advise the certifying official as to the type of alert / indication the canine exhibits. (Passive / Aggressive ).

The handler must verbally state “alert” to the certifying official or the alert / indication will not be acknowledged.

Rewards
All rewards utilized during certification will be free of any contamination of pseudo narcotics or controlled substance odor. Use of scented reward will be grounds for disqualification.

Qualifications to Certify
Any Regular or Associate member in good standing, who otherwise qualifies reference other rules and regulations contained within Association bylaws, shall be deemed qualified to attempt Association certification.

Passing Certification Standards
A detection team must find nine (9) of the ten aids hidden (90%).

In order for a detection team to complete certification the team must successfully complete the search for Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.

If during the certification a dog handler indicates an “alert” by the canine where there are no training aids hidden this will be considered a “false response” by the detection team.

Two “false responses” by a canine team or a combination of one “false response” and missing an aid, will result in a failure to qualify for certification.

A detection team which fails to qualify for certification may, after 30 days, request an attempt to certify.

All decisions by the certifying officials at the time of certification are final and do not carry an appeal process.

Rules of Conduct

	Every handler will be responsible for any damage done by detection team canine, to training area, persons or other canines.
	Electric, Prong collars are not permitted.
	Handlers who have completed certification shall refrain from any contact with handlers who awaiting certification.
	It is the responsibility of each handler to have any questions clarified about the certification prior to deployment of the dog on the search exercise.
	It shall be the responsibility of the Association certifying official to implement the certification in a fair and impartial manner.
	Only actual controlled substances will be used during Association certification.
	An Association certifying official will explain certification rules to all handlers prior to the certification. A copy of the rules will be given to any handler upon request.
	There will be no training, play or practice with canines in or around any certifying areas.
	All handlers should attempt to have their dogs refrain from urinating in the certifying areas.
	If in the opinion of the certifying official, a handler uses extreme or abusive treatment of a canine, displays loss of temper or poor sportsmanship, the certifying official will immediately disqualify that detection team. There will be no appeal process.