Dog Grooming License vs. Certification

What's the difference between a dog grooming license and a dog grooming certificate?

Is Training Required to Be a Dog Groomer?

In many places, there are no formal licensing or training requirements to be a professional dog groomer. It all depends on where you live and varies from region to region. Some places require a license or certification in order to operate a grooming business. Others will require nothing at all.

Be sure to research local regulations to best determine what is required in order to start a dog grooming career in your city or town.

Even if education is not required, discover the many advantages of getting professionally trained and certified!

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Dog Grooming License

There is no international standard that defines what a dog grooming license is. However, it's considered a reputable document that proves you're fit to groom dogs.

In certain areas, a freelance groomer running their own business will require a Pet Grooming Facility License or regional certification for their facility. The groomer themselves might not need that license, but their business will.

Obtaining a dog grooming license varies by location. It might be as simple as sending in an application or taking a written exam. To know for sure, call your local government to find out the regulations in your area!

Keep in mind: a dog grooming license won't teach you how to be a groomer. It's strongly recommended that you pair your license with a professional certification course.

Discover the difference between in-person and online certification courses here!

Dog Grooming Certification

A certification is earned after successfully completing a professional dog grooming certification course. Unlike a dog grooming license, a certification represents the training, education, and knowledge you have in the field of dog grooming.

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Dog grooming certification courses will teach you

  • Breed standards
  • Grooming techniques
  • Dog anatomy
  • How to create various haircuts and styles
  • How to use and sanitize equipment
  • Dog behavior
  • First aid training
  • Business training
  • And more!

To truly be the best dog groomer you can be, proper training from a certification course is essential!

View The Dog Grooming Course

"QC Pet Studies offered exactly what I wanted! There were lots of instructional videos that I could watch over and over again and the practical assignments offered lots of hands-on training. The valuable tutor feedback I received throughout the course was the most important thing to me..."

April Costigan

April Costigan
QC Graduate

Read April's full Graduate Feature on QC's blog!

a dog sitting on a staircase