Program Overview

The Animal Behavior Institute provides you with an extremely personal, high quality education. The quality of our programs is evidenced by the multiple levels of accreditation and authorization we have earned as a professional vocational school, including accreditation as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET*). See our Licensing and Authorization page for more information on the many organizations that have approved our courses for professional continuing education credit.

All programs are eligible for interest free financing.  

The support and assistance you receive from doesn't stop after graduation. Students and alumni receive assistance with every step of the career process, from professional training to career counseling and guidance, including access to our database of job openings and internships.

The Animal Behavior Institute offers two sets of programs to best meet your needs, certificate programs and specialized certificates.

Professional Certificate Programs

Each of our professional certificate programs requires the completion of five courses (15 academic credits) designed to help students develop a thorough understanding of their chosen field. Certificates include a combination of required courses along with a choice of program electives. Courses in each program may be taken in any order; most students complete their program in less than a year. Transfer credit is also available for courses taken at an accredited college or university. We currently offer eleven certificate programs:

1. Animal Assisted Therapy
2. Animal Training & Enrichment
3. Canine Sports Training
4. Exotic Animal Training
5. Laboratory Animal Behavior
6. Service & Therapy Dog Training
7. Wildlife Rehabilitation
8. Zoo & Aquarium Science
9. Advanced Canine Training
10. Advanced Equine Training
11. Advanced Feline Training

Specialized Certificates

Specialized certificate programs are shorter programs ideal for students that want to focus on the training and behavior of a single species. Each specialized certificate requires the completion of three courses (9 academic credits) covering training, behavior, health, nutrition and enrichment; specialized certificates can be completed in 6-9 months. We currently offer three specialized certificate programs:

1. Canine Training & Behavior
2. Equine Behavior & Management
3. Feline Training & Behavior

Each of these can be taken as a stand alone program or they may be combined with a professional _certificate program to provide a broader knowledge of animal training and behavior. All programs require completion of the field requirement, 40 hours of relevant, hands-on experience as an employee, intern or volunteer at an approved institution of your choice.  

*The Animal Behavior Institute joins nearly 650 organizations around the globe that have had their programs reviewed and approved by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met. In obtaining this approval, the Animal Behavior Institute has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard that is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of our Authorized Provider accreditation status, we are authorized to offer IACET CEUs for our programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard through IACET, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102; (703) 506-3275.