The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) was formed in 1978 for the express purpose of assisting its members to perform their duties in a professional manner. NACA believes its most important contribution towards solving our domestic animal problems is to make available to Animal Control agencies and personnel a comprehensive training program.

Academy Information:

The National Animal Care & Control Association and Code 3 Associates have partnered to develop a higher standard in animal care and cruelty investigation training: The National Animal Control and Humane Officer (NACHO) Training Academy. 

The NACHO Training Academy consists of three 40 hour Monday-Friday modules that can be taken in any order. With this new collaboration, participants will earn the NACA Animal Control Officer Certification, upon successful completion of Module A and B, and will earn theCode 3 Cruelty Investigator Certification upon completion of Modules A, B, and C.

Until now, receiving these national certifications required individuals to complete five 40 hour week long training courses, however, many of the skills needed to become certified as an Animal Control Officer are also needed to be certified as a Cruelty Investigator. Recognizing this overlapping of skill sets, NACA and Code 3 have worked together to identify areas where the training curriculum in both programs overlap and have developed new curriculum to reduce the total weeks of training necessary to earn both the Animal Control Officer Certification and Cruelty Investigator Certification.  

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for animal care and control personnel at the federal, state, and local levels, and for Police Officers, and Sheriff's Deputies who are responsible for animal control duties. In addition, those people interested in a career in the animal care and control field are welcome to attend. No previous animal control experience is required.

NACA offers training in locations all over the United States. Check the Animal Control Training Schedule for a list of current training opportunities.

Please be aware that due to logistics and scheduling, NACA may not offer a program within your state. You may need to travel to a course near your location.

It is not necessary to have previous or current experience in Animal Care and Control to attend NACA or NACHO training. You must be 18 years of age to attend a NACA course.

NACHO Module A Curriculum Includes:

• The Professional & Ethical Officer
• Basic Companion Animal Identification
• Search & Seizure, w/ Juveniles & Liability
• Biosecurity & Zoonotic Diseases
• Rabies & Quarantine
• Veterinary Evaluations and Injury Assessments
• Investigative Report Writing
• Authority, Ordinances and the Law
• Interview & Behavior Analysis
• Companion Animal Capture & Handling
• Companion Animal Behavior

Each day begins at 7:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm.

Tuition

Tuition for Module A is $595.00 per participant. (Current NACA Members receive a $20.00 discount if logged in when registering for a class.)

For any additional questions please check out our FAQ or email naca@nacanet.org.

Visit the Training Schedule now to find a Module A class in your area.

NACHO Module B Curriculum Includes:

• Animal Cruelty Forensic Photography
• Animal Fighting
• Animal Hoarders
• Animal Cruelty Crime Scene Processing and Evidence Handling
• Tense Argument & Confrontation Tactics
• Basic Nutrition
• Livestock Identification & Behavior
• Livestock Investigations
• Case and Trial Preparation
• Sworn Testimony (Practical)
• Body Condition Scoring (with practical)
• Situational Awareness and Stress Management

Each day begins at 7:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm.

Tuition for Module B is $595.00 per participant. (Current NACA Members receive a $20.00 discount if logged in when registering for a class.)

For any additional questions please check out our FAQ or email naca@nacanet.org.

Visit the Training Schedule now to find a Module B class in your area.

NACHO Module C Curriculum Includes:

• Exotic Animal Investigations
• Backyard Breeders & Animals for Sale
• Case study tabletop exercise
• The Cycle of Violence
• Recognizing and Responding to Clandestine Labs
• Scenario tabletop
• Large Scale Impounds & Disaster Response Planning
• Disaster Response Tabletop Exercise
• Identifying Exotics, Non-Traditional Pets, & Wildlife
• Handling Exotics, Non-Traditional Pets & Wildlife, with hands-on practical
• Practical Scene Exercise

Each day begins at 7:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm.

Tuition for Module C is $595.00 per participant. (Current NACA Members receive a $20.00 discount if logged in when registering for a class.)

For any additional questions please check out our FAQ or email naca@nacanet.org.

Visit the Training Schedule now to find a Module C class in your area.

Euthanasia Certification and Chemical Immobilization Workshop:

The Euthanasia Certification and Chemical Immobilization Certification Workshop is a three-day course where animal care and control professionals can learn specialized skills. The format allows for individual certification course participation if desired.

Chemical Immobilization Workshop

Euthanasia Workshop

For any additional questions please check out our FAQ or email naca@nacanet.org.

Tuition

Tuition for will be $500.00 for both certifications when taken together, or as follows if taken individually: Euthanasia - $275.00; Chemical Capture - $275.00.

Training Site Selection

Training site locations will be chosen by the National Animal Care & Control Association based on a regional commitment by agencies in a given geographical area of the United States. Those agencies in a given area will need a minimum of 25 attendees to be considered.

Hosting a NACA Training Academy or Workshop

If you are interested in hosting a NACA Training Academy or workshop, please Click Here.