Frequently Asked Questions

Three nationally recognised qualifications: the Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training, the Assistance Dogs specialisation, and the ACMSS00035 Animal Assisted Services skill set. You can compare all three here.

The Certificate IV is $6,000, the Assistance Dogs specialisation is $5,000, and the Animal Assisted Services skill set is $2,000. Payment plans are available on all three, starting from $34 a week.

The Certificate IV and the Assistance Dogs specialisation allow up to 24 months. The Animal Assisted Services skill set allows up to 12 months. Training is competency based rather than time based, so you progress when you can demonstrate the skill.

The Certificate IV and the skill set have no prerequisite — you need to be 18 or over with Year 10 or equivalent. The Assistance Dogs specialisation requires you to have completed the Certificate IV first.

All practical training is delivered at Master of Puppies, under the mentorship of Will Paton. The blocks teach you the skills and techniques; you then complete your practical assessments in your own time and in your own training environment.

The theory is online and self directed. The practical component is hands-on with real dogs, because there is no honest way to teach dog handling without dogs.

You can enrol and start at any time. There are no fixed intake dates for the theory component. Practical training blocks run on set dates, and we will book you into the next available block.

Yes. A USI is your education number for life and is required before we can issue your qualification. It is free and takes a few minutes to apply for. Full detail is on the Students page.

Academic support, wellbeing support and reasonable adjustments for disability or other support needs. See Student Support and Wellbeing for the detail, or raise it during enrolment in the LLND assessment.

Yes. If you have completed equivalent units elsewhere you can apply for credit transfer, and if you already have the skills you can apply for recognition of prior learning. Both forms are on the Policies and Forms page.

Through the NSTI Learning Portal. Log in details are sent when your enrolment is confirmed — see Student Log In.

A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is an education provider approved by the Australian Government to deliver nationally recognised training and qualifications. RTOs adhere to strict standards set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to ensure quality and consistency in training. They offer a wide range of courses across various industries, from vocational education and training (VET) to higher education qualifications. By choosing to study with an RTO, students can be assured that their training meets industry standards and that their qualifications are respected by employers across Australia.

Yes, the National Skills Training Institute (Dog Trainer Academy) is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in Australia. This means it is accredited to deliver vocational education and training (VET) services, issue nationally recognized qualifications.

NSTI is RTO #41462 and can be confirmed on the Australian Government Website - Click Here

Yes, all courses offered by the National Skills Training Institute (NSTI) are nationally accredited in Australia. Our programs meet the rigorous standards set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), ensuring that our students receive high-quality, industry-relevant education and training that is recognised nationwide. By enrolling in our courses, you can be confident that your qualifications will be respected and valued across Australia.