NESDCA Certification Rules

NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION

CERTIFICATION RULES

The following rules have been adopted by the NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION for certification.  The tests are designed to determine the proficiency of the work dog team for certification.  Each test is based on a pass/fail evaluation.  No hosted evaluation may be utilized for profit.

Team:

A Team will consist of a handler (person trained to handle/work a dog) and a K-9 (dog trained for scent detection).  Together the two make up a Team.  Only the handler and K-9 that passed NESDCA Certification Standards together may claim themselves as a NESDCA Team.  If at any time the handler and K-9 separate, they are no longer NESDCA Certified.

NOTE: NESDCA DOES NOT CERTIFY DOGS OR HANDLERS, ONLY TEAMS.

Eligibility to Certify:

1. Entomology Scent Detection Canine Teams wishing to be tested and certified under these rules and by this Association must be regular members of this organization in good standing.
2. Dog must have received training to detect the scent for which the team is certifying.  Dual scent trained dogs will not be certified under NESDCA Standards.
3. The Handler, Team, or Company being represented cannot have had a previous certification and/or membership revoked, for any reason.  They also cannot have had a previous finding of guilty involving misconduct or violation of NESDCA Bylaws/Certification Rules

Correction of Canine:

No overly harsh or inappropriate physical corrections by the handler to the dog will be permitted. At the Evaluators discretion, any such behavior will be grounds for a failure of certification.

Evaluators:

NESDCA Qualified Evaluators will act as Judges for these tests.  All evaluations require a senior Evaluator.  Certification requires two (2) NESDCA Evaluators present throughout the test.  One of the two (2) Evaluators will be assigned as the Chief Evaluator.  The Chief Evaluator will be assigned in one of the following two ways, if one of the two (2) Evaluators have been involved in the training of the Handler or K-9 they MAY NOT be the Chief Evaluator, if the previous circumstances do not exists the Senior Evaluator will conduct the certification as the Chief Evaluator.  If a conflict between the two (2) Evaluators involving a PASS or FAIL, the ruling of the Chief Evaluator shall stand.  The Certification / K-9 Chairperson will be contacted immediately; they will collect all necessary information, and make a final ruling within fifteen (15) days of the certification.  Evaluators should make every effort not to interfere with or distract the team certifying.  The Evaluators will observe the K-9 during certification for willingness, enjoyment, interest
and accuracy.  Handlers will be observed for ability to work, read and overall control of his/her K-9.

Certification Validity:

Upon successfully passing certification the team will be issued a certificate stating the team is NESDCA certified to detect the scent for which they certified.  The certification will be valid for one (1) year from the date of issue.    A NESDCA certification of a Regular member K9 team will ONLY BE VALID when the K9 team is being utilized for the scent which they certified under.

***NOTE*** Under NO circumstances will a NESDCA K9 team certification be valid when the team is being utilized for ANY and ALL NON ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION PURPOSES OR BEING USED IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE RULES, BYLAWS, AND CODE OF ETHICS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Certain Equipment Prohibited:

At no time during any of the offered certification tests will sticks, whips of any type, pinch collars, electronic or ultrasonic devices be used on the K9’s.

Fees:

Fees and expenses associated with travel will be required.  Fees associated with travel for evaluators will be covered to include, expenses of travel, lodging, rental car, administrative, etc. required by evaluators, per evaluator.  If travelling by vehicle the evaluators will be reimbursed at the current Government rate per mile and per evaluator if required.  Per diem will be charged at a flat rate per evaluator, per day to cover all expenses and determined by the Board of Directors.  Mode of travel, and travel arrangements,  no matter the distance, is at the discretion of the evaluators.

Scoring and Appeals:

All of the scent tests are scored on a pass/fail basis.  A work dog team that fails may reapply for testing at the next and most convenient date that is after fourteen (14) days from test failure.  Any work dog team that fails a test and feels that they have been judged unfairly, will, at the time of the test notify the Evaluator of his/her intent to appeal.  The tested team handler will then file a complete report of his/her observations and the reasons they feel they were judged unfairly.  The Evaluators having been notified of the appeal will file a report of their observations, all testing sheets and basis for failing the team.  All reports will be filed within fourteen (14) days of the test to the Certification / K-9 Chairperson.    The decision of the Certification / K-9 Chairperson will be final. Findings of the Certification / K-9 Chairperson will be forwarded to the Executive Board who will in turn forward the findings to the tested team’s handler and Evaluators.  If during the time period that a certification certificate is issued, the K-9 team re-tests AND FAILS, then the initial certificate which was issued will become NULL AND VOID.  Further, a letter to this effect will be sent to the K-9 team and their employing company if applicable, including the recommendation that they be re-tested after (15) days of this notification.

During the time of failure and until the team retests and passes, the team, it’s employer, or any associates there-of will not present the canine team as certified or endorsed in any manner by NESDCA.

NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION
SCENT TEST STANDARDS

Evaluators will accompany the team to observe the entire test.

ACCEPTABLE STRUCTURE TYPES:

1. Residential dwellings.
2. Warehouse, office buildings, and multi-room interiors.
3. Schools, hotels, and motels.

HIDES:

1. Set at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of a certification.
2. Hidden in a place of concealment which is not visible to the dog or handler.
3. K-9 must alert at source.
4. Pseudo scents are not allowed for use in any certification.
5. 2 distracters will be put out at each certification.  The Chief Evaluator will decide what distracters will be used.  Distracters will not be placed in the same room as a live hide.
6. Will be provided by the team certifying in two separate containers.  They must also be approved by the certifying officials for content, packaging, and safety.
7. Must meet all standards set forth by NESDCA and approval of the evaluators or the evaluation will not be conducted.

EVALUATORS:

1. Will designate the area of the structure to be used for the test.
2. Will designate the area in which the team is to begin their search. (Usually at the front door)
3. Will accompany the team into the structure and must be able to observe the test.
4. If it is obvious to the evaluator that the dog is not working, the evaluator will inform the handler and the handler will remove the dog from the test area and have not more than 30 minutes to return to the test area to repeat the test.  Failure of the dog to work a second time constitutes a failure for the test.

HANDLER:

1. This test may be done off lead.  Equipment normally used, collars, harness, etc., may be used.
2. The handler will accompany the dog throughout the test, and may encourage his/her dog with commands and praise as needed.
3. The dog’s indication of the find must be obvious to the evaluator.

***The safety of the detection dog will be the sole responsibility of the handler***

All tests given to the K9 team will be on a pass/fail basis.  The Chief Evaluator will determine if the team will be certified upon the completion of the test.  The handler and dog will be considered as a team and it is the team who will be certified.  If the dog changes handlers, a new team exists and the team will need to be certified.

This certification will be valid for one (1) year from the date of issue as defined in Certification Validity paragraph.

NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

It is the Evaluators decision on the quantity each of the hides will contain, as long as he or she remains within the minimum and maximum amounts set in the certification standards.

SECTION 1. ALERTS

Each Handler is responsible for notifying the Evaluators of the type of alert (aggressive or passive), the Evaluators can expect.   There will be only one (1) negative response allowed and it cannot be on a placed distracter which constitutes an automatic failure.  Although a negative response is allowed the handler must call the correct two live hides to certify.

With the Evaluators knowledge of a teams alert, the alert must also be confirmed in 1 of the following 2 manners:

A) Provide some type of reward to the canine whether praise, food, toy, etc.

B) In the absence of a visible or obvious reward the handler will indicate verbally to the Evaluators that an alert has taken place.

NOTE:  In the event the Evaluators recognize a visible alert on the part of the dog that is not rewarded or verbally indicated by the handler they will question the handler as to the meaning of the dogs visible change of behavior before proceeding to the next search area.

SECTION 2. TIME

A time limit of 15 minutes shall be placed on the search.    The Evaluator can adjust this time limit to varying size rooms.  The time limit will be set, the Handler advised, and is final once the search begins.  The Handler certifying will initial next to the time set before the search begins in agreeing with the adjusted time limit set.

SECTION 3. SEARCH AREA

The scent exercise will consist of a structure (requiring 4 rooms and may vary in size, location and environment) designated/approved by the Evaluators. The Handler and the Canine will start at a point determined by the Evaluators.  Both live hides will not be placed in the same room.

SECTION 4. FAILURE OF CERTIFICATION

There will be a fifteen (15) day waiting period before attempting to certify again, unless circumstances at the time of the certification has been determined by the Evaluators to warrant another attempt. Within that fifteen (15) day period the team cannot represent themselves as NESDCA Certified.

SECTION 5. CERTIFYING OFFICIALS

Only NESDCA Certified Evaluators may certify a K-9 team. A Certification Team will consist of two evaluators with the Senior Evaluator being the Chief Evaluator, unless the Senior Evaluator has been involved with training of the dog and/or handler being certified.  All decisions made by the Chief Evaluator at the certification are final.

SECTION 8. QUALIFICATION OF A K-9 TEAM TO CERTIFY

The handler must be certifying with the dog they will be working with for scent detection.
The handler must also be a member in good standing when attempting to certify scent detection.
Any dog displaying aggressive behavior, considering the totality of the circumstances, may be denied testing by the evaluators.

SECTION 9. CERTIFICATION ISSUANCE BY NESDCA

UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE CERTIFICATION, A CERTIFICATE WILL BE ISSUED TO THE PASSING TEAM.  THE CERTIFICATE WILL STATE THE SCENT THE TEAM IS CERTIFIED TO FIND. Ex. “Live Termite Scent, Bed Bug Scent, etc.” IN NO CASE SHALL THE CERTIFIED TEAM STATE IN ANY FORM/FASHION THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND ANY SCENT THAT DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE CERTIFICATE.  A NESDCA CERTIFICATION IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE.  NESDCA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE OR RETRACT A CERTIFICATION AT ANY TIME FOR ANY JUSTIFIED REASON FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, CERTIFICATION / K-9 CHAIRPERSON, OR EVALUATORS.

TERMITE SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
K-9’s must find LIVE TERMITES ONLY to certify.
There will be 4 hides, 2 of live termites and 2 distracters, placed in the search area.
QUANTITIES OF Termites TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
Minimum amount to be used _____50________ per hide
Maximum amount to be used ____1000 _______per hide

BED BUG SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
K-9’s must find LIVE BED BUGS ONLY to certify.
There will be 4 hides, 2 of live bed bugs and 2 distracters, placed in the search area.
QUANTITIES OF Bed Bugs TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
Minimum amount to be used _____5_______ per hide
Maximum amount to be used ____15_______per hide

CARPENTER ANT SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
K-9’s must find LIVE CARPENTER ANTS ONLY to certify..
There will be 4 hides, 2 of live carpenter ants and 2 distracters, placed in the search area.
QUANTITIES OF Carpenter Ants TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
Minimum amount to be used _____5________ per hide
Maximum amount to be used ____20_______per hide

RODENTS SCENT DETECTION CERTIFICATION
K-9’s must find LIVE RODENTS ONLY to certify.
There will be 4 hides, 2 of live rodents and 2 distracters, placed in the search area.
QUANTITIES OF rodents TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
Minimum amount to be used _____1 mouse________ per hide
Maximum amount to be used ____1 rat _______per hide

BOTH LIVE HIDES MUST BE LOCATED TO PASS.  ONE FALSE INDICATION IS ALLOWED BUT CANNOT BE ON A PLACED DISTRACTOR.

NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION
EVALUATOR

EVALUATORS
A Certified Law Enforcement background is required as a K9 handler, trainer, and/or evaluator.  NESDCA Evaluators are appointed by the NESDCA Board.  To become an Evaluator you must complete the application form, along with a resume outlining your experience and forward to NESDCA@NESDCA.COM.  The Executive Director will ensure the application is completely filled out and a resume is attached then forward the packet to the NESDCA Board for consideration.  You will be required to provide information to the NESDCA Board, at their request, to verify your application.  Upon approval from the NESDCA Board you will be required to apprentice six (6) evaluations with three (3) separate NESDCA Evaluators before becoming a NESDCA Evaluator.  NESDCA Evaluators are expected to hold the highest moral and ethical standards providing a fair and unbiased evaluation.

NOTE: The owner/principal of a training facility is NOT eligible to obtain the status of evaluator.

All incomplete applications will be returned to the sender.

A NESDCA EVALUATOR STATUS MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON.

NATIONAL ENTOMOLOGY SCENT DETECTION CANINE ASSOCIATION
TRAINER/TRAINING FACILITY

TRAINER/TRAINING FACILITY

To become an Accredited NESDCA Training Facility you must complete the Online Application Form. The application will be submitted online and reviewed for accuracy. Additional documentation may be requested at the discretion of NESDCA.

Once the initial application is accepted and approved an inspection of the facility will be scheduled. All travel expenses related to the facility inspection, to include but not limited to airfare and lodging, will be the responsibility of the facility seeking accredited status.

The physical inspection of the facility will be conducted by a senior evaluator or Board Member as directed by the President of NESDCA. The inspection will include, but not be limited to, verification of the following: Climate controlled facility, properly cooled/heated/shaded indoor/outdoor kennel runs as appropriate, proper health records for dogs, cleanliness, proper ventilation, lighting, and above all a safe/secure environment for the dogs.

The facility must be open to inspection during normal business hours with a reasonable amount of notice.

The annual membership fee for an Accredited Training Facility shall be equal to that of a regular NESDCA membership (currently $225 annually) and will be due at the time of accreditation.

Any facility applying for accredited status must have a documented minimum of five (5) years’ experience in training scent detection dogs. Trainers must have a basic inspection level knowledge of the pest they will be training dogs for. The facility and/or trainers will not have any founded complaints or convictions under law for animal cruelty or the inappropriate treatment of animals.

Upon successfully passing inspection and receiving final NESDCA Board approval for “Accredited Training Facility” status the facility will be notified. Once NESDCA Membership is active the facility will be issued a certificate stating it is NESDCA accredited. The Accredited Training Facility status will be valid for two (2) years from the date of issue.

The recognition of a facility as an Accredited NESDCA Training Facility will only be valid as it relates to the training of detection teams that would be eligible for certification under NESDCA certification standards.

All incomplete applications will be returned to the sender.

A NESDCA TRAINING FACILITY ACCREDITATION
MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON.

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