Florida Animal Control Training Commission Priorities
The Florida Animal Control Officer Training Commission focuses on five areas:
- Animal control officer certification training
- Animal cruelty investigator certification training
- Shelter technician certification training
- Professional standards development
- Continuing education training
Animal Control Officer Certification Training
All animal control officers in the state of Florida are required to complete a 40-hour certification class as prescribed under Chapter 828.27(4)(a)(1) of the Florida Statutes. In 2021, the American Animal Cruelty Investigations School (AACIS) developed a modern training program that was approved in accordance with Florida law for use in the State of Florida. This training program is currently the preferred curriculum for certifying animal control officers. With more than 20 training locations and 12 training opportunities each year, AACIS provides convenient and timely certification training for all 67 counties in the state of Florida.
Animal Cruelty Investigator Certification Training
AACIS reports animal control officer certification records directly to FACTC to maintain a statewide registry of certified animal control officers. Animal control officers certified through AACIS will automatically have their training information sent to FACTC, whereas animal control officers certified under the Florida Animal Control Association must manually submit their training records to FACTC through a portal in this website.
Continuing Education Training
Florida Statute 828.27(4)(a)(4) requires that in order to maintain valid certification, every two years each certified Animal Control Officer Wade must complete four hours of post certification continuing education training. Such training may include, but is not limited to, training for animal cruelty investigations, search and seizure, animal handling, courtroom demeanor, and civil citations. FACTC helps agencies keep their officers up-to-date on continuing education by providing and promoting qualifying training opportunities across the state.
Professional Standards Development
The FACTC is continually working to develop professional standards for animal control officers, establishing policies and procedures that reinforce the need for professionalism and a code of ethics that hold animal control officers to a higher standard. These policies include instruments for taking action against an officer’s standards in the event of unethical and/or illegal conduct that is unbecoming of a public servent.
Continuing Education Training
Florida law requires all certified animal control officers receive 4 hours of continuing education training every four years in order to keep their certification valid. FACTC works to make sure that all animal control officers have the opportunity to keep up with their CEUs by providing frequent training opportunities. Additionally, AACIS holds an annual training conference that satisfies the training requirements under F.S.S. 828.27.