Certificate Programs

Professional Certificates

In order to make its educational offerings available to professionals and others interested in furthering their knowledge or job skills through related human-dog studies, the College offers professional certificate programs in addition to its Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs.

Professional Certificate Programs
The College issues a “Certificate of Completion” to students successfully completing its seminar. This certificate indicates that the student has demonstrated the knowledge and abilities required by the coursework.

Continuing Education Credit
College coursework may be taken for Continuing Education Credits. Continuing Education Credits for professional and job skill development may be needed when employers, re-licensure agencies, school districts and other authorities require a specified number of hours of study for career advancement or development. Continuing Education Credits are not generally accepted for academic credit. Acceptance of any College coursework for Continuing Education Credits by any business, school district or re-licensure agency should be verified through your place of employment.

Bergin Student Success Stories

Service Dog Training Seminar

SERVICE DOG TRAINING SEMINAR

The Service Dog Training Seminar is a vocational and does not lead to an academic certificate.

The Service Dog Training Seminar is designed to introduce and educate students to the theories and applied practices involved in the selection, training, matching, placement and follow-up of service dogs with clients with mobility and psychological limitations. Employing the most up-to-date research-based methodologies, the seminar:

Provides training for employees of existing programs providing knowledge to help them upgrade their methods;
Helps existing assistance dog programs add a service dog training component to their current repertoire of assistance offerings;
Prepare graduates for entry-level employment with client-oriented service dog programs;
Is beneficial for those interested in starting one’s own non-profit service dog business.

The seven-week Seminar begins with students participating in the two-week BASICS and the ABCS of the SMARTEST DOG TRAINING model program used in the placement of service dogs with clients. This is followed by three weeks of applied service dog command training combined with a series of lectures covering topics ranging from canine health care to an understanding of disabilities, and the application of various service dog roles. The last two weeks requires the students (under the watchful eye of their instructor) to teach an actual service dog class, giving the lectures, running the training practices, doing demos, and conducting fieldtrips. On the last day a graduation ceremony is held for the clients who have received a dog (and the students receiving a certificate). The students conduct each part of the pre-designed ceremony concluding an educational and applied immersion into most aspects of service dog program operations.

Program Educational Objectives

To introduce and involve students in theory and applied methods involved in the training of service dogs;
To educate students in the procedures involved in the placement of service dogs with individuals with mobility and psychological limitations; and
To provide students with an overview of employment-related opportunities in the service dog field, including: entry-level canine care and training positions; client placement specialists; fundraisers; and canine therapeutic intervention handlers.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing the course will be able to demonstrate:

Skills related to the training of service dogs commands;
Procedures related to the placement and follow-up of service dogs with individuals with mobility and psychological limitations;
Knowledge of canine health and wellness care, other service dog roles, new perspectives in dogs’ cognition, pup raising practices, overview of service dogs from start to finish.
Knowledge of employment opportunities related to service dog training and placement.

This school is a business corporation authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the academic degrees and certificates described herein, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission Office of Degree Authorization, 3225 25th Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97302 or [email protected].

All teaching materials including views or opinions presented in these courses are proprietary to Bergin College of Canine Studies and explicitly engineered so students who graduate from our degree programs or seminar certificate programs may benefit from a career that involves or utilizes dogs. These teaching materials are those of Bergin College of Canine Studies and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other organization.