Yes. The Academy vets applicants for three main things:
Academic aptitude. Will you thrive in the curriculum?
A personality well-suited to a rewarding and challenging profession that involves counseling sometimes distraught owners about their companion dogs. Good fits for this program are people who are intellectually curious, methodical and science-oriented, who like working with and are patient with people, and who are conscientious, compassionate and cooperative.
Dog handling experience. For example: professional training, fostering, walking dogs at shelters, participation in dog sports, or other environments where the applicant has handled a variety of dogs.
It is helpful but not required to have read from our recommended reading list.