National Association of Canine Scent Work®
INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
REQUIREMENT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Instructor titles reflect specific milestones within the NACSW® Instructor Program.  Important: “NACSW-Certified Instructor” is not an approved designation.

Please update your business information in your instructor portal and check the option to be included in “Offers Online Classes” and/or “Show in Public Search” if you would like to be included.

You will be eligible for the PNWI℠ title after you have completed the following:

• Attended day 1-4 (segment 1) of the 8-day instructor course.
  Your status will be changed to PNWI on day 4 and you will be given full access to the Instructor Portal incl. all instructor-only resources and be able to start the requirement submission process to complete your instructor certification.
• You will be listed in the Instructor Directory as PNWI.

You will be eligible for the ANWI℠ title after you have completed the following:

• Attended all 8 days instructor course (segment 1: day 1-4; segment 2: day 5-8).
• Passed the midterm exam.
• Submitted your Intro to K9 Nose Work® videos (Intro Talk and Working Dogs) and they have been approved.
  NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT THE INTRO TO K9 NOSE WORK® INTRO TALK BEFORE SEGMENT 2 OF YOUR COURSE.
  Please review and follow the video submission guidelines HERE.
• You will be listed in the Instructor Directory as ANWI.Once you have completed the above ANWI requirements, please email submissions@k9nosework.com to have your status changed to ANWI. Once your status has been changed, it will be reflected in the K9 Nose Work website’s “Find an Instructor” search page.
• Please send any emails regarding your ANWI℠ status to submissions@k9nosework.com with the following subject line: Name, ANWI Status Update (Example: Mary Smith, ANWI Status Update)

You will be eligible for the CNWI℠ title after you have completed the following:

• Attended all 8 days instructor course (segment 1: day 1-4; segment 2: day 5-8).
• Passed the midterm and final exams.
• Successfully completed all certification requirements as outlined HERE.
• You will be listed in the Instructor Directory as CNWI.

The Acquired Learning Strand (formerly: Training Strand) documents classes you’ve taken with a CNWI℠, ANWI℠ or PNWI℠ as a student as an auditor or with your dog. In the Acquired Learning Strand Notes, please list only:

• Intro to K9NW℠ webinar with founders (Date watched and 3 secret words)
• Intro to Odor (Date taken and instructor’s name)
• Exterior (Date taken and instructor’s name)
• Vehicle (Date taken and instructor’s name)

The Applied Instructing Strand (formerly Applied Training Strand) documents classes you have taught or co-taught using the K9 Nose Work® methodology. In the Applied Instructing Strand Notes, please list only:

• Intro to K9 Nose Work® (Date taught)
• Intro to Odor (Date taught)
• Intro to Exteriors (Date taught)
• Intro to Vehicles (Date taught)

VIDEO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
It is important that you REVIEW THE INFORMATION AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES for the videos, so they can be reviewed by our Education Division team and to facilitate timely approval (more details below).

START VIDEOING YOUR CLASSES/SESSIONS AS SOON AS YOU START THE INSTRUCTOR COURSE, so you can collect enough material for the submissions, rather than wait until the end of your certification deadline.
We recommend you record all dogs on your first lesson of each level or element, so any follow up recordings of those classes are more likely to ensure you have followed up with dogs from the first class. Submissions should aim to include at least two types of dogs per class. (Example: One run of the Maltese and one run of the German Shepherd on day one of Intro to Nose Work.) The video should be comprised of a couple of runs, ideally video should also include narration by the prospective instructor (coaching a team or instructing a group).

READ THE INSTRUCTOR MANUAL (the latest version is the 2021 version listed in the Instructor Resources), WHICH CONTAINS STEP-BY-STEP, WEEK-BY WEEK INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH INTRO COURSE!
We are always updating recommendations for working with new dogs and teams. The application of K9 Nose Work ® ️ has evolved over time, e. g. we minimize adding external rewards (food) when the dogs are on primary only and there is no target odor present, when to introduce the “Alert” call, etc.
All of the techniques are reviewed in the course as well, but it is important to review the details in the manual.

VIDEO CONTENT – what are we looking for?
We have some great approved SAMPLE VIDEOS for each segment; please review them prior to recording your videos, so you can see what we are looking for:  https://vimeo.com/showcase/10546411 (password: 2023INSTRUCTORSNIFF – please do not share)

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Verbal instructions are given in a clear and coherent manner
• Hide placement should support the learning goal for that lesson
• Set-up of the training space must meet minimal requirements for safety and learning and can be seen on video [dogs should not be crated nor working in the line of sight or vicinity of non-searching dog]
• In-the-moment narration of observations (e. g. changes of behavior, odor/air movement) and coaching of handler  in general and/if needed, through a challenging situation, incl. making adjustments to the set-up to help the dog be successful
• We do not need to see your best dogs in class. We are more interested in seeing how you instruct and coach different types of dogs with different styles and/or challenges

INTRODUCTION TO K9 NOSE WORK®

• • INTRO LECTURE VIDEO – THIS VIDEO MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE ATTENDANCE OF SEGMENT 2 OF YOUR INSTRUCTOR COURSE!
    READ PAGES 1-18 OF THE INSTRUCTOR MANUAL. We must be able to hear your discussion!  All of the following points must be covered.
    • Brief history of K9 Nose Work (Instructor Course)
    • NACSW philosophy (page 7)
    • K9 Nose Work Methodology: why we instruct the way we do (pages 8-10)
    • Importance of CNWI (page 1)
    • Activity vs. Sport (page 6)
    • What to expect from the Intro to K9 Nose Work series (page 12)
    • Importance of boxes (page 16)
    • Why dogs work one at a time and are kept separated (page 13)
    • Safety and Flow of the classes
    • Brief discussion of where K9 Nose Work Training can lead and the benchmarks for moving on (benefits to dogs, Target Odor Training, Competition Venues)
  • WORKING DOGS VIDEO (to be submitted AFTER your Intro to K9NW lecture, but before your requirement due date):
    • • • Review p. 31 for Class 1 and p. 35 for Class 5/6 in your Instructor Manual
        • Class logistics and set-up for dogs: search area set up, crate/car crate area away from search area (dogs should not be crated nor working in the line of sight or vicinity of non-searching dog), where will handlers be stationed to watch, entry/exit plan for teams coming and going from searches. The class logistics and set up for dogs is only necessary for Intro to K9 Nose Work. It is not required for Intro to Odor, Intro to Vehicles or Intro to Exteriors.
        • Video must show 2 dogs in their very first session (first 2-3 runs per dog) plus those same dogs in week 5 or 6 (2 runs per dog). These should be under 1.5 minute per dog, per run, so approximately 6 minutes total.
        • Dogs appear to be working independently.

• K9 NOSE WORK® INTRODUCTION TO ODOR
  • Intro to odor/first session lecture approximately 5 minutes (for example: Odors used for NACSW [or other odors from the country where your classes are taught if odors are different than NACSW], what they can expect from a K9NW Odor class specifically, how, and why we intro odors using the process we do, etc.)
  • Video must show 2 dogs in their very first session (first 2-3 runs per dog) plus those same dogs in week 5 or 6 (2 runs per dog). These should be under 1.5 minute per dog, per run, so approximately 6 minutes total.
  • Dogs appear to be working independently.

• INTRODUCTION TO VEHICLES
  • Show your initial set-up of the session to be instructed
  • Brief explanation you give to students of the process for starting Vehicle searches (under 5 minutes)
  • Video must show 2 dogs being introduced to searching Vehicles (first 2-3 runs per dog) . First lesson only (under 3 minutes).
  • Dogs appear to be working independently.

• INTRODUCTION TO EXTERIORS
  • Show your initial set-up of the session to be instructed
  • Brief explanation you give to students of the process for starting Exterior searches (under 5 minutes)
  • Video must show 2 dogs being introduced to searching Exteriors  (first 2-3 runs per dog). First lesson only (under 3 minutes).
  • Dogs appear to be working independently.

 

After reviewing your initial submissions, we may request additional footage, more class examples, or a video review of your teaching/instructional location.

NOTE: If you are co-instructing and both instructors are in the CNWI program at the same time, you may submit the same video clips of dogs, but each instructor must submit video where they individually appear to lead or coach the different levels. We want to have a feel for the teaching style of each instructor.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEOS
You may create one large, edited video of all 4 segments, or submit separate shorter videos of each of the 4 segments. If you submit a compilation of all required video requirements, please label/title each section so we can easily navigate the video and/or find segments for follow up as needed. The TOTAL time of all video(s) should not exceed 40-45 minutes.

Upload your videos of your sample video(s) of your classes, practice groups, shelter dog and/or private sessions to YouTube (set to “unlisted”, NOT “private”), Vimeo or GoogleDrive (set to “anyone with link can view”), and make sure you note down the links.  (You can change the privacy settings after the video(s) have been reviewed and approved.)

Enter the URLs of your (YouTube, Vimeo, GoogleDrive) video or videos into the Video section of the “Requirements Submissions” tab in your Instructor Portal. You will have the option to add either one link per piece or as an alternative, there is a compilation field for a combined video.

Videos do not need to be submitted in any particular order if you are breaking them into individual segments. Some instructors may teach vehicles and exteriors with primary reward or may be instructing a combination class. However, the skills of each element should be demonstrated clearly.

INSTRUCTIONAL DOCUMENTS AND VIDEO EXAMPLES

Video Editing Programs and Video Submission Examples

How-To Guide for iMovie

If you are having technical difficulties uploading your videos in your instructor portal, please email submissions@k9nosework.com to discuss other options.

We need 4 evaluations from different students from Introduction to K9 Nose Work®.

Via Webform (preferred method):
Share the following link with your students and have them submit the online evaluation form:

Instructor Evaluation (English)

Instructor Evaluation (Japanese)

Please check your instructor portal’s Requirements Status tab to see who has turned in an evaluation. We will not share the content of any evaluation with you. If there is something of concern brought up in an evaluation, we will discuss it with you.

Via Mail:
If your students are unable to access the online form, please contact us at submissions@k9nosework.com for instructions on how to submit by mail.

What to log:

80 hours total (adjustments can be requested for those working with shelters or other situations). Please keep track of all hours, and the education department will assess on a case-by-case basis.

Hours should include:

• • 40 hours as lead or co-instructor teaching hours (e. g. classes, clinics, privates, practice groups, shelter program) – must have teaching hours in all of the elements: Intro to K9 Nose Work®, Intro to Odor, Exteriors, Vehicles.   Only list classes taught as a PNWI or ANWI (AFTER the start of your instructor course).
  • 40 hours, which can include any or all of the following:
    • Additional teaching hours as lead or co-instructor (limited to 20 hours for a total of 60 hours max of teaching). Only list classes taught as a PNWI or ANWI (AFTER the start of your instructor course).
    • Observation hours (watching other dogs search (not your own dog) in a class that you are not teaching), e. g.
      • Auditing a class where you are not running a dog (worth about an hour)
      • Taking a class where you are running a dog but watching other students when it is not your turn (worth about .5 hours)
      • Auditing a workshop (hours will vary depending on the length of the workshop)
      • Watching a webinar (up to 5 webinars max.)
      • Taking a workshop and watching other dogs when it isn’t your turn (hours will vary)
      • Volunteering at a trial or ORT (but you have to list what your role was – if a role that would put you in the search area, worth about 2 hours per element) for any scent work trial organization
      • Spectating a NACSW/ACSW trial (worth about 2 hours per element)
      • Participating in a practice group and watching other dogs
      • Participating in a shelter group and watching other dogs
      • Other types of events (incl. observing scent work trials organized by other organizations) are evaluated individually. Note that most webinars (incl. Enhanced Education Day) do NOT usually show a lot of videos of dogs searching, so the amount of actual observation time will vary greatly from webinar to webinar.
    • Practice groups
    • K9NW Shelter program

Please enter your data in the Excel spreadsheet (link below) and upload the document to the Files section of your Instructor Portal. Please only create and upload one Training Hours Log after all of the required hours have been documented.

Training Hours Log Sample and Blank Templates

Sample of Completed Training Log

Blank Training Log – xls

Blank Training Log – pdf

Training Hours Log Submission

Upload your Training Hours Log to your portal.

If you are having difficulty uploading, contact submissions@k9nosework.com, for further instructions.

For those who are not located in the USA or may have a valid reason for not being able to submit the ORT requirement (please email submissions@k9nosework.com to discuss your case), please read the information below for ORT alternative options:

ORT Alternatives PDF  / ORT Alternative Submission Fee

NOTE: Approved professional detection certifications may be valid in lieu of passing an ORT (date, location, & type of certification should be noted). Please contact submissions@k9nosework.com if you have a professional detection certification and have questions about what to submit.