4.9Bark Score
- How you can train
- Group classes, Private lessons, Board and train, Day training
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Agility, Reactivity, Aggression and 5 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA
CPDT-KSA
The CPDT-KSA is the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers’ skills-assessed certification. It goes one step further than the CPDT-KA: as well as passing the knowledge exam, the trainer has been watched training and graded on it. Here is what that involves, and the trainers in our directory who list it.
- On Barklopedia
- 28 trainers list CPDT-KSA among their credentials
What is the CPDT-KSA?
The CPDT-KSA is a certification for trainers who already hold the CPDT-KA and have also passed a practical skills assessment. “Knowledge and Skills Assessed” means both what they know and how they actually train have been tested.
How does a trainer earn the CPDT-KSA?
At the time of writing, the CCPDT runs the skills assessment like this:
- Who can take it
- Current CPDT-KA certificants
- What they send
- 4 video recordings of practical training exercises, made where they choose
- How long they have
- A 3-week testing period in the spring or fall
- Who grades it
- Subject matter experts chosen by the CCPDT
- What it covers
- Training skills, instruction skills, training equipment, how they apply training methods, and the CCPDT’s training policies
How do trainers keep their CPDT-KSA?
Like the CPDT-KA, the CPDT-KSA must be renewed every 3 years, by earning continuing education credits or by retaking the assessment.
What does a CPDT-KSA mean for you as a dog owner?
It tells you that, on top of passing the knowledge exam, the trainer has been watched training by experts and graded on it. As with any credential, ask how they train: every trainer on Barklopedia has their methods labelled.
How can you check a trainer holds the CPDT-KSA?
Search the CCPDT’s directory of certified trainers by name, city, state or ZIP code: ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/.
The credentials on Barklopedia come from what trainers publish themselves. We haven’t confirmed each one with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), so it’s worth checking before you book.
Trainers on Barklopedia who list CPDT-KSA among their credentials
28 trainers, highest Bark Score first. Nobody can pay to move up.
4.9Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes, Day training, Board and train
- Helps with
- AKC Canine Good Citizen, Puppy training, Basic obedience, Leash pulling, Recall
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA
- In business since
- 2015
4.8Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes, Board and train, Day training
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Puppy training, Recall, Leash pulling, Scent work and 6 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA
4.8Bark Score
- How you can train
- Board and train, Private lessons, Group classes
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Reactivity, Recall, Leash pulling and 3 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA
4.8Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Reactivity, Recall, Leash pulling
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA, CPDT-KA
4.8Bark Score
- How you can train
- Day training, Private lessons, Online, Group classes
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Recall, Leash pulling, Scent work and 1 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA
4.8Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Agility, Recall, Leash pulling and 5 more
- Credentials
- KPA-CTP, CPDT-KSA
- In business since
- 2006
4.7Bark Score
- How you can train
- Group classes
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Agility, Scent work, Recall, Leash pulling and 3 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA, CPDT-KA
- In business since
- 1994
4.7Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Recall, Leash pulling, Reactivity, Fear
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA, CPDT-KA
- In business since
- 2010
4.7Bark Score
- How you can train
- In your home, Private lessons
- Helps with
- Basic obedience, Reactivity, Recall, Leash pulling, Puppy training
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA
4.6Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Online
- Helps with
- Service dog work, Therapy dog work, Aggression, Puppy training, Basic obedience and 4 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA
- In business since
- 2005
4.6Bark Score
- How you can train
- Private lessons, Group classes, Online
- Helps with
- Puppy training, Basic obedience, Recall, Leash pulling, Reactivity and 2 more
- Credentials
- CPDT-KSA
All 28, by state
Alabama1
- No Worries Dog Training Pelham
Arkansas1
- CoolWag Bentonville
Colorado1
- Colorado Springs Dog Training Company Colorado Springs
Florida2
- Great Scott Dog Training Palm Bay
- K-9 Comfort Boarding and Training Tallahassee
Georgia1
- Canine Ph.D. Dog Training, Inc Decatur
Kansas2
- MuttSchool: dog training and behavior Manhattan
- RolloverU Manhattan
Kentucky1
Massachusetts1
Michigan1
- TacoMo Dog Training Trowbridge Park
Minnesota4
- Hippie Dog Richfield
- pupDOGS Training, LLC Eden Prairie
- Paws Abilities Dog Training Inver Grove Heights
- Paws Abilities Dog Training Oronoco
Mississippi1
- Faithfully Yours Dog Training Braxton
Missouri1
- The Dogs’ Spot – Dog Training Center and Boutique North Kansas City
New Hampshire2
- No Monkey Business Dog Training, LLC Concord
- Dee Ganley Dog Training Services East Andover
New York1
- Pawsibilities Pets LLC Bayport
Ohio2
- Ready, Set?Train! Holland
- Let’s Train! Dog Training Toledo
Oklahoma1
- The Doggie Spot Shawnee
Pennsylvania1
- Y2K9s Dog Sports Club Willow Grove
Texas1
Virginia3
- Fur-Get Me Not Pet Care Arlington
- Fur-Get Me Not Pet Care Arlington
- The Successful Mix, LLC Keezletown
Sources, checked October 19, 2026
Other dog training certifications
CPDT-KAIAABCCDTKPA CTPAll certifications comparedCertified dog trainers near you