First National Certification Exam for Pet Behavior Instructors to Be Held in the First Half of Next Year

Launch of Task Force for Qualification System Introduction on the 9th

Starting next year, a national qualification exam for Pet Behavior Instructors will be implemented.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 9th that it will launch a "Task Force for the Introduction of the Pet Behavior Instructor System" to establish an operational plan for the Pet Behavior Instructor qualification system.

Currently, there are 59 private qualifications in the field of behavior instruction as of last year, but they are operated under different standards, leading to demands for a systematic operational plan.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs laid the foundation for the national qualification system for Pet Behavior Instructors through an amendment to the Animal Protection Act in April last year and formed a dedicated task force to implement it.

The task force is led by Song Nam-geun, Director of Animal Welfare and Environmental Policy, and consists of about 20 external experts including academics, behavior instruction specialists, qualification experts, and related organizations. It operates through three subcommittees: exam planning, exam management and support, and system utilization. Through identifying tasks, preparing implementation plans, and gathering opinions by subcommittee, the operational plan for the Pet Behavior Instructor qualification will be prepared by the end of the year, and based on this, the first exam will be held in the first half of next year.

Director Song stated, "It is expected that those who obtain the qualification will be able to enter various pet-related industries, including policy areas such as temperament assessment and animal hospitals."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs launched the "Task Force for the Introduction of the Companion Animal Behavior Instructor System (TF, hereinafter referred to as the Task Force)" on the 9th to establish an operational plan for the qualification system of companion animal behavior instructors. Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs