Animal Services Dispatch Certification
An Introduction to Animal Control Communication and Coordination
Whether someone is desperately searching for their missing pet or reporting suspected neglect, the caller’s experience begins with you.
Animal control dispatchers wear many hats: communicator, investigator, public educator, safety advocate, and trusted support for officers in the field. You’re at the crossroads of gathering critical information, ensuring field team safety, managing public expectations, and coordinating rapid responses.
It’s fast-paced, high-impact work — and you deserve training that reflects just how vital your role really is.
Watch — “Animal Services Dispatch Certification”
Designed by nationally recognized instructors and master-level dispatchers, this certification course provides the essential skills every dispatcher needs: from radio communication and call-taking fundamentals to customer service, agency coordination, and officer safety awareness. Whether you’re fast-tracking your skills, starting a new hire off strong, or investing in your professional development, this is your on-ramp to mastering animal control dispatching — with national certification to show for it.
Fast-Track Skills
Dive into this fast-paced profession armed with the critical skills to hit the ground running.
Easy On-Ramp
Start new hires on the right foot with a nationally certified course uniquely designed for dispatchers.
Professional Investment
Build your resume with a national certification that demonstrates your skills and knowledge.
Designed for the busy working professional
More than 5.5 hrs of expert-led, video-based instructionConvenient and affordable training on your own schedule, without the need to travel.
Taught by experienced animal welfare leaders, ACOs, and dispatch professionals with national-level credentials.
Real-world information critical for any new dispatcher, from radio basics and call types to officer safety and de-escalation.
Seven modules, built to take you from call intake to field coordination
Certification or Continuing Education Credit
The National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) is the leading professional association committed to growing the level of professionalism in the field of Animal Care and Control. As part of our mission, we are committed to offering working Animal Care professionals the education they need to grow in fulfilling, mission-driven careers that serve both their communities and the animals they care about.
Every lesson in the course has been reviewed by NACA’s training committee — resident experts committed to enhancing and growing our profession. So when you go through the lessons, you know you’re hearing expert advice from people you can trust.
The NACA Certification is designed specifically for working adults in the Animal Care/Control profession.
The lessons are taught by some of the industry’s thought leaders — people you might only get to hear at a national conference or read about in industry magazines.
Special thanks to San Diego Humane Society, Kansas City Pet Project, City of Fresno (CA) Animal Services, and Cabot Animal Services for photo contributions.
Dispatchers have been working behind the scenes in this industry for too long, and finally their important role is being recognized on a national level. Thank you NACA for highlighting the critical importance dispatchers play in protecting people and animals in our communities, as well as the safety of our animal control officers across the country.— Anna Walton, Best Friends
I enjoyed taking the Dispatch Certification Program. I learned a lot of useful information that I can carry with me throughout my career. It expanded upon my existing knowledge and opened my eyes to several less familiar topics.— Elizabeth Turner, Course Participant
This course has given me the tools to better serve my community and the animals we serve. I would end up doing 3–4 lessons in one sitting, because the class is so interesting and up to date on current animal control topics.— Devin, Course Participant
Frequently asked questions
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Answer the call. Earn your certification.
Give your dispatchers the nationally certified, NACA-backed training that reflects how vital their role really is.
Enroll Today