Dog Grooming Certifications

Paragon offers a three-tier online certification program. Level 1 (Groom Tech) covers bathing, drying, and basic coat care. Level 2 (Professional Groomer) adds clipping and scissoring across common breeds. Level 3 (Professional Stylist) focuses on advanced breed-specific styling and hand-scissoring. Each level includes video tutorials, written coursework, and mentor-supervised practical work where you groom real dogs and submit photos/videos for evaluation.

Additional costs include a book bundle ($245) and a starter toolkit ($799) or complete toolkit ($1,145). Bundle discounts are available when purchasing multiple levels together.

Best for: Working professionals who need flexible scheduling and want a structured, multi-level progression.

ABC combines online coursework with a 150-hour hands-on externship at a grooming facility with a professional groomer in your area. The program covers safety, breed identification, coat types, bathing, drying, clipping, scissoring, and business skills. Tuition is all-inclusive and covers study materials, externship placement, and a 30+ piece grooming toolkit.

Graduates earn the ABC Certified Pet Groomer (ABCPG) credential. Payment plans are available, and the cost varies based on your payment arrangement and any available discounts.

Best for: Career changers who want comprehensive training with guaranteed hands-on experience through a local externship.

Penn Foster's Pet Grooming Certificate is the most affordable online option from an accredited institution. The self-paced program covers grooming tools, animal behavior, breed-specific care, safety, and basic business skills across 10 courses. Fast learners can complete it in as little as 2 months, with the average being about 5 months.

Payment plans start as low as $29 down with $50/month installments. Note that this is a knowledge-only program with no hands-on component, so you will need to arrange your own practical experience through an apprenticeship or entry-level bather position.

Best for: Budget-conscious learners who want foundational knowledge to complement on-the-job training.

Petco's 20-week Grooming Academy is an intensive paid training program that combines online learning with hands-on in-salon experience. Trainees earn a wage while learning and graduate as Petco Certified Groomers. The program covers safety, bathing, breed-specific grooming, customer service, and salon operations.

This is one of the most accessible paths into grooming because it costs nothing out of pocket. You apply for a bather or grooming apprentice position at Petco, and if accepted into the academy, you are paid throughout your training.

Best for: Anyone who wants to become a groomer with zero upfront cost and guaranteed employment upon completion.

PetSmart's Grooming Academy follows a similar model to Petco: you are hired as a bather, then promoted into the grooming academy where you train under a certified salon leader. The program covers 800+ hours of hands-on grooming across breeds, safety protocols, and customer interaction. Trainees earn a salary throughout the program.

PetSmart is the largest employer of groomers in the US, so their academy produces more new groomers than any other single program. Graduates can continue advancing through PetSmart's stylist and salon leader tracks.

Best for: Those who learn best by doing and want the stability of a large employer with a clear promotion path.

Merryfield is one of only two grooming schools nationally that accepts federal financial aid (FAFSA). Their 600-hour Professional Pet Grooming program covers grooming equipment, customer relations, bathing, hair drying, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and breed-specific styling. The 900-hour program adds anesthetic-free teeth scaling certification.

Merryfield boasts a 96% job placement rate and offers an open-door policy allowing graduates to return for additional training at no cost. Tuition is $17-18 per clock hour.

Best for: Students who want an accredited, in-person program with federal financial aid options and strong job placement support.

Nash Academy has been training groomers since 1978 and offers both onsite and online programs for dog, cat, and horse grooming. Their proprietary Nash System covers bathing, drying, scissoring, clipping, and breed-specific patterns. The school is approved by the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education and accepts Veterans' Education Benefits and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding.

Best for: Veterans or WIOA-eligible students, or anyone near Lexington, KY who wants in-person training at a well-established school.

The Academy of Pet Careers operates from a $6 million dedicated facility and offers hybrid grooming programs that combine hands-on salon training with coursework. Students attend classes 2-5 times per week and learn bathing, drying, brushing, nail cutting, first aid, customer relations, and business startup strategies. The school offers job placement assistance for graduates.

Best for: Students in the Midwest who want intensive hands-on training with business skills and job placement support.

As of 2026, no US state requires an individual grooming license to work as a dog groomer. However, several states regulate grooming facilities and businesses:

Even in states without licensing requirements, most municipalities require a general business license to operate a grooming salon. Mobile groomers may need additional permits depending on local regulations.