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ACO Training Courses

Approved continuing education course listings for animal control officers.

The courses listed below have been approved for continuing education (CE) credit for Massachusetts Animal Control Officers. While course topics have been approved, please note that the course material was not created by Mass Animal Fund/MDAR, and the opinions/ statements presented are not those of the department. If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about any of the material presented in a course please contact Sheri.Gustafson@mass.gov.

To receive continuing education credit for courses completed,  ACOs MUST submit a request for credit through the CE Submission Portal. Emailed requests will no longer be accepted as of July 1, 2024. 

Table of Contents

In Person Trainings

Category  COURSE NAME AND LINK  DATE / LOCATION  COST  CREDIT HOURS
Dangerous Dogs BWRA: Massachusetts Municipal Hearing Officer Training on Dangerous Dog Cases  4/19/24 8AM-NOON Gardner  $75 4
Animal Investigations HSUS: Veterinary Forensics in Animal Investigations Click here to go right to Registration  5/3/24 8AM-3:30PM Weston FREE 7.5
Dangerous Dogs BWRA: Massachusetts Municipal Hearing Officer Training on Dangerous Dog Cases  5/5/24 8AM-NOON Shrewsbury $75 4
Animal Investigations AACIS: Livestock Cruelty Investigation Training for LE and ACOs 5/6/2024-5/9/2024 Smithfield, RI $600-$700 40
Emergency Prep  CMDART: Introduction to Animal Disaster Services and Basic Emergency Animal Sheltering (EAS)  5/11/24 9AM- 3PM Charlton  FREE 6
Dangerous Dogs  BWRA: Massachusetts Municipal Hearing Officer Training on Dangerous Dog Cases  5/17/2024 8:30 AM-12:30PM Watertown $75 4
Emergency Prep CMDART: Introduction to Animal Disaster Services and Basic Emergency Animal Sheltering (EAS)  5/19/24 9 AM-3PM Winchendon FREE 6
Safe Handling  SDZWA: Safe Capture Course 5/21/24-5/22/24 8AM-5PM Barre, VT $875-$895 16
Emergency Prep CMDART: Introduction to Animal Disaster Services and Basic Emergency Animal Sheltering (EAS) 5/19/24 9AM- 3PM Winchendon  FREE 6
Cats  ARL: Working with Cats: Minimizing Stress and Maximizing Safety 5/22/2024 10AM- 12PM Dedham  FREE 2
Dangerous Dogs  BWRA: Massachusetts Municipal Hearing Officer Training on Dangerous Dog Cases  5/31/24 8AM-NOON Hanson $75 4
Academy  New England Animal Control Humane Academy (NEACHA) 7/22/24-7/26/24 Durham, NH  $75-$654 depending on options up to 35
CORE TRAINING   Mass Animal Fund Core Competencies Training ( Mandatory for all MA ACOs to take at least once)  FALL 2024 TBA soon  FREE 16

On Demand Trainings

CATEGORY COURSE NAME AND LINK COST CREDIT HOURS
Animal Health  GARC: Rabies Educator Certificate (pre-req for following courses) Free 1.5
Animal Health  GARC: Rabies Additional Courses (must complete Rabies Educator Cert first) Free 1.5 for each additional module 
Community Engagement  NACA Field Services Series: Communication as a Tool (Maddies University) Free 1.5
Community Engagement  NACA Field Services Series: Community Centered Programming (Maddies University)  Free 2.5
ACO Equipment NACA Field Services Series: Using Tools and Equipment (Maddies University) Free 2.5
Wildlife  U.S. Venomous Snake Safety with Introduction to Manipulation for Animal Control $185 2
Sheltering  Fear Free Shelters Course Free 5
Sheltering  Fear Free Bonus Courses (only available once Fear Free Shelters Course is completed) Free 1 for each module completed 
Animal Behavior IAABC: Defensive Handling with Aggressive Dogs $19 for non-members 2
ACO Certification  NACA ACO I Certification $447 (discounts and scholarships may be available) up to 40
ACO Certification  NACA ACO II Certification  $447 (discounts and scholarships may be available) up to 40
Certification Course NACA Mental Health First Aid Training for ACO Professionals  $170  up to 9

Live Webinars

CATEGORY COURSE NAME AND LINK COURSE DATE/ TIME COST CREDIT HOURS
Emergency Response  Code 3: Animal Fire Training, Evacuation, and Rescue   4/17/24 11AM- 1PM $25 2
Animal Health  AAWA: The Healthy Animal-Healthy Community Initiative 4/24/24 FREE 1
Animal Health  Code 3: Open the Darn Window-Animal Heatstroke Management 5/1/24 11AM- 1PM  $25 2
Cats  CCP: The Neighborhood Cats TNR certification Workshop 5/4/24 2PM-4:30PM $10 2.5
Animal Law  JCH: Tribal Law and Animal Law 5/7/24 3PM-4:15PM  FREE 1.5
Animal Cruelty  AAWA: How to be an Expert Witness in Animal Cruelty & Custody Cases 5/8/24 3PM  FREE 1
Community Relations Code 3: Working With The Houseless and Their Pets 5/15/24 11AM-1PM $25 2
Virtual Conference  HSU: Animal Expo 2024  5/15/24-5/18/24  $50 to register as a virtual attendee 1.5 CEUs per session
Cats  CCP: The Neighborhood Cats TNR certification Workshop 6/1/24 2PM-4:30PM $10 2.5
Wildlife  JCH: Who’s Nibbling in Your Garden: Solving Conflicts with Woodchucks, Rabbits, and Other Garden “Nibblers” 6/4/24 1PM-2:15PM  FREE 1.5
Cats  CCP: Online Kitten Conference  6/8/24 & 6/9/24 10AM- 5PM $50 -$75 (Early Bird discount ends in May) 14
Cats  CCP: Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop  6/19/24 7PM-8:30PM $10 1.5
Public Relations  JCH: Recognizing and Understanding Bias for the Animal Welfare Professional 7/27/24 3PM-4:15PM  FREE 1.5
Cats  CCP: The Neighborhood Cats TNR certification Workshop 7/14/24 2PM-4:30PM $10 2.5
Domestic Violence  JCH: The Missing LINK in Social Work: Addressing Animal Abuse to Improve Delivery of Services to Vulnerable Victims 7/16/24  FREE 1.5
Balance  JCH: Help for the Helpers: Recognizing and Addressing Stress Injury in Animal Control Officers 7/25/24 3PM-4:15PM  FREE 1.5
Wildlife  JCH: Handling and Solving Conflicts with Wild Snakes  8/1/24 3PM- 4:15PM  FREE 1.5
Animal Fighting  JCH: Fowl Play: Cockfighting’s History, Impact, and Future in the US and Territories 8/22/24 3PM- 4:15PM FREE 1.5
Procedures  JCH: Embracing Proactive and Progressive Practices: Balancing the Letter and Spirit of the Law in Animal Control  9/19/24 3PM- 4:15PM FREE 1.5
Wildlife  JCH: Solving Conflicts with Bobcats 10/1/2024 3PM-4:15PM  FREE 1.5
The Link  JCH: Using Innovative Alternatives to Incarceration and Recognizing the Role of Trauma in Violence Against Animals 11/5/2024 3PM-4:15PM  FREE  1.5

Recorded Webinars (FREE)

CATEGORY COURSE NAME AND LINK Type/Date  CREDIT HOURS
Return to Owner  HASS: How Understanding Lost Cat Behavior Can Keep Them Out of the Shelter and Get Them Back Home Faster Recorded Webinar 1
Return to Owner  Maddies: Increase Return to Owner Rates in Your Organization Recorded Webinar 1
Return to Owner  Maddies Finding Their Way Back Home Recorded Webinar 1
Return to Owner  Maddies;Using Technology to Increase Return to Owner Recorded Webinar 1
Recorded Conference  Maddies: Back where They Belong  Recorded Conference from 2024 .5 per Session  up to 8 total
Housing  AAWA: Keeping People and Pets Housed recorded webinar from 9/27/23 1
Wildlife  What to do about conflicts with rodents: Addressing rodent conflicts in your community and in your facility (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Solving Problems with Bears (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Pigeon Perspectives (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Iguanas (and other non-natives): Management, strategy and humane control protocols (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Animal Behavior The Roundtable: Dog Breeds: Implications for Behavior, Adopter Expectations & Legislation (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 4/11/23 1
Wildlife  Oh dear, what to do about deer (HP)  Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Cats & Wildlife (HP)  Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Becoming a more wildlife-friendly agency (HP)  Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Protecting Your Pets and Wildlife from Traps (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Solving Problems with Raccoons (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Solving Conflicts with Prairie Dogs (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Solving Problems with Canada Geese (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Responding to Calls and Concerns About Bats (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Working with Wildlife Control Services to Provide More Humane and Effective Solutions (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Solving Problems with Coyotes (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Top 10 tips for taking wildlife calls (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Community  Working to Keep People and Pets in Homes (AAWA) Recorded Webinar 12/03/20 1
Community  The Roundtable: Building Stronger Communities for Pets and People (AAWA) Recorded Webinar 8/5/21 1
Wildlife  Handling Nusiance Wildlife Calls (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife  Reuniting and Renesting Orphaned Wildlife (HP) Recorded Webinar  1
Behavior  Behavior Roundtable: Support for Fosters (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 7/30/2020 1
Behavior  Behavior Roundtable: Just in Time Tune-ups to get Animals Adopted (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 9/29/2020 1
Animal Cruelty Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 12/10/2020 1
Behavior  Supporting Shy and Fearful Cats in the Shelter (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 12/17/2020 1
General  Learning from the Past & Building Toward the Future of Animal Control (Best Friends) Recorded Webinar from 8/14/20  1.5
General  Strategic Animal Control Operations (Best Friends) Recorded Webinar from 8/16/18 1
Emergency Prep Mental Health First-Aid for Covid-19 Course (Red Cross) Online Course 1
Animal Cruelty Investigating Animal Abuse for Law Enforcement and Combating Dogfighting (ASPCA) Online Course  up to 5
Animal Cruelty Recognizing & Responding to Rescue Hoarders (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 10/17/11 1
Behavior and Handling  Community Cats Mitigating Feline Nuisance (Best Friends) Recorded Webinar from 2/23/20  1
Behavior and Handling  Beyond the Scanner: Advanced RTO in Field Techniques (Best Friends) Recorded Webinar from 6/15/20 1
Behavior and Handling  Animal Enrichment Best Practices (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 1/10/18 1
Behavior and Handling  ASNA Gentle Handling Techniques for Cats (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 2/21/20 1
Behavior and Handling  Assessing Canine Behavior in the Shelter: How to Collect Objective Info (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 11/13/18 1
Behavior and Handling  Assessing Canine Behavior in the Shelter: Input from Multiple Sources (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 11/6/18 1
Behavior and Handling  Feline Communication (Maddies Fund)  Recorded Webinar 2
Behavior and Handling  Foundations of Behavioral Well-Being (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 10/09/20 1
Behavior and Handling  Reduce Fear, Anxiety & Stress in Shelter Animals in Fear Free (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 2/26/20 1
Behavior and Handling  Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #1 of 3 (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 10/20/19 1
Behavior and Handling  Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #2 of 3 (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 11/5/19 1
Behavior and Handling  Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #3 of 3 (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 11/25/19 1
Communication Radical RTO Amidst the Covid-19 Crisis Recorded Webinar from 3/27/20 1
Communication ASPCA Social Change 101 (ASPCA) Recortded Webinar from 4/16/14 1
Communication ASPCA Social Change 201 (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 5/19/16 1
Communication Beyond Labels: the Future of Animal Welfare: a look back, around and forward (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 6/6/18 1
Communication Leadership Is a Practice: Why You Don’t Need Authority to Lead (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 8/17/19 1
Communication Legislative Advocacy for Animals! (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 10/9/19 1
Communication Taking the CRISIS out of Crisis Communications (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 3/04/20 1
Communication The Frameworks of Humane Education: Meet Your Community’s Needs (Humane Society Academy) Recorded Webinar  1
Communication The Power of Purpose: How Knowing What You Believe Will Increase Your Impact (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 7/17/19 1
Communication The Surprising Science of Meetings: Key Learnings and Implications for Shelter Success and You as Someone Who May Lead Meetings (Maddie's Fund) Recorded Webinar  1
Emergency Prep  Practical Operational Standards During the Coronavirus Outbreak (Diagle Law Group) Recorded Webinar from 3/25/20 1
Emergency Prep Animals in Disasters: Enhancing Response Capabilities (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 10/20/15 1
Emergency Prep Are Your County and State Ready to Respond to an Animal Emergency? (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 7/18/19 1
Emergency Prep How to Respond to Flooding Disasters (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 3/17/17 1
Emergency Prep How to Respond to Hurricanes (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 6/27/17 1
Emergency Prep How to Respond to Tornadoes (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 3/21/17 1
Emergency Prep How to Respond to Wildfires (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 6/7/17 1
Emergency Prep How to Use Animal Resource Typing to Improve Disaster Response (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 6/20/19 1
Emergency Prep IS-100.c Introduction to the Incident Command System (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS-200.c Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS-201 Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan (FEMA) Online Course  2
Emergency Prep IS-242.b Effective Communication (FEMA) Online Course  8
Emergency Prep IS-244.B: Developing and Managing Volunteers  Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (FEMA) Online Course  6
Emergency Prep IS-520: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas (FEMA) Online Course  1
Emergency Prep IS-522 Exercising Continuity Plans for Pandemics (FEMA) Online Course  8
Emergency Prep IS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS0010.a Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS0011.a Animals in Disasters: Community Planning (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS0111.a Livestock in Disasters (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep IS0909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone (FEMA) Online Course  4
Emergency Prep Population Medicine and Effective Animal Disaster Response & Recovery (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 1/22/20 1
Emergency Prep Urgent Transport: Moving Large Numbers of Animals by Air and Land (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 1/15/20 1
Medical  Best Practices Webinar Series:  Veterinary Care in a Shelter Setting (AAWA) Recorded Webinar 1
Medical  Reducing Infection: Updates in Feline URI Management (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 2/12/20 1
Medical  Takin’ It To The Heart Part 1: Understanding Heartworm Disease in Shelter Animals (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 1/29/20 1
Medical  Takin’ It To The Heart Part 2: New Insights on Managing Heartworm Disease in Shelter Animals (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 2/5/20 1
Medical  Who Should I Be Testing? Untangling the Mystery of FeLV and FIV in Shelter Cats (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 1/15/20 1
Sheltering Getting to Model Shelter: One Shelter's Journey to Completion of the ASV Guidelines (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 9/25/19 1
Sheltering Attract More Fosters Via Online Orientation, On-Deck System (ASPCA) Recorded Werbinar from 3/12/19 1
Sheltering Foster Management (ASPCA) Live Webinar 3/25/20, 3PM-4PM 1
Sheltering Get ‘Em Out! How to Increase Dog Adoptions with Offsite Opportunities (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 9/12/18 1
Sheltering How to Help and Ultimately Adopt Out Undersocialized Kittens (ASPCA) Live Webinar 8/5/20, 3PM-4PM 1
Sheltering Is Your Adoption Process Really Working? (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 6/12/18 1
Sheltering Short-term Fostering Webinar (Best Friends) Recorded Webinar from 3/18/20 1
Sheltering  Best Adoption Practices (AAWA) Recorded Webinar  1
Sheltering  Caring for Exotic Pets in the Shelter (Maddie's Fund) Recorded Webinar 1
Sheltering  Do Try This at Home: Cheap and Fun Enrichment Ideas for Shelters (AAWA) Recorded Webinar from 2/21/18 1
Sheltering  Groundwork for Adoptions (AAWA) Recorded Webinar  1
Sheltering  Innovations in Emergency Sheltering (ASPCA) Recorded Webinar from 4/15/15 1
Sheltering  Return to Field from an Animal Control Officer's Perspective (Maddies Fund) Recorded Webinar 1
Wildlife Rabies: Myths & Misconceptions (Humane Society Academy) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife Resolving Wildlife Conflicts Humanely & Effectively (Humane Society Academy) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife The Psychology of Call Handling and What to Do About Orphaned Wildlife Calls (Humane Society Academy) Recorded Webinar  1
Wildlife Wildlife in Our Neighborhoods (Humane Society Academy) Recorded Webinar  1

How do you receive continuing education credit for courses completed?

To receive continuing education credit for courses completed,  ACOs MUST submit a request for credit through the CE Submission Portal. Emailed requests will no longer be accepted as of July 1, 2024. 

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