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.

Table of Contents

Next ACO CE Compliance Letters will be emailed to ACOs and Supervisors by 7/1/25. The last CE letters were sent between 2/25/25 and 3/1/25.

To receive continuing education credit for courses completed,  ACOs MUST submit a request for credit through the ACO Request for CE Online Submission Portal. Emailed requests are no longer accepted. 

ACOs must submit all 2024 completed trainings no later than January 15th, 2025 to ensure they will be included on the February 2025 ACO Training Compliance Letters. 

MDAR Partnered Trainings

CATEGORY COURSE NAME AND LINK DATE / LOCATIONCOST CREDIT HOURS 
Mandatory for new  MA ACOsACO Core Competencies Training Session I | In-Person or Virtual Attendee Options REGISTRATION OPEN!9/8/2025 & 9/9/2025 Northampton  9 AM - 4 PMFREE 16
Mandatory for new  MA ACOsACO Core Competencies Training Session II | In-Person  Attendee Option Only  REGISTRATION OPEN!9/16/2025 & 9/30/2025 Dedham MA 9AM- 4 PMFREE16

In Person Trainings

Category COURSE NAME AND LINKDATE / LOCATIONCOSTCREDIT HOURS
Returns MAC: What Can We Do About Lost, Found, and Stray Pets?6/30/2025 10 AM- 3 PM ARL Boston's Dedham locationFREE for organizational members - $50 for nonmembers4
Animal CrimesWPD: Family Violence and Animal Cruelty & Testifying about Animal Crimes 6/13/2025 8:30AM-4:30PM Weston, MAFree 7
Animal Cruelty LETI: National Animal Cruelty Investigations School/ Advanced Investigator 10/20/25-10/24/25 7:30 AM - 5 PM Merrimac$325-$650 varies due to group discount and early registrationup to 24

Live Webinars/ Online Courses

CATEGORYCOURSE NAME AND LINKCOURSE DATE/ TIMECOSTCREDIT HOURS
InvestigationsJCH: A Dog Named “It”: Courtroom Advocacy and Language6/12/2025 3PM-4:15PMFree1.5
Public AwarenessJCH: Communication Under Fire: Answer Any Question on the Spot6/16/2025 1PM-2:15PM Free1.5
Length of Stay BF: Bust the Bottleneck: Unlocking Flow in the Animal Care Ecosystem7/10/25 3:00 PM Free1
Emergency Prep CZM: Coastal R&R/ Resilience and Relocation (See Updated Flyer) 9/16/25 12-1:30 PMCompensation Provided1.5
Animal Abuse JCH: Pet Protection Orders: A Powerful Tool to Respond to Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence6/24/2024 1PM-2:15 PM Free1.5
Sheltering JCH: Overwhelmed, Overcrowded and Overburdened: Finding New and Creative Ways to Serve More with Fewer Resources7/8/2025 1PM-2:15PMFree1.5
Wellbeing JCH: Culture = Success: The Secret to Building a Positive Workplace Culture in Animal Welfare7/22/2025 1PM-2:15PM Free1.5
Wellbeing JCH: Getting Through the Rough Times: Developing Your Career Sustaining Narrative7/31/2025 3PM-4:15PM Free1.5
Sheltering JCH: Helping Animals Faster: Using Innovation to Reduce Length of Stay and Save More Lives8/4/2025 1PM-2:15PM Free1.5
Wildlife JCH: Ask Me Anything: Humane Wildlife Handling and Capture8/5/2025 3PM-4:15PM Free1.5
Wellbeing JCH: Dealing with Hate: Strategies for Animal Welfare Professionals8/12/2025 1PM-2:15PMFree1.5
Wellbeing JCH: Transforming Negative Self Talk: Strengthening the Criminal Justice Mindset9/9/2025 1PM-2:15PM Free1.5
InvestigationsJCH: How to Prosecute Effectively and Successfully in a Polarized Environment9/11/2025 1PM-2:15PM Free1.5

On Demand Trainings and Self Paced Courses

CATEGORYCOURSE NAME AND LINKCOSTCREDIT HOURS
Animal Health Code 3: Animal Assessments in the Field $25 2.5
Livestock Code 3: Donkey Investigations 101: The Natural History of the Donkey$252
Livestock Code 3: Equine Investigations: Enhance Your Case$252
Field Work Code 3: Field Interview Techniques for Animal Law$252
Sheltering Code 3: Sheltering Reptiles In A Mammal World$252
Reports Code 3: Investigative Report Writing$252
Rabies Code 3: Rabies and Quarantine Protocols: Prevention, Control and Best Practices$25 2
Animal Health Code 3: Body Condition Scoring for Common Animal Species$252.5
Compassion FatigueCode 3: Better Mental Health Starts With You$251.5
Ethics Code 3: The Professional Ethical Officer$25 1.5
Cruelty Code 3: Ritualistic Animal Crimes$253
Community Code 3: Working with the Houseless and their Pets$252
Livestock Code 3: Poultry Investigations$25 2
Livestock Code 3: Hobby Farm Investigations$252
Biosecurity Code 3: Biosecurity & Zoonotic Disease Considerations$252.5
Animal HealthCode 3: Animal Heatstroke Management$251.5
Animal Welfare Code 3: Discover Your Path In Animal Control and Animal Law Enforcement$252.5
Livestock Code 3: Equine Foot and Leg Care$252
Wildlife Code 3: Exotic Animal Investigations$252
Livestock Code 3: Common Medical Conditions In Equine Neglect Cases$252
Emergency Prep Code 3: Search and Rescue For Animal Responders$252.5
Investigations Code 3: Present Your Case From The Witness Stand$252
Emergency Prep Code 3: Water Safety Video Free.5
Livestock Code 3: Overturned Livestock Trailers$252
Investigations Code 3: Using Digital/Electronic Investigations to Solve Animal Crimes$252
Emergency Prep Code 3: Disaster Preparedness For Senior PetsFree1
Animal ID Code 3: Basic Canine & Feline Identification$101
Animal Health Maddies: Protecting Kittens from Feline Panleukopenia: Essential Strategies for Animal Shelters and RescuesFree1.5
Animal Health GARC: Rabies Educator Certificate (pre-req for following courses)Free1.5
Animal Health GARC: Rabies Additional Courses (must complete Rabies Educator Cert first)Free1.5 for each additional module 
Community Engagement NACA Field Services Series: Communication as a Tool (Maddies University)Free1.5
Community Engagement NACA Field Services Series: Community Centered Programming (Maddies University) Free2.5
Canine Behavior Instinct: The Leash Reactive Dog CourseFREE2
Canine Behavior Instinct: The Dogs and Kids Course FREE2
Canine Behavior Instinct: The Dog Enrichment Course FREE2
Canine Behavior Instinct: The Patient and Polite Dog CourseFREE2.5
Canine Behavior Maddies: Coaching Dog-Dog InteractionsFREE2
Sheltering Maddies: Risk Assessment of Dogs with a History of Aggressive BehaviorFREE1
Sheltering Maddies: Communicating Behavioral Euthanasia Decisions to StakeholdersFREE1
ACO EquipmentNACA Field Services Series: Using Tools and Equipment (Maddies University)Free2.5
Wildlife U.S. Venomous Snake Safety with Introduction to Manipulation for Animal Control$1852
Sheltering Fear Free Shelters CourseFree5
Sheltering Fear Free Bonus Courses (only available once Fear Free Shelters Course is completed)Free1 for each module completed 
Animal BehaviorIAABC: Defensive Handling with Aggressive Dogs$19 for non-members2
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 CourseNACA Mental Health First Aid Training for ACO Professionals $170 up to 9

Recorded Webinars (FREE)

CATEGORYCOURSE NAME AND LINKType/Date CREDIT HOURS
Cats NEFHS: Reunited and It Feels So Good: Rethinking Stray Cats and Improving Your Return to Home RateRecorded Webinar 1
Handling FF: Finessing a Fear Free Stay: safe Animal Handling Recorded Webinar 1.5
ShelteringFF: To the Rescue: Five Tips for Stopping the Spread of Canine InfluenzaRecorded Webinar 1
Sheltering FF: Designing your Fear Free Environment Recorded Webinar 1
Behavior FF: Dealing with Difficult, Reactive Dogs Recorded Webinar 1
Behavior FF: When Cookies Can’t Compete: Fear Free Solutions for Non-Food Motivated PetsRecorded Webinar 1
Adoption Series AAWA Adoption Programs Series: Part 1-4 Recorded Webinars up to 4
Animal Enrichment Series AAWA: Best Practices: 4 Part Animal Enrichment Series Recorded Webinars up to 4
Veterinary Care Series AAWA: Best Practices:  3 Part Veterinary Care in a Shelter Setting Webinar SeriesRecorded Webinars up to 3
Return to Owner HASS: How Understanding Lost Cat Behavior Can Keep Them Out of the Shelter and Get Them Back Home FasterRecorded Webinar1
Return to Owner Maddies: Increase Return to Owner Rates in Your OrganizationRecorded Webinar1
Return to Owner Maddies Finding Their Way Back HomeRecorded Webinar1
Return to Owner Maddies;Using Technology to Increase Return to OwnerRecorded Webinar1
Recorded Conference Maddies: Back where They Belong Recorded Conference from 2024.5 per Session  up to 8 total
Housing AAWA: Keeping People and Pets Housedrecorded webinar from 9/27/231
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 BehaviorThe Roundtable: Dog Breeds: Implications for Behavior, Adopter Expectations & Legislation (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 4/11/231
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 12/03/201
Community The Roundtable: Building Stronger Communities for Pets and People (AAWA)Recorded Webinar 8/5/211
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 7/30/20201
Behavior Behavior Roundtable: Just in Time Tune-ups to get Animals Adopted (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 9/29/20201
Animal CrueltyDomestic Violence and Animal Cruelty (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 12/10/20201
Behavior Supporting Shy and Fearful Cats in the Shelter (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 12/17/20201
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 8/16/181
Emergency PrepMental Health First-Aid for Covid-19 Course (Red Cross)Online Course1
Animal CrueltyInvestigating Animal Abuse for Law Enforcement and Combating Dogfighting (ASPCA)Online Course up to 5
Animal CrueltyRecognizing & Responding to Rescue Hoarders (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 10/17/111
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 6/15/201
Behavior and Handling Animal Enrichment Best Practices (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 1/10/181
Behavior and Handling ASNA Gentle Handling Techniques for Cats (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 2/21/201
Behavior and Handling Assessing Canine Behavior in the Shelter: How to Collect Objective Info (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 11/13/181
Behavior and Handling Assessing Canine Behavior in the Shelter: Input from Multiple Sources (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 11/6/181
Behavior and Handling Feline Communication (Maddies Fund) Recorded Webinar2
Behavior and Handling Foundations of Behavioral Well-Being (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 10/09/201
Behavior and Handling Reduce Fear, Anxiety & Stress in Shelter Animals in Fear Free (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 2/26/201
Behavior and Handling Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #1 of 3 (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 10/20/191
Behavior and Handling Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #2 of 3 (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 11/5/191
Behavior and Handling Speaking Dog! Canine Communication #3 of 3 (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 11/25/191
CommunicationRadical RTO Amidst the Covid-19 CrisisRecorded Webinar from 3/27/201
CommunicationASPCA Social Change 101 (ASPCA)Recortded Webinar from 4/16/141
CommunicationASPCA Social Change 201 (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 5/19/161
CommunicationBeyond Labels: the Future of Animal Welfare: a look back, around and forward (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 6/6/181
CommunicationLeadership Is a Practice: Why You Don’t Need Authority to Lead (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 8/17/191
CommunicationLegislative Advocacy for Animals! (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 10/9/191
CommunicationTaking the CRISIS out of Crisis Communications (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 3/04/201
CommunicationThe Frameworks of Humane Education: Meet Your Community’s Needs (Humane Society Academy)Recorded Webinar 1
CommunicationThe Power of Purpose: How Knowing What You Believe Will Increase Your Impact (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 7/17/191
CommunicationThe 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 3/25/201
Emergency PrepAnimals in Disasters: Enhancing Response Capabilities (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 10/20/151
Emergency PrepAre Your County and State Ready to Respond to an Animal Emergency? (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 7/18/191
Emergency PrepHow to Respond to Flooding Disasters (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 3/17/171
Emergency PrepHow to Respond to Hurricanes (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 6/27/171
Emergency PrepHow to Respond to Tornadoes (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 3/21/171
Emergency PrepHow to Respond to Wildfires (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 6/7/171
Emergency PrepHow to Use Animal Resource Typing to Improve Disaster Response (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 6/20/191
Emergency PrepIS-100.c Introduction to the Incident Command System (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS-200.c Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS-201 Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan (FEMA)Online Course 2
Emergency PrepIS-242.b Effective Communication (FEMA)Online Course 8
Emergency PrepIS-244.B: Developing and Managing Volunteers Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (FEMA)Online Course 6
Emergency PrepIS-520: Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas (FEMA)Online Course 1
Emergency PrepIS-522 Exercising Continuity Plans for Pandemics (FEMA)Online Course 8
Emergency PrepIS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS0010.a Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS0011.a Animals in Disasters: Community Planning (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS0111.a Livestock in Disasters (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepIS0909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone (FEMA)Online Course 4
Emergency PrepPopulation Medicine and Effective Animal Disaster Response & Recovery (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 1/22/201
Emergency PrepUrgent Transport: Moving Large Numbers of Animals by Air and Land (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 1/15/201
Medical Best Practices Webinar Series:  Veterinary Care in a Shelter Setting (AAWA)Recorded Webinar1
Medical Reducing Infection: Updates in Feline URI Management (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 2/12/201
Medical Takin’ It To The Heart Part 1: Understanding Heartworm Disease in Shelter Animals (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 1/29/201
Medical Takin’ It To The Heart Part 2: New Insights on Managing Heartworm Disease in Shelter Animals (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 2/5/201
Medical Who Should I Be Testing? Untangling the Mystery of FeLV and FIV in Shelter Cats (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 1/15/201
ShelteringGetting to Model Shelter: One Shelter's Journey to Completion of the ASV Guidelines (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 9/25/191
ShelteringAttract More Fosters Via Online Orientation, On-Deck System (ASPCA)Recorded Werbinar from 3/12/191
ShelteringFoster Management (ASPCA)Live Webinar 3/25/20, 3PM-4PM1
ShelteringGet ‘Em Out! How to Increase Dog Adoptions with Offsite Opportunities (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 9/12/181
ShelteringHow to Help and Ultimately Adopt Out Undersocialized Kittens (ASPCA)Live Webinar 8/5/20, 3PM-4PM1
ShelteringIs Your Adoption Process Really Working? (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 6/12/181
ShelteringShort-term Fostering Webinar (Best Friends)Recorded Webinar from 3/18/201
Sheltering Best Adoption Practices (AAWA)Recorded Webinar 1
Sheltering Caring for Exotic Pets in the Shelter (Maddie's Fund)Recorded Webinar1
Sheltering Do Try This at Home: Cheap and Fun Enrichment Ideas for Shelters (AAWA)Recorded Webinar from 2/21/181
Sheltering Groundwork for Adoptions (AAWA)Recorded Webinar 1
Sheltering Innovations in Emergency Sheltering (ASPCA)Recorded Webinar from 4/15/151
Sheltering Return to Field from an Animal Control Officer's Perspective (Maddies Fund)Recorded Webinar1
WildlifeRabies: Myths & Misconceptions (Humane Society Academy)Recorded Webinar 1
WildlifeResolving Wildlife Conflicts Humanely & Effectively (Humane Society Academy)Recorded Webinar 1
WildlifeThe Psychology of Call Handling and What to Do About Orphaned Wildlife Calls (Humane Society Academy)Recorded Webinar 1
WildlifeWildlife 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 ACO Request for CE Online Submission Portal. Emailed requests will no longer be accepted as of July 1, 2024. 

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