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Feb 25 / Teresa Tyler

ABTC APEL Now Open for Animal Trainers and Animal Training Instructors

For a long time, formal progression onto the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) register felt most visible at the higher levels,  particularly for Clinical Animal Behaviourists, but that is no longer the case.


ABTC APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) is now available for:

  • Animal Trainers (AT)

  • Animal Training Instructors (ATI)

And that matters, especially if you are studying at Level 3 or Level 4.

What Is ABTC APEL?

APEL is a structured route onto the ABTC Practitioner Register.

It allows you to demonstrate that your prior learning and professional experience meet the Knowledge and Understanding (K&U) requirements of the relevant ABTC role standard.

It is not automatic entry.
It is not a shortcut.

It is an evidence-based process that asks:
Does your learning meet the published professional standard?

If the answer is yes, you can join the register.


Why This Is Important for Level 3 and Level 4 Learners

If you are completing:

  • A Level 3 qualification in dog training and behaviour (aligned with Animal Trainer role)

  • A Level 4 qualification (aligned with Animal Training Instructor role)

you now have a clear professional pathway.

Previously, many trainers assumed registration was something you pursued later or only at Level 5 or 6. That is no longer true.

You can now move from qualification to recognised professional registration at AT and ATI level.


What You Get From ABTC Registration

If accepted via APEL, you gain:

  • Entry onto the ABTC Practitioner Register in your role

  • Recognition against a published professional standard

  • Increased credibility with clients and veterinary referrers

  • A clear Code of Conduct and CPD framework

  • Alignment with a regulatory body working toward strengthened external quality assurance

In an unregulated industry, this is not a small thing. It moves you from “qualified” to “professionally recognised”.


Why This Matters for the Sector

Opening APEL formally to AT and ATI levels signals something important:

Professional standards are not reserved for clinical behaviourists.

Good trainers and instructors are foundational to welfare, prevention, and public confidence. Recognition at this level strengthens the profession as a whole.

If we want the sector to be taken seriously, we have to build standards from the ground up — not just at the top.


What This Means for DoGenius Students

At DoGenius Institute, our Level 3 and Level 4 programmes are designed with progression in mind.

The availability of ABTC APEL at AT and ATI levels means your qualification can now form part of a recognised professional registration route.

It is not just about completing units. It is about meeting a professional standard.

And that distinction matters — to you, to your clients, and to the animals in your care.


Considering APEL?

If you are a current or former Level 3 or 4 learner and want to explore:

  • Whether your qualification aligns

  • What evidence you would need

  • Whether now is the right time

we can guide you through it.


Professional recognition should be intentional but it should also be accessible.  And now for trainers and instructors, it is.