Animal Control Officer
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you interested in maintaining the public safety by enforcing animal licensing laws and laws relating to the humane care of animals? If you are then a career as an Animal Control Officer (ACO) may be for you.
Animal control officers are responsible for capturing and impounding dangerous or stray animals, investigating animal cruelty cases, enforcing licensing laws, providing testimony in court, rescuing animals in distress, writing reports, and providing humane care to animals.
Florida State Statute 828.27 mandates that animal control officers successfully complete a 40 hour minimum standards training course. At this time the Animal Control Officer certification courses at American Animal Cruelty Investigations School (AACIS), and the Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) are the only courses approved for this basic certification in the state of Florida.
This course is open to the general public, including those students who hope to find job placement in the animal protection field. Most employers are looking for applicants with a combination of related education and animal handling experience. The successful completion of this course is one way to improve your chances of being hired.
To register for Animal Control Officer courses, complete the online registration form. In-person registration can be done through Enrollment Services office located in the Administration Building (next to the Library) at the Panama City Campus.
The course information needed to complete the registration can be found in the course listings below.
AACIS - American Animal Cruelty Investigations School
Florida Animal Control Officer State Certification Course
Course meets the training requirements under Chapter 828.27(4)(a)(1) Florida Statutes
This is a 40-hour course that provides participants with the necessary skills and resources to successfully perform the duties of an animal control officer. The class offers the newest and most modern training for Animal Control Officer certification available for Florida officers. This 40-hour certification course is designed to provide basic instruction in areas of concern to personnel whose duties include capture, control, and the keeping, and disposing of domestic and wild animals.
The course consists of instruction in legal procedures as well as the use of restraint and capture
equipment, report writing procedures, human, public and violator relations, and euthanasia
considerations.
Other course topics include the following:
- Constitutional, Florida State & local law,
- U.S. Justice System,
- Fundamental canine & feline animal knowledge,
- ADA service animals,
- Field operations,
- Disaster planning,
- Zoonosis & rabies prevention & control,
- Report writing, and
- Courtroom preparation.
The course information needed to complete the registration can be found in the course listings below.
| Mon. - Thurs., Nov. 6 - 9, 8:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. North Bay Campus, EOC Building 106 CRN: 98049 | Course: XPS 0172 | $550.00 |
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FACA Animal Control Officer Certification
Course meets the training requirements under Chapter 828.27(4)(a)(1) Florida Statutes.
This course is open to the general public, including those students who hope to find job placement in the animal protection field. Most employers are looking for applicants with a combination of related education and animal handling experience. The successful completion of this course is one way to improve your chances of being hired. The subject matter is difficult to fully cover in 40 hours, therefore students are encouraged to purchase and review the current FACA ACO Training Guide in advance to help them prepare for the program. This book will also be provided on the first day of class as part of your tuition fee, so advance purchase is not required.
This 40-hour certification course is designed to provide basic instruction in areas
of concern to personnel whose duties include capture, control, and the keeping, and
disposing of domestic and wild animals. The course consists of instruction in legal procedures as well as the use of restraint
and capture equipment, report writing procedures, human, public and violator relations,
and euthanasia considerations.
Course topics will include:
- Introduction to animal control,
- Civil citations,
- State laws,
- Investigation,
- Report writing and records,
- Canine identification and behavior,
- Dog and cat capture and restraint,
- Constitution of the United States,
- Search and seizure,
- Courtroom presentations and procedures,
- First Aid,
- Cruelty investigations,
- Rabies,
- Zoonosis and occupational illnesses/injuries,
- Restraint and handling of wild and exotic animals,
- Human relations and interpersonal communication,
- Developing a positive public image, and an
- Administrative exam.
| TBA North Bay Campus, EOC Building 108 CRN: | Course: XPS 0006 | Fee: $495.00 (FACA Members) CRN: | Course: XPS 0006 | Fee: $595.00 (Non-FACA Members) |
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Chemical Immobilization Certification
| Mon.-Tues., TBA, 8:00am – 5:00pm North Bay Campus, Abbott Building 130 CRN: TBA | Course: XPS-0067 | Fee: $274.00 (FACA Members) CRN: TBA | Course: XPS-0067 | Fee: $314.00 (Non-FACA Members) |
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