International Association of Canine Pest Inspectors Certification Process Standards International Association of Canine Pest Inspectors (IAOCPI)in its due diligence to set standards to certify canine and handler teams, has adopted the process standards below. The evaluation will consist of two (2) portions- a room search and an item search. The evaluation is used to determine the proficiency of the team and is on a pass/fail evaluation. Overview Eligibility: 1. Any team wishing to certify with IAOCPI must be a current member and be in good standing. 2. To be eligible for a proxy certification, members must submit the IAOCPI Proxy Certification Request form (found on IAOCPI.org) to gain approval to begin. Evaluators: An Associate Evaluator is an evaluator currently meeting the standards of and approved by the IAOCPI. A current Associate Evaluator shall refer and/or approve an Associate Evaluator/Proxy Evaluator but must always adhere to the guidelines set forth below. As well, the IAOCPI board retains the right to make a final decision when requested. 1. Any evaluator must be referred in by a current Association Evaluator. 2. Evaluators must have a minimum of five (5) years experience in training scent detection teams, as well as, have a minimum of three (3) teams having certified through an organization recognized as being competent and reputable by the majority of the Associate Evaluators. This experience must be documented and is subject to association approval. 3. OR the evaluator must be a certified Judge through one of the following: International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA), North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWD), United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) or comparable association as determined by the Associate Evaluators. 4. The evaluator must not have any vested interest in the team through breeding, training, monetary investment or future income for services rendered. This provision will be enforced at any time during the period of successful certification and any decision to rescind certification pass status is at the discretion of the IAOCPI and Associate Evaluators. 5. Upon approval, evaluators will conduct the test with minimal interference. Evaluators will observe and document the canine for willingness to work, interest, accuracy and overall behavior. Evaluators will observe and document the handler for ability to properly work and interpret their canine, ability to perform a thorough search, as well as overall control of the canine.
Certification: 1. After successfully passing a certification, the team will be issued a certificate which is valid for one (1) year from the date of issue. This certification is only valid for the scent listed on the certificate. The certification will not be valid for any other scent (insect related or otherwise). 2. A team must certify at an IAOCPI event at least every other year. 3. A certification does not relieve the canine team from obligation to perform and document regular training and conducting of periodic assessments to maintain high levels of proficiency. Scoring: 1. All tests are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Both portions must be passed, during the same evaluation, to obtain certification. 2. Room Search Pass Criteria: Two (2) of two (2) target odor vials found with one (1) false alert allowed. A false alert on a distracter odor vial will result in disqualification. Alerts must be within 24 of target, any alerts outside this general distance will be considered false. Handler must verbally state the target odor location to the evaluator. 3. Item Search Pass Criteria: Two (2) of two (2) target odor vials must be identified with no false alerts. 4. Fail: Once the handler states two (2) or more false (incorrect) alerts, the evaluation will be considered a fail status. At the discretion of the evaluator- any mistreatment or overly harsh corrections to canine will result in a fail. 5. In the event of a failure, the team may retest as early as the following day. After two failed evaluations, a thirty (30) day non-certify period will be instituted to allow for training before next attempt. Appeals: IAOPCI recommends video recording the Proxy Certifications from beginning to end as further documentation of legitimacy. Any appeals to the decision of the evaluator should be sent to the IAOCPI Board President (as listed on IAOCPI.org) within fifteen (15) days of certification. All information will be presented to the Associate Evaluators for review. The majority decision of the Associate Evaluators will be final. *Until the date a team obtains a pass status, the team will not be presented as certified on the website or other IAOCPI materials*
Test Standards Location: 1. Chosen location will not be the location typically used for training. 2. Approved locations are as follows: a. Residence with four separate rooms b. Warehouse or office building with four separate rooms c. Hotel/motel d. School e. Termite Only: Warehouse- interior or exterior four (4) walls Evaluators: 1. Will decide where team should begin search (entrance door, hallway, etc). 2. Must be present in test area at all times when team is present. 3. Will not let a handler reward a canine for a false alert. 4. Will give instant feedback to reward canine when a handler declares a correct target location. 5. Will conduct the test with minimal interference. Evaluators will observe and document the canine for willingness to work, interest, accuracy and overall behavior. Evaluators will observe and document the handler for ability to properly work and interpret their canine, ability to perform a thorough search, as well as overall control of the canine. 6. Will intervene when it is obvious the canine is not working and will give the handler permission to leave test area to regroup and return in no more than thirty (30) minutes to continue. During regrouping the clock will pause but will not restart. Failure to work a second time will constitute a failure of the test. Handler: Hides: 1. Shall choose location (for proxy evaluation only). 2. Evaluation shall be done with normal equipment used or off lead. 3. Shall work as normally as possible and will accompany canine through entire test. 4. Will inform the evaluator of the canine s expected indication/alert response. 5. Must verbally declare where the hide is located (within 24 ) when the canine alerts. 6. Will not move or physically search for vials (ie: moving blankets, cushions, boxes, etc.) 1. All vials must be presented to evaluator for approval prior to certification start. Evaluator will inspect for size, condition and integrity. It is suggested this review take place prior to the day of certification. 2. Live vials must contain no more than three (3) live bed bugs. These are provided by the members being evaluated. 3. Distracters are a non-target, associated odor (parts of vials, toys, food, dead bed bugs) and will be approved by the evaluator. 4. Two distracter hides for room search should have no less than three (3) dead bed bugs. 5. When dead bed bugs are used as distracter, it is recommended they be deceased more than 72 hours before. 6. Pseudo scents, scented articles and toys are not permitted as a live odor. 7. See Reference Tables A and B (end of document).
Room Search: 1. A time of twenty (20) minutes is available for the room search. The test time will pause (not restart) if the team leaves due to the canine not working. 2. Two (2) distracter vials will be placed in two (2) rooms of the test. They will not be placed in the same room as a live hide. 3. Two (2) target odor vials will be placed in two (2) rooms of the test. They will not be placed in the same room as a distracter. 4. All vials will be placed no more than five (5) feet above the floor, in an area where the odor is available for the canines. The vials must not be visible from any angle. 5. All vials will be placed at least thirty (30) minutes before the test. 6. A pass status will be obtained when the handler calls out both target odor locations upon successful alerts from canine. One false alert is allowable but a fail status will occur if the false alert occurs on a distracter odor vial. Item Search: 1. A time of ten (10) minutes is allowed for the item search. 2. Ten (10) household items (suitcases, computer cases, hand bags or cloth totes) will be placed 36 apart. 3. Two (2) will contain target odor vials and two (2) will contain non-target related distracters. 4. Distracters will be non bed bug related, chosen from the following: empty training vials, food items and/or dog toys. See Reference Table B. 5. A pass will be awarded when canine alerts to and handler calls out two (2) live hides with no false alerts allowed. Multiple Teams: 1. A team is one (1) handler with one (1) canine. A handler with two (2) canines is considered two (2) teams. Two (2) handlers sharing one (1) canine is considered two (2) teams. 2. Separate evaluation areas must be set for each team. Certification Fail Status: 1. Teams must wait until the next day (not necessarily 24 hours) to reattempt certification. 2. Upon a second fail status, a thirty (30) day waiting period will be enforced to allow for amble training. 3. Team fail status is not publically listed on the IAOCPI website or other materials. Certification Pass Status: 1. After successfully passing a certification, the team will be issued a certificate valid for one (1) year from the date of certification. The certificate is valid only for the scent listed. 2. An annual certification does not relieve the team from its obligation to perform and document regular training and conducting of periodic assessments to maintain high levels of proficiency.
Reference Table A. Room Location Search Criteria Pest Type Certification Locations Target Odor Distractor Odor Associated Odor Will not be a location typically used for training (ie: training facility, office, hotel used on regular basis). Live only- No pseudoscents, scented articles or scented toys permitted. Odors associated with target but excluding target. Ie: fecal, skin casts, other Non-Target Odor Does not apply to this certification Bed Bug Carpenter Ants Rodents Termites Interior, four separate areas within a warehouse, residence, hotel, motel, school or office Exterior warehouse four exterior sides Interior warehouse four interior walls Three (3) live bed bugs no presence of fecal, cast skins or dead Twenty (20) live termites no presence of fecal or dead Three (3) dead bed bugs. Twenty (20) dead termites Reference Table B. Item Search Criteria Pest Type Certification Items Target Odor Distractor Odor Suggest (but not required) using indoor location Live Only No Pseudo Scents Or Scented Articles or Toys Allowed Associated Odor Does Not Apply in This Certification Non-Target Odor Means Item That Does Not Have Any Property to Target Pest Bed Bug Carpenter Ants Rodents Termites 3. Suitcases, computer bags, hand bags or cloth totes. Cardboard boxes, wooden boxes, cinderblocks Three (3) live bed bugs no presence of fecal, cast skins or dead Twenty (20) live termites no presence of fecal or dead Empty training vials, pet food, human food, soap, dog toys Empty training vials, pet food, human food, soap, dog toys