Certified Facility

A Certified Facility meets the full Authorized Facility standard, plus it employs at least one Instructor Certified on staff. This is the first facility tier that is authorized to run its own Handler Certified courses and issue Handler Certified credentials in the facility’s own name — under audit.

Certified Facility is the mid-tier credential in the facility ladder. It is where a serious protection-dog program that is not yet a full Regional Center operates.

What the Credential Requires

All of the Authorized Facility Standard, Plus:

• At least one on-staff Instructor Certified in continuous good standing.
• At least one on-staff (or on-contract) PSSK9^™ Decoy for handler bite work.
• A published curriculum aligned to the PSSK9^™ Handler Certified standard.
• A quarterly audit relationship with a Master Instructor or Regional Center.
• A public record of all Handler Certified candidates started and their outcomes.

Ongoing Audit

A Certified Facility is under rolling audit for as long as it holds the credential. Handler Certified graduate performance, incident reports, and facility conditions are reviewed on a published schedule. Facilities that fall below the standard are placed under corrective action; facilities that do not correct are downgraded to Authorized or removed from the credential ladder.

What the Credential Confers

• Authority to run Handler Certified courses in the facility’s own name.
• Authority to issue Handler Certified credentials under audit.
• Public listing as a PSSK9^™ Certified Facility.
• Path forward to Regional Center status.

What It Does Not Confer

• Authority to certify Instructors. That is Regional Center authority.
• Voting authority on standard revisions.
• Sub-licensing rights.

Every Certified Facility carries the credential on borrowed authority. That authority can be revoked. The standard is not a purchase — it is a trust, held under audit, defended in public.