Why NASAR

BENEFITS OF NASAR CANINE CERTIFICATIONS*

General Benefits:

• The only nationally recognized SAR dog certification testing process that is available to any candidate regardless or organizational membership or dog breed.
• The certification testing programs are written by subject matter experts from across the United States.
• NASAR certification testing programs and procedures are subjected to extensive peer reviews, a consensus process and field BETA testing.
• Certification testing is conducted by examiners from NASAR, and is, therefore, a source of outside validation for the teams training and demonstrated skills.
• Certification Coordinators and Evaluators are selected based upon strict criteria The basic requirements to apply are available for review by any individual or agency via the NASAR web site.
• Each prospective Coordinator and Evaluator must successfully complete a separate training and evaluation process to become a NASAR Certification Coordinator or Evaluator.

Agency/Team Benefits:

• Agencies responsible for searches: Depending upon the size, duration or nature of a search agencies charged with conducting a search may need to rely upon resources in addition to their known, local search team. It is impractical to expect an Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, or any other command personnel to be familiar with the certificaiton testing standards and procedures for multiple teams. Candidates sucessfully certified through the NASAR certification process are tested to the same known, accepted standards and methodologies regardless of the test location. This allows the agency to know that a handler team tested, and if successful, certified in California was tested in Texas. Thus, the same minimum knowledge, skills and abilities have been tested and demonstrated for the type and level of testing.
• Agencies with their own existing teams, Agencies forming teams and independent teams: Accepted testing standards and processes are already in place with the NASAR certification testing process.
• Benefits to all agencies and teams:
  • The disciplines available for testing and certification as well as the knowledge, skills and abilities required to be demonstrated for certification are available from one easily available source: ON LINE at nasar.org.
  • Testimony from NASAR Canine Certified handlers has been accepted in courts in various States.
  • It is easier to defend an outside validation of knowledge, skills and abilities than to defend a validation process developed and administered internally.

Benefits to handlers beyond those stated for teams:

• Outside validation for you of your knowledge, skills and ability.
• Increased confidence in your abilities.
• May help limit your exposure to liability.

*Document created by NASAR