TESTING AND CERTIFICATION
To be tested and certified by K9 Search & Rescue Specialists, Inc. all candidates must meet the following criteria:
Equipment Training Temperament Physical Condition
These requirements meet or exceed the Type I NIMS resource typing criteria for search and rescue resources.
Please note this information has been summarized for ease of reading. If you have questions or need additional
information, please feel free to contact us.
EQUIPMENT
* BDU Pants
* Uniform Shirt
* Hiking Boots that provide ankle protection
* At least 16 ounces of water
* 24-hour Pack Items
* Vehicle equipped for response operations (kennel, water, leashes, etc)
* Personal Flotation Device (water operations)
* For Disaster operations, please refer to www.disasterdog.org
PHYSICAL CONDITION
* Handler must be in very good to excellent physical condition. Handlers over their ideal weight for their height,
age and gender, or has any medical condition that compromise their abilities will not be tested.
* Handler should successfully complete USFS Moderate Level Pack Test (2 miles, 25 pound pack, 30 minutes or
less), before testing.
* Dog must be in very good to excellent physical condition. Dogs over their ideal weight for their breed, age and
gender, or has any medical condition that compromise its ability will not be tested.
TEMPERAMENT
* The dog must successfully complete the American Kennel Club “Canine Good Citizenship” or equivalent.
* Any dog showing aggression or is out of the handler’s control will not be tested.
* Handler must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
OBEDIENCE
* Sit
* Down
* Come
* Heel
* Stay
* Up (Loading into a vehicle)
AGILITY
* 6 foot ladder with flat rungs secured at a 45 degree angle
* Moving plank suspended on two barrels
* 3 foot high unsteady, wobbly surface
* A dark tunnel with one right turn
* A seesaw
* A plank elevated 6 feet off the ground
* Jump over a hurdle 42” to 48” high
TRAINING
* NIMS Courses: 100, 200, 700 and 800
* Medical: American Red Cross or equivalent Basic First Aid Course or higher medical training.
* HAZMAT: HAZMAT Awareness course that meets or exceeds 29 CFR 1910 (SARA Title III) and taught by a
person who meets the requirements as shown in 29 CFR 1910.
* Bloodborne: Bloodborne Pathogens training course that meets or exceeds 29 CFR 1910 (SARA Title III) and
taught by a person who meets the requirements as shown in 29 CFR 1910.
* Crime Scene - Crime scene preservation class taught by a State or POST certified law enforcement instructor.
* Search and Rescue Training (Wilderness only) – Successfully complete at least 36 hours of wilderness search
and rescue training that meets or exceeds NFPA 1500 – Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and
Health Program; General Information and Fitness Requirements; and NFPA 1670 – Standard on Operations
Training for Technical Rescue; Specifically Chapter 8 Wilderness Search and Rescue 8-1 through 8-4.
For Individuals Applying for State of Georgia SAR Dog License:
* Successfully complete the courses above, and in addition to the following:
* Independent Study Course IS 1 – Emergency Program Manager
* Rescue Specialist Course
SKILLS
Air Scent: 120 to 160 acres with 1 to 2 subjects
Tracking: 1 hour old track 1 to 1 ½ mile in length (based upon weather)
Trailing: 4 to 24 hour old track 1 to 1 ½ mile in length (based upon weather)
HRD Land: 6 Areas: Covered
Buried
Elevated
Container (vehicle or boxes)
Surface
Animal Remains
HRD Water: 3 Areas: Embankment (less than 2 feet from bank)
Shoreline (2 to 4 feet from the bank in the water)
Water (in a watercraft)
Disaster Response: See disasterdog.org for details
Equipment Training Temperament Physical Condition
These requirements meet or exceed the Type I NIMS resource typing criteria for search and rescue resources.
Please note this information has been summarized for ease of reading. If you have questions or need additional
information, please feel free to contact us.
EQUIPMENT
* BDU Pants
* Uniform Shirt
* Hiking Boots that provide ankle protection
* At least 16 ounces of water
* 24-hour Pack Items
* Vehicle equipped for response operations (kennel, water, leashes, etc)
* Personal Flotation Device (water operations)
* For Disaster operations, please refer to www.disasterdog.org
PHYSICAL CONDITION
* Handler must be in very good to excellent physical condition. Handlers over their ideal weight for their height,
age and gender, or has any medical condition that compromise their abilities will not be tested.
* Handler should successfully complete USFS Moderate Level Pack Test (2 miles, 25 pound pack, 30 minutes or
less), before testing.
* Dog must be in very good to excellent physical condition. Dogs over their ideal weight for their breed, age and
gender, or has any medical condition that compromise its ability will not be tested.
TEMPERAMENT
* The dog must successfully complete the American Kennel Club “Canine Good Citizenship” or equivalent.
* Any dog showing aggression or is out of the handler’s control will not be tested.
* Handler must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
OBEDIENCE
* Sit
* Down
* Come
* Heel
* Stay
* Up (Loading into a vehicle)
AGILITY
* 6 foot ladder with flat rungs secured at a 45 degree angle
* Moving plank suspended on two barrels
* 3 foot high unsteady, wobbly surface
* A dark tunnel with one right turn
* A seesaw
* A plank elevated 6 feet off the ground
* Jump over a hurdle 42” to 48” high
TRAINING
* NIMS Courses: 100, 200, 700 and 800
* Medical: American Red Cross or equivalent Basic First Aid Course or higher medical training.
* HAZMAT: HAZMAT Awareness course that meets or exceeds 29 CFR 1910 (SARA Title III) and taught by a
person who meets the requirements as shown in 29 CFR 1910.
* Bloodborne: Bloodborne Pathogens training course that meets or exceeds 29 CFR 1910 (SARA Title III) and
taught by a person who meets the requirements as shown in 29 CFR 1910.
* Crime Scene - Crime scene preservation class taught by a State or POST certified law enforcement instructor.
* Search and Rescue Training (Wilderness only) – Successfully complete at least 36 hours of wilderness search
and rescue training that meets or exceeds NFPA 1500 – Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and
Health Program; General Information and Fitness Requirements; and NFPA 1670 – Standard on Operations
Training for Technical Rescue; Specifically Chapter 8 Wilderness Search and Rescue 8-1 through 8-4.
For Individuals Applying for State of Georgia SAR Dog License:
* Successfully complete the courses above, and in addition to the following:
* Independent Study Course IS 1 – Emergency Program Manager
* Rescue Specialist Course
SKILLS
Air Scent: 120 to 160 acres with 1 to 2 subjects
Tracking: 1 hour old track 1 to 1 ½ mile in length (based upon weather)
Trailing: 4 to 24 hour old track 1 to 1 ½ mile in length (based upon weather)
HRD Land: 6 Areas: Covered
Buried
Elevated
Container (vehicle or boxes)
Surface
Animal Remains
HRD Water: 3 Areas: Embankment (less than 2 feet from bank)
Shoreline (2 to 4 feet from the bank in the water)
Water (in a watercraft)
Disaster Response: See disasterdog.org for details