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Pet Sitters

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Pet Sitters International (PSI) offers the certificate in professional pet sitting designation. Pet sitters receive accreditation upon completing home study courses in such subjects as animal nutrition, office procedures, and management.

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) offers the certified pet sitter designation to applicants who complete a home-study broad-range and in-depth 4- to 6-week course covering all topics relevant to pet sitting, including pet care, health, nutrition and behavior for a variety of animals. It also includes business development and management, pet safety and a complete pet first aid course. Applicants must pass an exam and take continuing education credits to maintain their license.

Though there is no particular pet sitting license required of pet sitters, insurance protection is important and certification often enables a pet sitter to get a discount on their pet-sitter liability insurance. Liability insurance protects the pet sitter from lawsuits; both NAPPS and PSI offer group liability packages to its members. Pet sitters must also be bonded. Bonding assures the pet owners that if anything is missing from their homes after a pet sitting appointment, they can receive compensation immediately.

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