The Professional Grooming Standard
Professional grooming has grown significantly over the past decade. Today’s groomers have access to many different forms of education, certifications, and professional development opportunities.
Each plays a role in strengthening the profession.
The goal of this page is to help explain how the major pieces of grooming education fit together and how professionals can build a stronger foundation for their careers.
Some certifications focus on specific areas of knowledge that are widely recognized by both pet owners and grooming professionals. When maintained and applied properly, these credentials demonstrate a groomer’s commitment to safety, behavior awareness, and responsible salon practices.
Examples include:
• Pet First Aid & CPR
•Fear Free Groomer Certification
• AKC S.A.F.E. Groomer Program
These certifications support important aspects of grooming practice and can be valuable additions to a professional groomer’s education.
The Modern Grooming Professional™ certification helps groomers apply these principles together inside real salon environments.
Individual Professional
Certifications
Professional Grooming Certification Organizations
Modern grooming professionals typically build their education through several different pathways. These include individual safety certifications, professional certification organizations, structured grooming schools, and continuing education platforms.
Several professional organizations offer certification pathways designed to evaluate technical grooming knowledge and skill. These organizations contribute to the profession by providing structured testing, recognition programs, and certification titles for groomers who wish to pursue them.
Each organization has its own certification structure, testing requirements, and expectations. Groomers interested in pursuing these pathways should take time to research the programs carefully and choose the certification structure that aligns with their professional goals.
Pet Grooming Education Platforms
Groomers have access to a growing range of continuing education platforms, video libraries, and instructor-led training programs. These resources allow professionals to explore different grooming techniques, learn from experienced educators, and continue refining their skills throughout their careers.
Some well-known platforms and instructors include:
Groom Haüs Grooming education, industry discussion, and professional development resources for modern groomers.
Learn2GroomDogs.com One of the most recognized grooming video libraries, featuring technique demonstrations and instruction from respected industry educators.
Jess Rona Grooming Modern pet styling education and grooming instruction from celebrity groomer Jess Rona.
Jodi Murphy Grooming Breed styling, competition grooming instruction, and advanced grooming education from a highly respected educator in the field.
Super Styling Sessions Demonstration-based education focused on grooming techniques, creative styling, and competition-level grooming instruction.
These platforms contribute to ongoing learning and help groomers stay connected to the evolving craft of professional grooming.
Grooming Schools and Apprenticeships
Formal grooming education can come from many places, including professional grooming schools, structured training programs, and apprenticeship opportunities within working salons.
Some examples include:
Nash Academy of Animal Arts – one of the longest-standing grooming schools in the United States, known for its role in developing many professional groomers and competition stylists.
Animal Behavior College Grooming Program – a distance-learning grooming program that combines online coursework with hands-on mentorship.
Penn Foster Grooming Program – an online grooming education program offering introductory coursework and training.
Grooming Groomers Apprenticeship Program – an apprenticeship-based approach to grooming education designed to support hands-on learning in salon environments.
Groom Curriculum– structured learning resources for OJT learning designed to support skill development for new groomers
Paragon School of Pet Grooming – structured online grooming education and career training for OJT.
Programs vary widely in structure and depth, so prospective students should carefully evaluate curriculum, safety training, instructor experience, and long-term educational value.
Bringing It All Together
The grooming industry benefits from a wide range of educational resources. Certifications, schools, continuing education platforms, and professional organizations all contribute to the growth of the profession.
The Modern Grooming Professional™ certification focuses on helping groomers apply that knowledge inside real salon environments through behavior awareness, skin and coat knowledge, professional communication, and real salon decision-making.
Rather than replacing other forms of education, the goal of the MGP is to help professionals bring those lessons together into a stronger, more consistent professional standard.