Learn the work. Earn the badge. Protect animals.
From your first day as a pet caregiver to leading emergency response teams, NAWN certifications give you structured curriculum, mentor-reviewed assessments, and certificates that show your name, program, completion date, and NAWN branding with a unique certificate ID — never system labels.
Basic — Free
Open to everyone. Start here. Junior NAWN friendly for ages 8+.
4 programs available
Intermediate — Pro
Build real skills with mentor review. Requires basic certs and age 18+.
4 programs available
Advanced — Lead
Lead teams and handle complex welfare operations. Application-level commitment.
4 programs available
What you get in every certification
- Real curriculum — 3 to 4 modules, learning objectives, key topics, hours.
- Assessment — quizzes and practical diary submissions reviewed for completeness.
- Badge — colored by tier with icon, name, division, and visibility.
- Certificate — official template, unique ID, date, NAWN branding.
- Career paths — each cert shows roles you can pursue next.
Welfare-first language
All copy reviewed for compassion and clarity. No mock data, no placeholders. Curriculum written with shelter veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and experienced fosters.
Basic — Free
4 programsStart here — free foundations
Open to everyone. Start here. Junior NAWN friendly for ages 8+.
Animal Care Basics
Pet Care & Rescue
Daily care, nutrition, safe handling, and wellness for companion animals
Foster Basics
Foster Network
Welcome a foster animal home with confidence and structure
Transport Basics
Field Support
Safe, legal, low-stress transport for vet visits and local rides
Community Safety Basics
Community Platform
Neighborly responsibility, reporting, and service animal etiquette
Intermediate — Pro
4 programsBuild professional skills
Build real skills with mentor review. Requires basic certs and age 18+.
Foster Safety Certification
Foster Network
Medical, neonatal, and behavioral foster safety mastery
Caregiver Certification
Pet Care Services
Professional pet sitting, dog walking, and client care standards
Livestock Handling Certification
Livestock Marketplace
Humane livestock handling, loading, and welfare assessment
Wildlife Support Certification
Wildlife Division
Wildlife triage, legal boundaries, and safe transport to rehabilitators
Advanced — Lead
4 programsLead and coordinate welfare operations
Lead teams and handle complex welfare operations. Application-level commitment.
Emergency Response Certification
Emergency & Field
Lead triage, emergency fostering, and crisis coordination
Service Animal Handler Certification
Service Animal Division
Task reliability, public conduct, rights, and emergency planning for handlers
Rescue Coordination Certification
Rescue & Shelter
Intake management, placement strategy, and rescue operations leadership
Transport Specialist Certification
Field Support & Transport
Interstate compliance, relay management, and advanced road safety
How enrollment works
1
Choose your path
Check prerequisites. Free basics need no payment. Paid tiers support platform operations.
2
Learn and submit
Work through modules, pass quiz, and when needed submit a practical diary or care plan for completeness review.
3
Receive certificate
NAWN Certification Authority issues your official certificate with unique ID, your name, program, date, and NAWN branding.
Certificate standard
- • Holder name, certification name, completion date
- • NAWN branding and NAWN Certification Authority seal
- • Unique certificate ID e.g. NAWN-2026-A4F9-12C3
- • No system generated or admin generated labels
- • Verification URL for employers and partners
- • Renewal date and continuing education notes when applicable