How to become 犬訓練士education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Confidence ★★★☆☆

Average annual pay
¥5.83M
≈ $37,094
Top pay (est.)
¥10.11M
Top 10% ¥8.68M
Pay in 5 years
¥6.78Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥7.87Mest.
¥6.77M–¥9.14M
Outlook score
68/100
★★★☆☆ Good
AI replacement risk
0%
Very low
Labor demand
Average
Openings-to-applicants 0.77x

How to become 犬訓練士

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
犬の訓練士になるには、日本警察犬協会、ジャパンケネルクラブ、日本シェパード犬登録協会、日本盲導犬協会、日本聴導犬協会が実施している所定の試験に合格して、訓練士の資格を取得する必要がある。
 まず見習として訓練所に入って技術を身につけ、資格を取得後、訓練士として訓練所で働く。その後は、独立・開業する場合もある。
 盲導犬訓練士の場合は、国家公安委員会が指定する訓練施設で研修を受け、盲導犬訓練施設に採用されることが必要である。聴導犬訓練士あるいは介助犬訓練士の場合は、指定訓練施設で研修を受け、聴導犬又は介助犬の訓練施設に採用されることが必要である。
 犬が好きというだけでは務まらず、犬を指示通りに動かすことができる技能や根気、飼い犬を預かる責任感、一定の体力が求められる。

Skills, education and requirements for 犬訓練士

Key skills

Instructing
5.2
Active Listening
5.0
Persuasion
5.0
Speaking
5.0
Social Perceptiveness
4.9
Negotiation
4.5
Service Orientation
4.4
Learning Strategies
4.3

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Psychology
3.3
Customer and Personal Service
2.9
Education and Training
2.8
Therapy and Counseling
2.5
Biology
2.5
Sociology and Anthropology
2.1
Sales and Marketing
1.7
Communications and Media
1.7

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

No specific license or certification is required.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as 犬訓練士

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.