Our Certification Standard
About the Standard
K9PDA uses the Water Leak Detection (WLD) Grading Scale, finalized May 2026 and aligned with ANSI/ASB TR-025 terminology. Each run receives a grade; the overall certification outcome is determined by the pattern of grades across all runs.
Live Leak Field
Real pressurized pipe infrastructure with confirmed active leaks. Leaks range in depth from two to five feet and must be completed within 30 minutes.
Simulated or non-pressurized fields do not qualify for certification testing.
Built to Minimize Bias
With zero to two possible leaks, the handler has no knowledge of where they are located. The test is filmed and conducted double blind, meaning the evaluator is also not present.
No course walk-through, no handler prompts, no pre-run staging assistance.
Includes Reporting
Full inspection documentation is completed for run to simulate client interactions. These include:
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GPS coordinates of suspected leaks
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Final responses,
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Evaluator observations
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Hide verification
Standard Terminology
K9PDA evaluators document canine behavior using ANSI/ASB Technical Report 025 terminology. All alerts, changes of behavior, and final responses are recorded using standardized language — ensuring that K9PDA field records hold up under regulatory, legal, or insurance review.
Passing Teams
Certification Requirements
The overall certification outcome is determined by the pattern of grades across the full run sequence. The following rules govern certification decisions.
✓Minimum number of Pass or Marginal Pass grades across the run sequence (threshold published in Certification Rules document)
✓No Fail grades in the sequence
✓No false positives on any blank run
✓Full documentation completed for every run
✓Handler did not prompt canine during any run
Required Continuing Education & Recertification
1
Recertification
K9PDA certifications are valid for a defined period from the date of issuance and valid for a year. A renewal window opens prior to expiration, giving teams time to schedule and complete recertification testing without a lapse in registry listing.
2
Continuing Educaiton
Teams are required to show xx number of hours of continuing education per year to maintain their certificaiton.