AERIE Canine Search Specialist Area Search-Live Find Level 2

HELLO COLLEAGUES!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN CHALLENGING THE AREA SEARCH (LIVE FIND) K9 FIELD EXAM.  THERE ARE NUMEROUS REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLETED, IN ORDER TO TEST.  PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE FILLING OUT ANY INFORMATION.  YOU MUST, IN ADDITION TO FILLING OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM, SUBMIT ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND FEES, AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION.  IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS HANDY, PLEASE EXIT THIS PAGE, GATHER UP THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND PAYMENT METHODS, THEN RETURN TO ENTER/SUBMIT ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FEES TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO TO WORKING WITH YOU!

This is the registration process for attaining national certification as an AERIE Area Search (Live Find) K9 Handler and for your Canine Partner as a certified Area Search (Live Find) K9.  This is the field testing portion of the certification process.  Please make sure you have completed all the pre-requisites to be eligible for this certification testing.   The link to those pre-requisites is: Area Search (Live Find) K9 Certification Description  Upon completion of Registration and Ticketing, you will receive a link to challenge the AERIE online K9 Generic Written Examination.  There is no additional fee for the written exam. This written exam must be successfully completed not later than 14 days prior to arriving at the field testing location.  Please bring your (successful) written exam certificate to the field test event.

For those who have previously submitted these documents for a previous exam, there is no need to resubmit.  Simply enter “Previously submitted” in the comment section of the registration form and we’ll look them up in your file.  The written exam, has not been updated this year, so those who certified with AERIE since 2022, and re-certifying now, will be exempt from taking the written exam.  Thanks for choosing AERIE (again) for your SAR K9 certification needs!

Also, after completing the registration and ticketing process, you will receive an email directing you to execute the required Waiver of Liability/Assumption of Risk document.  Please follow the link in that email to complete this document.

To stipulate compliance with the pre-requisites, please upload the following documents with this registration process:

1. NFPA 472/CFR 291910.120 Part Q – Hazardous Materials – Awareness Level Course (FEMA online Hazmat Awareness Course IS-5.a is acceptable)
2. Bloodborne Pathogens training course that meets or exceeds 29CFR
3. Incident Command System (ICS)/Incident Management System (IMS) course FEMA IS-100 & 200. (Level 300/400 recommended).
4. Current (nationally) approved Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation certification and a current American Red Cross or equivalent Basic First Aid Course, or higher medical training
5. Hold Ground SAR credentials:  AERIE SARResponder™ 2, or AERIE Canine Ground Searcher™ or NASAR SARTech™ II.  For other ground certifications, submit for review, requesting approval.   (Not required for AERIE CSS Water Certifications)
6. The candidate must produce written proof of the canine having successfully completed a nationally recognized obedience evaluation, which meets or exceeds the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test unless challenging the CSS-Disaster examination.  Examples include, but are not limited to, evaluations conducted by a recognized Association of Pet Dog Trainers or National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, training clubs or organizations, FEMA and/or law enforcement instructors unless completing the AERIE CSS Disaster Search Specialist FSA.
7. Successful completion of a Crime Scene Preservation class that is recognized by the handlers deploying agency.
8. Canine must be a minimum of 12 months of age
9. Proof of passing the AERIE written CSS fundamental (Generic) knowledge and CSS discipline specific written examinations.