Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist

Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist Certification Examination (Water CSS)

The AERIE Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist Certification Examination (CE) is designed to identify the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities needed by canine team during water search operations to search for and locate human remains.  This certification recognizes the need for further training to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become a fully competent canine handler in a wide variety of water search operations.

This certification denotes the minimum skill level needed by a handler and their canine to work in this environment.  Due to bio-hazard concerns, source size is limited, however, handlers should routinely train on the amount of source and in conditions for where they are typically deployed.

Prerequisites:  A current certification by a nationally recognized organization in land human remains detection. 

There are two separate Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist CEs

• Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist – Level 1 CE  — Swift Water (>1 knot)

• Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist – Level 2 CE  — Still Water (< 1 knot)

The certification examination will consist of two (2) components:

• Shoreline Evaluation
• Open Water Evaluation

All of these examinations meet or exceeds the industry standard and the criteria of FEMA 508-8 Typed Resource Definitions – Search and Rescue Resources 11/14/2007

General Guidelines (See full exam information here)

• The Shoreline Evaluation must be successfully completed prior to attempting the Open Water Evaluation.
• The handler must be able to determine and identify the location, within 1.5 times the depth of source
• Open Water sources should be placed a minimum of one (1) hour prior to the start of the evaluation.
• Trained final response may be either active or passive.
• The canine may search on or off-lead
• All positive scent sources must be located.
  • A false final response that is called ‘positive’ by the handler will result in failure of an examination.

Shoreline Component

• Area will be 50 yards x 4 yards with source placed at approximately 1 yard, source must be at least 2 feet but no deeper than 2 yards.
• Canine must alert within a radius of 1.5x depth of source (if at 4 ft then they must alert within 6 feet of source)
•  All scent sources will be placed out of plain sight.
• Source should be placed a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of the evaluation.
• Candidate will have 15 minutes to complete the component.

Open Water Component

• 100yd square area using markers/buoys
• Source should be placed between 3.5 yards and seven (7) yards.
• Canine must alert within a radius of 1.5x depth of source (if at 11 ft then they must alert within 16.5 feet of source)
• Candidates will have a maximum of 45 minutes to search the area.

• Water Human Remains Detection Canine Search Specialist – Level 2 CE  — Still Water (< 1 knot)

The certification examination will consist of two (2) components:

• Shoreline Evaluation
• Open Water Evaluation

All of these examinations meet or exceeds the industry standard and the criteria of FEMA 508-8 Typed Resource Definitions – Search and Rescue Resources 11/14/2007

General Guidelines (full exam information)

• The Shoreline Evaluation must be successfully completed prior to attempting the Open Water Evaluation.
• The handler must be able to determine and identify the location, within 1.5 times the depth of source
• Open Water sources should be placed a minimum of one (1) hour prior to the start of the evaluation.
• Trained final response may be either active or passive.
• The canine may search on or off-lead
• All positive scent sources must be located.
  • A false final response that is called ‘positive’ by the handler will result in failure of an examination.

Shoreline Component

• Area will be 50 yards x 4 yards with source placed at approximately 1 yard, source must be at least 2 feet but no deeper than 2 yards.
• Canine must alert within a radius of 1.5x depth of source (if at 4 ft then they must alert within 6 feet of source)
•  All scent sources will be placed out of plain sight.
• Source should be placed a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of the evaluation.
• Candidate will have 15 minutes to complete the component.

Open Water Component

• 100yd square area using markers/buoys
• Source should be placed between 3.5 yards and seven (7) yards.
• Canine must alert within a radius of 1.5x depth of source (if at 11 ft then they must alert within 16.5 feet of source)
• Candidates will have a maximum of 45 minutes to search the area.