Animal Care and Handling Course

If you own a pet shop or a business that sells, grooms or boards cats, dogs or other small animals, you need someone with a Certificate in Animal Care and Handling on duty when your business is open. This is required by the NYC Health Code.

The Animal Care and Handling course is offered up to twice a year, depending on demand. It is a 12-hour class, held over two six-hour days. If you complete the course and pass the final exam, you will get a certificate in Animal Care and Handling.

This page explains how to meet the New York City Health Code requirement for supervising a pet shop or business. It does not cover other health-related aspects of owning and operating a pet shop, animal boarding or grooming establishment. It also does not address other requirements.

Taking the Animal Care and Handling course and getting a certificate does not satisfy all the regulatory requirements of other City and State agencies. As a business owner, you must apply for all other permits, licenses and authorizations required by other City and State agencies.

• You need a valid email address to register online.

• The course fee is $39.00.

• Accepted payment methods:

  • Certified check (payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), accepted only in person)
  • Money order (payable to the DOHMH, accepted only in person)
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • E-check (accepted only online; you need your bank routing number and account number)

• Go to the NYC Health Academy on the date you picked to attend the course.
  
  NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Health Academy
  Riverside Health Center
  160 W. 100th St. (at Columbus Ave.)
  New York, NY 10025

• Show a government-issued photo ID to the Health Academy before starting the course.

• Attend all class sessions and take the final test.

  • If you pass the test, you will get a certificate.
  • If you fail the test, you must sign up again, pay another fee and take the course again.

• The certification does not expire.

• The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) may ask you to take a refresher course if:

  • There are ongoing Health Code violations.
  • There is a disease outbreak involving animals you care for, treat or hold in the establishment you supervise.
  • The DOHMH wants you to learn new ways to care for and handle animals.

• Go to the NYC Department of Health's Online Service Registration system.
• Select Health Academy Training Courses and click Continue.
• Register as a user.
• Select the Animal Care and Handling course.
• Choose the date and time you want.
• Pay using a credit card, debit card or e-check.
• You will get a receipt via email.
• If you have any payment or registration problems, call 311.

• Go to the Citywide Licensing Center to register and pay for the course.
  
  NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  Licensing Center
  42 Broadway, Lobby
  New York, NY 10004
  Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov