Animal Control Officer Resources

April 21, 2023 - Animal Control Officers who did not complete their mandatory 8 hours per year of continuing education for 2020, 2021 or 2022 should contact Animal.Welfare@Maine.Gov to make arrangements to recertify. 

ACOs were notified on September 2, 2021, of requirements to maintain certification, including completion of 2020 and 2021 coursework by the end of 2021; ACOs were also notified that annual CE requirements must be met. ACOs were also provided with multiple recommendations for online CE credits, including no-cost options. If you haven’t completed all requirements you will need to retake the Animal Control Officer Certification course.

September 2, 2021 Training Update +

September 2, 2021 - Animal Welfare has continued to grant extensions for CE training in 2021 due to the latest spike in COVID-19 cases.

  • ACOs that completed trainings in 2020 and 2021 will not need to take any further action for their 2020 and 2021 CE credits.
  • ACOs that were not able to complete their 8 hours of CE credits in 2020 will need to complete these credit hours in 2021 in addition to the 8 hours of CE credits required for 2021.
  • ACOs that have not completed CE credits for 2020 and 2021 will be required to register for Phase I (online) and Phase II (in person) training to recertify.

The Animal Welfare Program is looking into alternative training options for all ACOs. Any additional training sessions that are approved by Animal Welfare will be posted here on our website.

It is the responsibility of every ACO to fulfill the mandated yearly eight (8) hour training requirements, keep accurate records of their Animal Welfare Program-approved training, and have this documentation available for review if requested. CE credits need to be completed by the end of the calendar year, December 31, to meet the mandated requirements. ACOs that fail to maintain their yearly eight (8) hour training requirements will be required to complete Phase I (online) and Phase II training to recertify.

The Animal Welfare Program suggests the following online training to help fill the requirements until regular in-person training can be safely held again. The online programs listed below have been approved for CE.

If you know of a training that can benefit you and help you in the course of your duties as an ACO, please contact the Animal Welfare Program with the course information and ask for it to be considered for approval for CE credits.

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ACO Training

Animal Control Officer Certification

To be certified as an Animal Control Officer in Maine, the completion of our Online ACO Certification Training is required. The training consists of the core competencies that all ACOs must be aware of to perform their duties efficiently and includes the basic and advanced training requirements laid out by M.S.R.A. Chapter 717 §3906-B(4).

  • All trainees will be required to register with an email address to receive the instruction for the online training.
  • Cost: $50
  • Registration Form (PDF)

ACO Continuing Education Training

ACO Lunch & Learns

Mark your calendars, ACOs! Join AWP for the monthly ACO Lunch & Learns. On the last Friday of each month, from 12 noon-1 pm, AWP will host a 1-hour webinar. There is no cost; each webinar counts as 1 hour of CE. 

Manuals, Guides and Booklets

Animal Control Officer Forms

Dog Tags Assigned to Towns