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The ISCC Certified Professional Pet Groomer™ Practical Skills test requires 2 dogs with a “Stand-Out, Straight Coat” and a “Harsh, Flat or Double Coat”. Candidates are required to supply dogs and all the appropriate equipment (brushes, combs, topical conditioning products, towels, styling table, dryers, clippers, clipper blades, scissors, etc.). Applicants who have successfully completed any or all of the ISCC Petcare DermaTech Specialist or Master Pet Stylist written and/or practical skills exams will be given appropriate credit to be applied toward their ISCC Certified Professional Pet Groomer testing process. A testing fee of $150 will be required for each testing site, so if both dogs are groomed at the same site the fee will be $150. If the second dog is groomed later on at a different site, then another $150 will be required for the second dog.
Practical Skills Exams for the ISCC Certified Professional Pet Groomer™ Practical Skills program is conducted at select sites by one or more ISCC approved certifiers. Candidates are furnished with a thorough evaluation of their performance and are afforded an opportunity to discuss their grades with each of their certifiers. Professional consultations and workshops are strongly recommended prior to practical skills testing.
Let’s take a look at the 2 different dogs that are required.
 DOG 1: The dog with a “Stand-Out, Straight Coat” should sufficiently have a coat long enough to require brushing, combing, bathing, drying, topical conditioning, clipping and scissoring skills and to make a distinct difference in the length of the coat following practical skills demonstration of applicant’s grooming skills. Short, flat, harsh and double coated dogs are excluded from this category.
Acceptable breeds include but not are limited to: Poodle, Bichon Frise or any similarity coated breed or mixed breed as approved for use by ISCC. Faces are NOT required to be clipped. However, sufficient clipper & scissor work must be performed to demonstrate the candidate’s skills. Poodle mustaches are acceptable.
When selecting your dog, keep in mind that brushing, combing, bathing, drying, topical conditioning of the skin and coat, clipping and scissoring skills (straight & curved shears) are an integral part of this exam and must be demonstrated.
Demonstrating the following attains successful completion of the practical skills test:
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of brushing, combing, bathing, drying and topical conditioning techniques & methods.
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of nail and ear care. One nail must be trimmed and one ear must be cleaned during the exam.
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of clipping and scissoring techniques and methods.
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of breed profile, pattern lines, and grooming techniques and methods required for trimming
“Stand-Out, Straight Coated Dogs”
DOG 2: The dog with a “Harsh, Flat or Double Coat” should sufficiently have coat long enough to require clipping and use thinning shear and carding techniques.
Acceptable breeds include but not limited to: Short or long-legged, harsh-coated terriers, Sporting Breeds such as American or English Cocker, Springer Spaniel, Setters, or any double-coated breed such as a Sheltie or Collie – or any similarly coated breed as approved by ISCC.
When choosing this dog, keep in mind that clipping and the use of thinning shears and carding techniques are integral part of this exam and must be demonstrated.
Demonstrating the following attains successful completion of the practical skills test:
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of brushing and combing, techniques.
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of the following techniques: clipping, thinning shears (bulking & blending) and carding.
• Proficiency, knowledge, and understanding of breed profile, pattern lines, and grooming techniques & methods required for trimming
“Harsh, Flat or Double Coated Dogs”.
In order to certify practical pet styling skills for ISCC Certified Professional Pet Groomer™ status, ISCC has establish a “Standard of Pet Grooming Excellence” which is the concept of the ideal of Professional Pet Grooming; i.e., ideal preparation and topical conditioning of the dog’s coat, the ideal execution of all pet grooming techniques and methods, and the ideal finish of the dog’s coat to suit its breed profile – ideal in all of the following aspects:
Preparation: ISCC considers preparation to be an integral part of the Professional Pet Stylist’s overall expertise and knowledge, and believes that skin and coat care is rudimentary to the success of a quality pet trim as well as essential to the good health of the pet.
ISCC is not concerned with the conformation of the dog, but does place considerable emphasis on the candidate’s knowledge and ability to ideally prepare the dog’s coat for styling.
In order to attain the maximum number allowable points, a candidate present their dog to the Certifier(s) in the following condition:
1. Exhibit proficient knowledge and usage of skin/coat and sanitation products; i.e., cleansers, conditioners, therapeutic treatments, chemicals,
color process, stain removers, disinfectants, etc.
2. Thoroughly understand skin and coat care therapeutic programs, methods, terms (keratolytic, keratoplastic, hydrating, exfoliating, anti-inflammatory,
antimicrobial, secondary infection, etc.)
3. Select the most effective skin and coat care and sanitation products (cleansers, conditioners, therapeutic treatments, chemicals, disinfectants, etc.)
for optimum conditioning and health of the pet’s skin and coat.
4. Select and use the most effective tools (brushes, combs, nail clippers, carding and dematting tools, etc.) for optimum conditioning and health of the
pet’s skin and coat.
5. Safely use and/or apply all products and tools.
Mechanical Techniques: Mechanical Techniques such as clipper, scissoring, carding and animal handling are essential skills that are integral to the Professional Pet Stylist’s overall knowledge and expertise. ISCC does not endorse any particular type of equipment but rather, emphasizes the methodology to achieve the ideal results.
In order to attain the maximum achievable points for mechanical techniques, the candidate must have:
1. Demonstrated their knowledge of the breed standard by executing the pattern placement on the dog to enhance its overall balance, symmetry,
and “ideal” appearance.
2. Not razor burned, irritated or nicked the dog’s skin.
3. Demonstrated their proficient use and control of their equipment.
4. Utilized the appropriate tool to produce the “ideal” length and texture of coat per the breed profile.
5. Achieved a smooth, well blended, and properly set pattern per the breed standard with no roughness, gaps or marks.
Overall Appearance: ISCC places considerable emphasis on the candidate’s knowledge and ability to produce an attractive, eye appealing trim that represents the “ideal” image of the pet’s style and profile.
ISCC is not concerned with the conformation of the dog, but does place considerable emphasis on the candidate’s ability to apply their skills, knowledge and expertise to evaluate any breed or mixed breed’s conformation and to trim the dog’s coat creating the “ideal” illusion to disguise its faults and emphasize its attributes.
In order to attain the maximum achievable points for mechanical techniques, the candidate must have:
1. Creatively performed their practical styling skills to correctly evaluated the dog’s conformation and thereby trimmed the dog’s coat to visually create
the “ideal” breed profile and pattern lines.
2. Achieved a pleasing harmony (balance) of the various elements so as to enhance the overall appearance and pattern design.
3. Achieved a similarity of form (symmetry) so as to enhance the overall appearance and pattern design.
4. Accomplished an eye appealing and pleasing relationship of all components so as to improve and enhance the overall appearance of the dog.
ICPG Practical Skills Grading Scale: The following is the “scale of percentage points” allowed for each aspect of the ICPG practical skills
certification test:
Preparation 20%
Mechanical Techniques 30%
Overall Appearance 50%
Total allowable points 100%
Maximum allowable points are 100% based upon the ISCC Standard of Excellence. While attainment of the maximum allowable points is “ideal”, it is not expected of any individual that they must obtain a score of 100% to pass any if the “ICPG” practical skills exams. However, a score of 70% averaged from the ISCC Certifier(s) assigned to the test site must be achieved to pass the practical skills exam.
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