For groomers
Dog Grooming Qualifications Explained: Level 2 to Level 4
No qualification is legally required to groom dogs in the UK. The recognised ones are Ofqual-regulated Level 2 and 3 diplomas from City & Guilds, iPET Network and others, a Level 4, and the ICMG master groomer certification.
What qualifications do dog groomers need?
None by law in any UK nation. The recognised route is an Ofqual-regulated Level 3 diploma, most commonly the City & Guilds 7863-03 Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming (300 guided learning hours, 426 hours in total) or the iPET Network Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming and Salon Management. Above that sit the iPET Network Level 4 Higher Professional Diploma and the ICMG master groomer certification. No public register of qualified groomers exists, so a qualification is checked by asking for the certificate.
What does Level 3 mean?
Level 3 is the level of an A level on the regulated qualifications framework, and is the standard for a groomer working without supervision. The City & Guilds Level 3 is assessed by a written exam and a practical assignment, for learners aged 16 or over, and covers health checks, handling, bathing, drying, clipping and scissoring across a range of breeds and coat types. iPET Network's Level 3 is assessed practically and involves grooming at least 20 dogs. City & Guilds lists 31 August 2027 as the last registration date for its current 7863 qualifications.
What is Level 2?
The City & Guilds 7863-02 Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants (182 guided learning hours) qualifies someone to bath, dry and prepare dogs under a groomer's supervision. It is the step before Level 3, not a qualification to groom independently.
What are Level 4, the Higher Diploma and ICMG?
iPET Network Level 4 Higher Professional Diploma in Dog Grooming (Ofqual number 610/3200/1) requires a regulated Level 3 to enter and is assessed by portfolio, covering breed-standard and freestyle styling, behaviour and running a business.
The Higher Diploma of the Pet Industry Federation is a long-standing advanced award; holders can join the Guild of Mastergroomers, which requires membership of the British Dog Groomers' Association (BDGA), the federation's groomer division. No list of Guild members was found published.
ICMG (International Certified Master Groomer) launched in the UK in 2014. Its master level involves practical assessments across the seven breed groups and written papers. ICMG UK publishes a list of certified master groomers by region.
Which other awarding bodies offer grooming qualifications?
Lantra Awards offers Level 3 animal care qualifications that include grooming units. SEG Awards offers a regulated Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming. Every regulated qualification has a number on the Ofqual Register, which is the quickest way to check that a course leads to a recognised award.
How do owners check a groomer's qualification?
Ask which qualification, which awarding body and when. Some City & Guilds holders publish a digital badge that can be checked online. Membership of the BDGA shows a business has joined the trade body, not that it holds a qualification. Listings on doggrooming.trade show qualifications only as the groomer states them.
Common questions
Do you need a qualification to be a dog groomer?
No, not by law anywhere in the UK. A Level 3 diploma is the recognised standard.
What is the City & Guilds dog grooming qualification?
The 7863 suite: a Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants and a Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming.
Is there a register of qualified dog groomers?
No. Check a groomer's qualification by asking for the certificate or a digital badge.
What is a master groomer?
Usually a holder of the Pet Industry Federation Higher Diploma (Guild of Mastergroomers) or the ICMG certification.