Education and Recommended Certification Services

TACA is no longer the entity that approves classes for credit hours. If you have a class to submit for credit hour approval, it must be submitted through the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in Austin prior to the date of the class. DSHS approval may take up to eight (8) weeks.

Any questions about whether or not a proposed class is state-approved should be directed to DSHS.

To avoid confusion, TACA is only able to post state-approved classes on this website. Proof of state approval is required.

TACA obtains state-approval for all of its conferences. Members may be assured that they will receive the appropriate credit hours for any TACA conferences or classes that they attend.

West Texas Seminar August 24 & 25, 2009 Euthanasia Class August 25 & 26, 2009. For more info(PDF)

During the 2007 session, legislature passed SB 1562, which entailed the creation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 829, Animal Control Officer Training. Under this law, an animal control officer (ACO) is defined as a person (not including peace officers) who is employed, appointed, or otherwise engaged primarily to enforce laws relating to animal control. To read full article (PDF)

As you know, Chapter 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code says that a person cannot perform the duties of an animal control officer unless the person has completed a basic animal control course not later than one year after beginning those duties. Certified peace officers are exempt from this training requirement.

The law also indicates that DSHS Zoonosis staff will check for compliance with this training requirement when the staff visit shelters or animal control officers (ACOs) or inspect quarantine facilities (Chapter 826 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and associated rules). In order to determine compliance, our Zoonosis staff will need to see one of these:

Please be sure to keep these documents (or copies of them) at the shelter or at your primary office so they will be easy for us to review when we inspect or visit. If your shelter is required to be inspected by a for-hire veterinarian (Ch. 823 and 826 of the Texas Health and Safety Code), the veterinarian will also be checking for this documentation. Having the documents readily accessible will make life easier for all concerned.

Chapter 829 also mandates continuing education (CE) for ACOs. Be sure to keep records of all DSHS-approved CE courses, meetings, or seminars you attend so you can easily demonstrate that you are meeting the CE requirements of the law.

The new, revised, hot-off-the-press printed copy of the DSHS ACO training manual is available for you to purchase from your local DSHS Regional Zoonosis Control office.

This new version is significantly different from the previous editions of the manual. In addition to updates in information, it contains the major statutes and rules of interest to animal control officers and animal shelters.

Each law is updated with the revisions passed by the state legislature in 2007.

If you plan to attend a DSHS, ACO Basic Training Course in the near future, you will be pleased to hear it is still a two day course for the very same low price of $75.00 as before!

Now is the time to purchase or download an updated ACO manual prior to attending the course for your review. As soon as the updated manual is posted on the DSHS website, you may download it for free as you have in the past!

Wait patiently for the updated ACO manual to be posted on that DSHS web-site in the near future.

The printed ACO Manual cost is $40.00; DSHS will not charge state sales tax as previously stated.

The DSHS Manual order form on line is in PDF format and is specific to your DSHS regional office. To view the order form for your DSHS regional office, click on the county you live or work in and it will take you to the proper regional order form.

(I have attached a word DOC order form for the use of stakeholders in DSHS Region 2/3)

2. Mail the manual order form, and a check for $40.00 to the DSHS Zoonosis office in your region, and a hardcopy will be mailed to you ASAP.

3. Remember please remit payment by check or money orders only please. They should be payable to Texas Department of State Health Services.

The newly-revised Texas ACO Training Manual is now available online:

We will be holding a euthanasia training course March 14 and 15, 2009 at the Bryan Police Dept. Training room. All the same speakers and curriculum.

Alan Spence Chief-PO/CACO
Texas Academy of Animal Control Officers

"Professional Humane Law Enforcement Training"
(979) 542-5010/(877) 700-ACO1
www.txacademyaco.com

June 2009
15-19	Remote Class Week
23-26	ACO LEVEL 1/3 Animal Control Basic Field Training, Zoonosis, Rabies Control, Officer Safety, Animal Cruelty Investigations & CET. COMBO	32	$400
23-24	NEW APPROVED ACO BASIC (ONLY) Includes the all new enhanced required curriculum with DSHS MANUAL ($40) included - FREE RETAKE	16	$200
24 24-25	CET Recertification	8	$150
24 24-25	Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET)	12	$250
July 2009
02 02-03	CET Recertification	8	$150
02 02-03	Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET)	12	$250
05	SUMMER TFA ORIENTATION 1500 HRS
06-31	SUMMER TFA COURSE BEGINS
21-24	ACO LEVEL 1/3 Animal Control Basic Field Training, Zoonosis, Rabies Control, Officer Safety, Animal Cruelty Investigations & CET. COMBO	32	$400
21-22	NEW APPROVED ACO BASIC (ONLY) Includes the all new enhanced required curriculum with DSHS MANUAL ($40) included - FREE RETAKE	16	$200
23 23-24	CET Recertification	8	$150
23 23-24	Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET)	12	$250
28-29	Animal Cruelty Investigations ( REVISED -COMPLETE)	12	$250
August 2009
06 06-07	CET Recertification	8	$150
06 06-07	Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET)	12	$250
10-14	Remote Class Week
15	FALL TFA REGISTRATION BEGINS
25-28	ACO LEVEL 1/3 Animal Control Basic Field Training, Zoonosis, Rabies Control, Officer Safety, Animal Cruelty Investigations & CET. COMBO	32	$400
25-26	NEW APPROVED ACO BASIC (ONLY) Includes the all new enhanced required curriculum with DSHS MANUAL ($40) included - FREE RETAKE	16	$200
26 26-27	CET Recertification	8	$150
26 26-27	Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET)	12	$250
28-29	Animal Cruelty Investigations ( REVISED - COMPLETE)	12	$250