Assistance Dog Professional Competencies Standard Released – December 2025 Update

Assistance dog organizations in the health care technology sector are embracing a major step towards greater quality and professionalism. With the publication of EN 17984-3:2025 in December 2025, a singular new standard is redefining the competencies required for those working in assistance dog programs. This European standard helps ensure assistance dogs are matched, trained, and cared for by highly proficient professionals, directly benefiting service users and the wider health care ecosystem.

Overview / Introduction

The use of assistance dogs is vital across Europe and globally, supporting individuals with visual, hearing, mobility, or developmental disabilities. As the field grows, health care technology standards are key to ensuring not only the wellbeing of the dogs but also the safety, independence, and quality of life for recipients.

EN 17984-3:2025, published by CEN, introduces the first unified competence requirements for assistance dog professionals. Whether your organization focuses on breeding, training, orientation and mobility support, or any other facet of assistance dogs, aligning with this standard signals commitment to best practices, legal compliance, and service excellence.

In this article, we break down what this standard brings, how it impacts different roles, and why compliance matters to organizations, professionals, and service users.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN 17984-3:2025 – Competencies for Assistance Dogs Professionals

Assistance dogs – Part 3: Competencies for assistance dogs professionals

This new European standard defines the skills, knowledge, and demonstrated abilities required of anyone working in an assistance dog organization. It addresses both core roles (breeder, trainer, instructor, etc.) and specialist functions such as guide dog or medical alert dog trainer. The scope acknowledges that organizational structures vary—so flexibility is built-in, but the bar for professional competence is set high.

What the Standard Covers

• Professional roles: From puppy raising supervisor, dog breeder, dog care specialist, to various instructors and assessors.
• Core competencies: Including animal care, behavioral understanding, accurate recordkeeping, and humane and evidence-based training practices.
• Specialist skills: For trainers of guide dogs, hearing dogs, autism service dogs, medical alert dogs, and instructors for team training.

A particular emphasis is placed on:

• Ensuring all professionals possess the required expertise for each role they fill (some may hold multiple roles in smaller organizations).
• Providing guidance for organizations that may lack certain roles (e.g., no breeding program).
• Setting out assessment and documentation practices to uphold both animal and recipient welfare throughout the assistance dog's life.

Key Requirements and Specifications

• Each professional must demonstrate knowledge in genetics, animal health, socialization, behavioral assessment, and disability-specific support.
• Use of structured, humane assessment and training methodologies.
• Application of animal welfare principles (referencing EN 17984-2:2024 for welfare details).
• Maintaining and evaluating training and partnership outcomes for ongoing quality assurance.
• Clear communication protocols among professionals, recipients, and the public.

Target Organizations and Personnel

• All organizations that breed, train, place, or manage assistance dogs—NGOs, charities, public services, and commercial providers.
• Individual professionals working as trainers, assessors, instructors, orientation and mobility specialists, or involved in care and placement.

Practical Implementation Implications

• Organizations must evaluate existing staff against the new competencies and provide training where needed.
• Documented procedures and competence records become prerequisites for quality management and external validation.
• Flexible application: Organizations only need to cover competencies for their active roles—but personnel holding multiple functions must meet requirements for each.

Notable Updates

• This is the first unified European-level competency benchmark for this field.
• Enhances cross-border recognition, improves user confidence, and fosters professional mobility.
• Interfaces with earlier and future parts of the EN 17984 series (vocabulary, welfare, training techniques, team management, accessibility).

Key highlights:

• Establishes clear professional competencies for each assistance dog specialist role
• Applies comprehensive animal and disability welfare principles
• Improves service consistency, user safety, and operator accountability

Access the full standard:View EN 17984-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

How Does EN 17984-3:2025 Affect the Health Care Technology Sector?

This standard brings significant benefits and responsibilities for professionals and organizations:

• Improved Quality Assurance: By harmonizing required competencies, organizations can deliver consistent, safe, and effective assistance dog services across the sector.
• Stronger Legal and Ethical Compliance: Meeting these guidelines demonstrates due diligence for safety, data handling (GDPR), and animal welfare statutes.
• Enhanced User Confidence: Recipients and referral partners (medical and rehabilitation professionals) gain assurance that providers meet an independent, recognized benchmark.

Compliance Steps and Timelines

• The standard becomes applicable upon national publication, with most CEN countries expected to publish by mid-2026—the recommended period for compliance audits and training gap assessments.

Benefits of Adopting the Standard

• Better service outcomes for people with disabilities
• Facilitation of staff development and career mobility
• Qualification for contracts, grants, and cross-border service provision
• Competitive differentiation in the health care technology ecosystem

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Possible exclusion from public funding/contracts
• Increased risk of service, health, or legal issues involving staff or dogs
• Reputational damage if care or training falls short of the new expected norms

Technical Insights

EN 17984-3:2025 sets out detailed technical competencies and best practices:

• Standardized Assessment Tools: Professionals must use evidence-based, humane assessment techniques and maintain careful records
• Knowledge Transfer and Communication: Staff are required to teach and collaborate with a range of audiences—colleagues, volunteers, recipients, and their wider support circles; communication skills are embedded in each role’s specification
• Integrated Welfare Principles: Every role must respect animal welfare as defined in EN 17984-2, ensuring both dog and human wellbeing
• Continuous Evaluation and Reporting: Regular review of both puppies and adult dogs’ health, behavior, and suitability. Team and individual evaluations support ongoing improvement
• Customized Training Plans: From puppy-raising to advanced tasks, training must be tailored per dog and recipient needs, with clear, documented progression targets and humane methodologies.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Conduct skills audits for all professional roles against the new standard
2. Update internal procedures for recruitment, training, supervision, and performance reviews
3. Employ documented assessment protocols and record-keeping for every stage
4. Identify external training opportunities to close any competency gaps
5. Engage with national and European networks for support and shared best practices

Certification and Testing Considerations

• While not mandatory, organizations may find third-party certification beneficial for proving compliance to stakeholders and funders.
• EN 17984-3:2025 references evaluation tools and reporting practices which can be externally audited or validated.
• Ongoing internal monitoring is required as part of a quality management system.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The release of EN 17984-3:2025 marks a significant leap forward in professionalizing assistance dog services within the health care technology sector. For organizations and individuals, early adoption is a smart move—offering competitive advantage, risk mitigation, and above all, improved quality of life for assistance dog recipients.

Key Takeaways:

• Review your current practices against the standard’s defined competencies
• Deploy a structured compliance plan, including training and documentation
• Communicate your commitment to stakeholders and clients
• Leverage iTeh Standards and relevant professional networks for up-to-date resources

Staying informed and proactive on standards is essential in this evolving sector. Explore the full text of EN 17984-3:2025, assess your organization’s readiness, and choose to lead in quality and impact.

Access the full standard now:View EN 17984-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

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