NH Department of Education Approved Post-Secondary Career School | RSA 188-G:1-10  ·  Est. 2018 | info@wholepetnh.com | 603-828-9300
DOE-Approved Post-Secondary Career School

Grooming Is a Skilled Trade.
Treat It Like One.

WPGA teaches the science, safety, and business of professional grooming under DOE accreditation. Graduate with a credential that changes how clients, employers, and the industry see you.

Find Your Program See the WPGA Standard
300+
Global Graduates
58%
Became Business Owners
13%
Multi-Location Operators
2018
DOE Licensed
Professional groomer at work
Accreditation
NH Dept. of Education
Licensed Post-Secondary School
Dara Forleo
Professional grooming session
Christine Neumyer Smith
Bullet Brown

The Certification Difference

What a WPGA Credential Actually Does

The grooming industry has no mandatory licensing. That means the credential you hold - or don't hold - is the only signal clients, employers, and partners have to go on.

WPGA-Certified Groomer
DOE-accredited credential on file - verifiable by any employer or client
Safety-trained: animal behavior, coat science, and First Aid & CPR certified
Listed in the CE Verified directory - visible to prospective clients searching for credentialed groomers
Connected to the WPGA alumni network: mentorship, peer community, and continuing education
Positioned to charge premium rates backed by a recognized professional credential
Without a Formal Credential
No documentation of training - clients and employers rely entirely on word of mouth
Safety knowledge is self-taught with no formal verification - higher liability exposure
Invisible to credential-based directories and employer searches that filter for certified candidates
No professional network or structured continuing education path
Harder to justify premium pricing without an external standard to point to

The grooming industry does not require a license - but your clients, your employers, and your insurance provider are increasingly asking for one. A WPGA credential is the answer.

Your Path Starts Here

Where are you in your grooming career?

WPGA is built around four distinct career stages. Find yours and we'll show you exactly where to start - and what you'll unlock when you finish.

Track 1 · Start Your Career
I'm starting my grooming career
You love animals, you're serious about doing this right, and you want a credential that proves it from day one.
LAUNCH Bundle · PCS → MCS
Track 2 · Level Up
I'm a working groomer ready to level up
You've been in the field for years. You want formal recognition for what you know and advanced credentials that open new doors.
LEVEL UP Bundle · MGBS · MPAe
Track 3 · Train Your Team
I own a salon and need certified staff
You need groomers who meet a real standard. WPGA handles the curriculum, grading, and certification - you get the results.
OPERATIONS Bundle · MGP
Track 4 · Enterprise
I'm scaling a grooming brand or franchise
You need a credentialing partner who can meet your volume and standardize training across every location.
FRANCHISE READY Bundle · Bulk Cert.
Dara Forleo, Founder

The Discipline of Grooming

"This is not a YouTube skill.
It is a discipline."

A great groomer reads animal behavior before they touch the dog, understands coat science before they pick up shears, and knows how to keep both the animal and themselves safe. The WPGA curriculum was built around what working professionals actually need to know. Dara Forleo  ·  Founder, Whole Pet Grooming Academy
—Animal Behavior & Handling
—Coat Science & Skin Health
—Safety & First Aid Protocols
—Business & Practice Management

The WPGA Credential System

One standard. Three milestones.

Each credential builds on the last and unlocks something real - not just a line on a resume.

Entry Credential
PCS
Professional Canine Stylist (PCS)
The starting credential for the WPGA system. Covers grooming fundamentals, safety protocols, and the WPGA standard. DOE-accredited and recognized industry-wide.
CE Verified eligible Scholar Lounge access Alumni network
Advanced Credential
MCS
Master Canine Stylist (MCS)
Advanced grooming competency. Validates mastery of technique, breed standards, and professional practice. Required for Groomer's Boardroom membership.
Groomer's Boardroom Mentorship eligibility Business resources
Specialist Credentials
MGBS  ·  MPAe  ·  Animal Communication
Add specialist credentials on top of your core path. Behavior, aesthetics, and communication tracks allow you to build a specific niche and differentiate your practice.
MGBS - Behavior MPAe - Aesthetics Animal Communication
CE Verified
Annual continuing education recognition for credentialed groomers. Your CE Verified status shows clients and employers that your skills are actively maintained - not just a credential you earned once and forgot.
Groomer's Boardroom
The private peer community for MCS holders. Business resources, mentorship, and peer conversations that don't happen on public grooming forums.
Global Campus
All programs are online and self-paced. WPGA graduates are working across the US and internationally - the credential travels with you.

Expert-Led Education

Learn from working professionals

Every WPGA educator is an active groomer, competition judge, or industry leader. Your credential comes with their network attached.

Dara Forleo
Dara Forleo
Founder & Lead Educator

Dara built WPGA around one belief: grooming is a skilled trade, and it should be taught like one. She designed the entire WPGA curriculum from the ground up - drawing on years of professional grooming, industry leadership, and the conviction that groomers deserve an education system as rigorous as their craft.

MCSMGBSProgram DirectorIAPEG Affiliate
Christine Neumyer Smith
Christine Neumyer Smith
Senior Educator
MCSMPAeCompetition Judge
Bullet Brown
Bullet Brown
Behavior & Safety Specialist
MGBSIAPEG Co-Founder

Track Record

What WPGA graduates go on to do

The measure of a program is what its graduates accomplish. These numbers reflect a decade of education built around professional outcomes, not course completions.

58%
Became Business Owners After Graduating
More than half of WPGA graduates go on to open their own salons or run independent practices. The credential is the foundation; the community gives them the business skills to make it work.
Outcome Data
IAPEG
International Industry Body Co-Founded by WPGA Educators
The International Association for Pet Esthetics and Grooming was co-founded by WPGA educator Bullet Brown. WPGA graduates enter a network connected to the organizations that shape professional standards globally.
Industry Leadership
300+
Credentialed Graduates in the WPGA Network
Every WPGA graduate stays connected through the Scholar Lounge and CE Verified directory. The alumni network is a live professional community - not a list of past students who moved on.
Active Network
Dara Forleo
Dara Forleo
MCS · MGBS
Christine Neumyer Smith
Christine N. Smith
MCS · MPAe
Bullet Brown
Bullet Brown
MGBS · IAPEG
Kim C.
Kim C.
PCS Graduate
Kim C. - PCS Graduate
Kim C.
Professional Canine Stylist, WPGA

Graduate Story

What happens after you graduate

The support from The Whole Pet Grooming Academy was unparalleled, and I felt guided and encouraged every step of the way. The credential gave me the confidence to open my own salon - and the community gave me the business knowledge to make it work.

58%
of WPGA graduates became business owners
300+
credentialed groomers in the WPGA network
65%
built long-term grooming careers
13%
expanded to multiple locations

Institutional Authority

The only DOE-approved school
built specifically for groomers.

WPGA credentials are issued through a school licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Education as a post-secondary career institution. Your certification is backed by a state-licensed educational body, not a trade association badge or a course completion certificate. That distinction matters to clients, employers, and insurance providers who ask for documentation.

Accreditation
New Hampshire Dept. of Education
Licensed post-secondary career school under RSA 188-A. Formally reviewed and approved by the state of New Hampshire. Credentials issued under state oversight.
Industry Membership
IAPEG - International Association for Pet Esthetics and Grooming
WPGA is affiliated with the international professional body for pet grooming, co-founded by WPGA educator Bullet Brown. Graduate into a globally recognized network.

Your Career. Your Standard.

A credential built for the work
you're already doing.

WPGA programs are fully online, self-paced, and designed for working groomers with real schedules. Find your track and start where you are.

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