How to Become a Pet Groomer – In 4 Steps

If you own a pet, you likely already feel like you’re a certified pet groomer.

However, there’s a bit more to it than wrangling your two golden retrievers (who love water) into a bathtub they seem to hate (or is that just me?).

At the same time, I didn’t always do my pet grooming because I didn’t always trust that others could handle my lovable “knuckleheads,” as I call them.

For those who love pets and want to start a career in grooming, we’re going to help you plot a career path to becoming a pet groomer while also having the credentials to stand out as someone trustworthy.

We’ll also highlight some of the challenges that come with grooming pets that may not be as happy to see you each day, and how to thrive in a career as a pet groomer.

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Steps to Become a Pet Groomer

The steps to becoming a pet groomer are pretty straightforward, but this isn’t an industry where you want to take the shortest path.

Gaining experience and training is extremely helpful in building a career and positioning yourself to potentially own your own business someday.

1. Must Like Animals

Notice I didn’t say you have to LOVE pets to become a pet groomer.

You do need to have a solid respect and understanding of what the animals mean to the lives of the owners.

Plus, consider things like how you would handle a pet that is terrified of water, how comfortable you would be expressing anal glands, and what your patience level is with frustrating scenarios.

Also, it’s worth noting that loving animals can go beyond cats and dogs.

Some states allow birds, reptiles, and even pot-bellied pigs to be kept as pets.

If a pet is legal, it can be groomed legally in most states.

2. Get a High School Degree

Most jobs will want proof of a high school education or equivalent, like the GED.

In addition, most jobs or certification programs will require you to be 18 years old, although 16-year-olds are accepted in some states.

3. Enroll in a Pet Grooming Certification or Training Program

Different pet grooming locations, from corporate ownership to mom-and-pop places, will have specific requirements for training and certification.

We’ll go through some of the education options later in this article.

However, don’t expect training to last too long.

The most extended session would be about a year, but some finish in less than a month.

There are plenty of training options that complete all the requirements in about five months.

If you go the route of getting certified, expect a practical exam where you’ll have a time limit to groom specific breeds up to professional standards.

4. Get Hands-On Experience

To start your career goal of becoming a pet groomer, you could also consider getting hands-on experience as a pet washer.

The benefit of trying this job before getting formal education is that you’ll learn animal handling, get comfortable with the basics, and learn the grooming routine without having to handle a pair of scissors or clippers.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Pet Groomer

As of mid-2025, no states require pet groomers to be licensed.

To check that information before proceeding with a career as a pet groomer, start with your city government offices, and then head to the state government websites.

If you’re looking to open a pet grooming salon, you’ll also want to know about local business license requirements and any additional requirements, like a kennel boarding license if you plan to keep pets overnight.

Even though you’ll see a lot of reports about the minimum requirements for how to become a pet groomer, it’s worth the effort and time to invest in a certification or training program.

This will put you in a better negotiating position when you get hired.

The apex of education and certification comes from the National Dog Groomers Association of America, which has training options tied to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Even those with basic certification can take more advanced courses to work their way up to AKC Master Groomer.

These certifications will require proof of skills every few years.

Online Training Programs

Let’s look at some of the main entrances into the field of pet grooming and what the trailing options include.

Chain Stores Pet Grooming

When looking to get started as soon as possible, look for pet grooming options at stores like Petco and PetSmart.

Each of these examples pays you an hourly wage to go through the training academy, but they do expect a contract commitment on the back end.

That’s usually two years of employment with the store before you can take another pet grooming job.

If you leave before your contract is over, you could be on the hook for the full cost of training and any tools that were given to you during certification.

Animal Behavioral College

Animal Behavioral College offers a pet grooming program that mixes online learning with real-world experience.

You get 150 hours of hands-on training with a local mentor.

It covers grooming basics, breed-specific styles, and even pet CPR.

You get a full toolkit to keep, and most people finish in about a year.

Tuition runs between $3,500 and $5,700, with financial help available for military spouses.

Paragon Pet School

Another online option is Paragon Pet School.

You can learn at your own pace through three levels of training: Groom Tech, Pet Groomer, and Pet Stylist.

Each level combines online coursework with hands-on assignments and mentorship.

Tuition is about $1,300 per level, with optional toolkits ranging from $750 to $1,100.

Completion times vary: Level 1 can be finished in about 5 weeks, Level 2 in 10 weeks, and Level 3 in 8 weeks.

American Grooming Academy

The online program at American Grooming Academy also includes practice with a mentor from your community.

You’ll study breed trims, pet handling, and salon safety.

Tuition varies based on the program and toolkit you choose, but expect to spend around $3,500 to $5,000 in total.

The timeline is flexible, though most students finish in under a year.

Graduates can earn certification as a Pet Stylist or Professional Pet Groomer.

Salary

Pet groomers fall under the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job category of Animal Care and Service Workers.

The average salary in 2024 was $33,860 a year, which works out to $16.28 an hour.

We all know how much Americans love their pets, which is why it’s not surprising that the field is expected to grow by 15% between now and 2033.

It’s also worth noting that the Animal Care and Service Workers category also covers pet sitters and animal trainers, so the salary isn’t always apples to apples.

Zip Recruiter put the average hourly wage for dog groomers at $23 an hour, which is nearly $48,000 annually.

If you’re an employee of a pet grooming company, you might either get a flat hourly wage or get a commission for each job you do.

In addition, the customers usually tip groomers, which can be split between all the people who worked on the pet during the grooming session (bather, brusher, groomer, etc.).

Be sure to spend some time on Reddit, where pet grooming forums are filled with real-life feedback from people working in the field.

Salary Information by State

* Salary information based on the May 2024 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Animal Caretakers, OCC Code 39-2021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.