Level 6
Rescue Behaviour Specialist
Take the next step in your canine behaviour career with the IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour, a specialist qualification designed for experienced trainers and behaviour practitioners who work with, or want to work with, rescue and rehoming cases.
This recognised Level 6 rescue behaviour qualification builds on your existing behaviour skills and focuses on assessment, formulation and planning in the specific context of rescue, kennels and foster homes. You will learn how to work safely with higher risk and complex dogs, support staff and volunteers, and design realistic pre- and post-adoption plans that put welfare and safety first.
By the end of the course you will be confident assessing rescue dogs within a clear scope of practice, identifying risk factors, designing practical behaviour and management plans, and communicating your recommendations to rescues, foster carers and adopters in a clear, professional way.
MODULES INCLUDED
You will study four focused modules that take you from behaviour practitioner to structured rescue behaviour specialist:
- Rescue context, welfare and professional scope in rehoming work
- Behaviour assessment and case formulation in kennels and foster homes
- Behaviour planning, enrichment and preparation for rehoming
- Post-adoption support, risk management and multi-agency working
Typical course length:
Most learners complete the taught content and assessments within 6 to 8 weeks alongside an active caseload. You have up to 12 months of access to complete all elements.
You will qualify with:
- IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour
- The right to use the title IICBT Canine Rescue Behaviour Specialist (IICBT CRBS) in line with IICBT brand guidelines
- Recognition through the iPET Network Professional Development Recognition (PDR) scheme
STUDY OPTIONS AND SUPPORT
The Level 6 rescue course is designed to fit around existing behaviour and training work.
- All core teaching is delivered online through tutor-led lessons, rescue-focused case walk-throughs and short knowledge checks
- You access your lessons, templates and assessment guidance through a single student portal
- You can study in focused blocks to fast track, or spread your learning steadily alongside client and rescue commitments
Throughout your studies you have access to experienced IICBT behaviour tutors for questions on rescue practice, assessment and professional scope, plus a student helpdesk for technical support.
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED
Assessment is designed to confirm that you can think through and plan rescue behaviour cases safely and systematically.
- Short online assessments at the end of each module, such as multiple choice questions, brief case summaries and applied scenario questions
- A final rescue behaviour case study where you bring together history taking, formulation, planning and communication in a rescue context
For the final case study you will normally:
- Use an IICBT rescue history template to gather structured information from a kennel, foster or adopter
- Produce a written formulation and staged behaviour and management plan that takes account of the rescue environment and rehoming goals
- Outline how you will support the rescue and adopter over time, including review points and referral pathways
- Provide a short recorded explanation of your approach, as if speaking to a rescue manager or veterinary colleague
Clear assessment criteria and example formats are provided so you know exactly what a pass standard looks like.
CAREER SUPPORT AND BUSINESS RESOURCES
The Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour is built to help you add a structured rescue and rehoming focus to your existing behaviour work.
During the course you will:
- Use ready-made templates for rescue behaviour histories, kennel and foster assessments, rehoming plans and vet or rescue reports
- Practise explaining risk, timescales and expectations in clear language that supports informed decisions about rehoming and management
- Begin shaping defined rescue behaviour services and packages, whether you work in-house for a rescue or as an external practitioner
You also gain access to wider IICBT resources and pathways that support you in developing referral relationships with rescues and vets, managing a sustainable and ethical rescue caseload, and building a specialist profile that organisations and adopters can trust.
COURSE FEES
The total course fee for this programme is £499.
Flexible payment options are available. On your call, an IICBT adviser can talk you through deposit amounts, monthly plans and what will work best for your budget.
See the full breakdown of modules, assessment, pricing and study options.
Career Pathway Options
Dog Walker Package
Canine Behaviour Practitioner Package
Dog Trainer Package
The UK’s #1 training provider for canine behaviour and training
With long standing expertise in developing high quality canine professionals, we understand what it takes to succeed in a competitive, fast growing field. We train dog trainers and behaviour practitioners who are more employable, better prepared for real cases, confident with clients, and committed to ethical, evidence based practice.
If you are new to the industry, our Level 5 Diploma in Canine Training and Instruction is the place to begin. It is recognised as a clear benchmark for those entering professional practice and gives you the skills to train dogs safely, design structured training plans and work effectively with owners.
If you are an experienced trainer aiming to move into complex behaviour work, our Level 6 Diploma in Canine Behaviour Practice builds on that foundation. You will develop advanced skills in behavioural assessment, case formulation, risk management and working closely with veterinary teams.
You can also strengthen your profile with focused short courses in areas such as puppy training, first aid and nutrition. These programmes help you deepen knowledge, refine your practice and stay current with sector expectations.
Step 1. Download The Prospectus
Start by downloading the Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour prospectus. You will see how the course is built around kennels, foster homes and rehoming, the types of cases covered and how the qualification fits with your existing behaviour work. You can decide if this is the right specialism for you before you commit.
Step 2. Talk to an IICBT Adviser
Next, you speak with an adviser who understands rescue environments and multi agency work. They will look at your current behaviour experience, the type of rescue or rehoming work you are involved in or want to move into, and how study can fit around your caseload. Together you agree a study route, discuss fast track or steady options, explore payment plans and, if it fits, build a package that aligns with your rescue and behaviour goals.
Step 3. Get Enrolled and set Up in Your Portal
If you decide to enrol, your adviser completes the process with you and walks you through your rescue behaviour area inside the portal. You see where to find rescue focused lessons, history templates, assessment tools and report formats, and how to get tutor support on real cases. You leave the call with a clear plan for your first modules.
Step 4. Study, Complete Assessment, Get Qualified
You then work through the course alongside your current rescue or behaviour commitments. Most learners complete the Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour in around 6 to 8 weeks. You follow structured lessons, apply them to real or example rescue cases, complete short assessments and a final rescue case study, then receive your IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Canine Rescue Behaviour and Canine Rescue Behaviour Specialist title.
Step 5. Start or Grow Your Business With Our Support
Once qualified, you are better equipped to support rescues, foster carers and adopters with clear, realistic behaviour plans. You use structured assessments and reports to inform decisions, manage risk and support long term outcomes. Your specialist title and IICBT backing help you build stronger relationships with rescues and vets and shape a rescue focused behaviour caseload that fits your values and income goals.
WHY SERIOUS DOG PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE IICBT
Independent, outcomes-led standards for canine training and behaviour, designed to prepare you for real work with dogs and owners.
Fast Track Routes
Move quickly if you’re ready, or pace your study around work and family. We show you exactly how to get qualified, not just “work through the content”.
Practical Workshops
Train in person at places owners recognise, including The Kennel Club at Stoneleigh and partner centres across the UK, not just in a village hall.
Unlimited tutor Access
Ask questions as often as you need. You get direct access to practising trainers and behaviour specialists, not a ticket system and stock replies.
Study From Anywhere
Log in, watch lessons, download templates and keep going. All core teaching lives online so you can build your new career from your sofa, not a classroom.
Support to Build a Business
We talk pricing, services, marketing and client handling, so you leave with a plan to earn from your skills, not just a certificate for the wall.
Training People Trust
Your courses are backed by an independent institute and recognised through the iPET Network PDR scheme, giving you something credible to show vets, employers and clients.
Rescue behaviour is one of the most specialised, high impact areas of canine work. It often sits inside a wider role rather than as a single job title, but that does not mean it has to be an optional extra. Many practitioners use this diploma to stand out for behaviour and welfare roles in charities and rehoming centres, or to add specialist rescue services to an existing behaviour practice.
In real terms, that can look like combining a salaried post in a centre with paid post adoption packages, behaviour clinics, staff training days or consultancy for smaller rescues. Private rescue focused behaviour packages are often priced in the £250 to £500 range per case, while in house workshops and consultancy can bring in £250 to £500 per day. With a small number of private rescue cases each month on top of a core role, or a mixed freelance caseload built around rescues, it is realistic to work towards £40,000 to £60,000 per year while focusing on the dogs and organisations you care most about.
Fees and Payment Options
When you speak with an adviser, they will talk you through course fees, any current offers and the payment plan that fits your budget. Most learners start with a £199 deposit and a simple monthly schedule.
Spread the cost of your course over simple monthly instalments, with 0% interest on our in-house plans.
Secure your place with a £199 deposit, then spread the remaining course fees with simple monthly payments.
Our in-house payment plans do not require a formal credit check, keeping the process simple and accessible.
Pay your full course fee at enrolment and save 20% compared with the standard payment plan price.
What if I already work in rescue but have no formal behaviour qualification?
That is a common position. You may have a lot of hands on experience and still feel you are improvising on the behaviour side. The Level 6 Diploma gives you a structured way to assess dogs, think about risk and plan support in kennels, foster homes and post adoption, so you can move from “doing your best” to working within a clear professional framework.
Do I have to leave my current role to study this?
No. The course is built to sit alongside active rescue or behaviour work. In fact, many learners use current cases as examples for assignments. Your adviser can help you plan how to weave study into your existing rota so you improve your practice without stepping away from the dogs and teams you support.
How long will it take me to see benefits in my day to day rescue work?
You will usually start seeing things differently almost immediately. As you move through the modules, you will change how you gather histories, discuss risk and plan enrichment, even before you finish the course. On your call, your adviser can talk through which parts are likely to make the biggest difference in your setting fastest.
I have learned a lot “on the job” already. Why do I need a formal rescue behaviour course?
On the job learning is valuable, but it is often reactive and inconsistent. A formal Level 6 qualification gives you structure, language and documents that you can share with managers, vets and adopters. It also helps protect you and the organisation by clarifying scope, risk and when a case is not suitable for rehoming.
What if I find the emotional side of rescue work heavy already?
Rescue work is emotionally demanding, and this course does not pretend otherwise. Alongside behaviour content, you will look at professional boundaries, decision making and working within your own limits. The aim is to help you make clearer, more defensible decisions, which can actually reduce stress and guilt long term.
What happens once I qualify?
You can present yourself as an IICBT Canine Rescue Behaviour Specialist with a Level 6 rescue focused qualification. That can support your role in house, strengthen funding and partnership bids for your organisation, or help you position yourself as an external specialist for rescues in your region.
Do you offer payment plans, or do I have to pay everything upfront?
On your call, your adviser can explain the fee and any options for spreading the cost. In some cases organisations support or contribute to the fee, and your adviser can help you think about how to position that conversation internally.
Why should I choose IICBT for rescue behaviour instead of just learning on the job?
“Figuring it out as you go” in rescue usually means learning through crises, complaints and burnout. The IICBT Level 6 rescue behaviour diploma is built by people who have worked in and alongside rescues, handling complex, high stakes decisions every week. You get structure, templates and a clear scope of practice tailored to rescue work, so you can support kennels, fosters and adopters with a plan, not just your best guess under pressure.