Every groomer, boarder, trainer, breeder, and pet sitter operating in unincorporated Clark County is now required to have completed a county animal welfare training course, as of Tuesday, August 4. T

he requirement, first passed as part of a February 2025 ordinance package, had been on a countdown clock for the past 18 months and officially became mandatory this week, according to Clark County.

The free, online Animal Handler Training Course covers basic animal welfare, recognizing signs and symptoms of illness, and compliance with county code.

Business owners must complete it before getting or renewing a business license, and employees who have direct contact with animals must finish it within six months of being hired.

The course applies to grooming, boarding, training, and pet sitting businesses, kennels, catteries, breeders, and rescue organizations. Veterinary businesses, equine-only operations, and contracted shelter facilities are exempt.

We first reported on the approaching deadline in May.

The same ordinance also requires businesses to notify Animal Protection Services within 12 hours of an animal’s death and preserve the body for a possible necropsy, along with posting signage that lets customers know how to report animal welfare concerns.

The training requirement was paired with a separate mandatory microchipping rule for all Clark County dogs and cats over four months old, which took effect in August 2025.

Nevada has no state licensing or certification requirement for dog trainers or boarding facilities, so county officials have described the handler training course as a baseline safeguard rather than a full licensing system.

Las Vegas dog owners whose pets attend daycare, get groomed, or board overnight at a facility in unincorporated Clark County can now expect the staff working with their pet to have completed this training.

Business owners with questions about compliance can contact Clark County Animal Protection Services.