Education & Training
become an APLB Pet Loss Grief Specialist
For a Kinder, More Compassionate Tomorrow
Pet Loss Grief Specialist Training
Become an APLB Pet Loss Grief Specialist
APLB offers educational training in Pet Loss Grief work resulting in a certificate of completion as a Pet Loss Grief Specialist.
This course has been redesigned from the ground up and mirrors the many years of practice and experience in the field from our founder Dr. Wallace Sife.
Our instructors were trained under Dr. Sife, represent diversity in career paths/areas of expertise, and have a variety of experiences in the field of Pet Loss Grief work.
The training is offered asynchronously through Google Classroom so no specific meeting times are required. Instructors offer two optional group meetings to discuss ideas and answer questions for the cohort over the 8 week period.
Have a question for our instructors? Contacting instructors directly is a benefit reserved for Silver, Platinum, or Professional members. Join or log in below to reach out with your questions.
Requirements
What students need before they begin
Students Must
Content by Week
Our graduates tell us how much they appreciate having been required to give that extra effort to meet our high standards.
We make full use of The Loss of a Pet (Fourth Edition) as a textbook for reference and resource in this curriculum. It is important to have a hard copy of this title.
Tuition & Policies
What it costs and what to expect
The tuition for this course is US $850.
A pro-rated refund is available if the registrant requests this before the third week of this course. There is a $50.00 administration and processing fee that will be deducted from your refund.
This class is offered every February and August, and enrollment is limited to 10 seats per class. APLB Silver, Platinum, Professional and Professional Plus members receive advance notice when registration opens to help ensure enrollment.
Effective pet loss grief specialists must be able to explain concepts clearly, and simplify the client's perceptions which can then be more easily re-shaped. Developing appropriate coping strategies requires sharp focus on the presenting problems. Our homework assignments teach and develop that skill.
Unfortunately, some very well-intended students lack that particular aptitude and they are unable to pass the course. We regret this, but the APLB's standards were established and implemented to ensure excellence in pet bereavement assistance.
After completing the course, students will receive an APLB Pet Loss Grief Specialist Training Certificate by mail. Continuing Education credits are also available, as authorized by the American Association of Veterinary Boards.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Sessions run twice a year, February and August
We are working hard to train additional Instructors to expand our class sizes and frequency. Please be patient as we work towards this goal.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, 12:01am – Saturday, September 26th, 2026, 12:01am
We are full already!Sunday, January 31st, 2027, 12:01am – Saturday, March 27th, 2027, 12:01am
We are full already!Sunday, August 1st, 2027, 12:01am – Saturday, September 25th, 2027, 12:01am
We are full already!Sunday, January 31st, 2028, 12:01am – Saturday, March 25th, 2028, 12:01am
Accepting applicationsA Few Notes About Our Course
Scholarships Available!
For Silver, Platinum, Professional & Professional Plus members
We offer a PLGS Scholarship for individuals who are Silver, Platinum, Professional, or Professional Plus members.
The number of scholarships awarded will vary from session to session. Individuals who accept the award and successfully complete the training (passing scores and final exam) are required to serve as a chatroom host or video support host for at least 1 year.
Requirements for Applicants
Applicants will be interviewed to ensure that they understand the requirements and notified if they are successful before the training start date.
If the applicant decides not to complete the full one-year term, they will be required to pay the balance of the tuition.
Enroll or Submit an Enquiry
Membership required to register or contact PLGS Administration
You will need a Silver, Platinum, Professional, or Professional Plus membership to enroll in our Pet Loss Grief Specialist Training Program.
* Seating is limited. If there are no seats for the next class, you will be given top priority for the next class thereafter.
If you do not have an APLB membership and would like to sign up for one, please click the button to join today, then revisit this page.
*Please be sure you sign up for a Silver, Platinum, Professional, or Professional Plus membership to be able to view the enrollment link.
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