ONLINE COURSE · LEVEL 3
Public Access Readiness training course
Proof your dog's manners in stores, restaurants, waiting rooms and on transport before working in public.
- TaskCalm, controlled behavior in public places (stores, restaurants, transport)
- Lessons5 · about 1.5 hours
- Practiceabout 6 weeks
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Public access is where training meets real life. This course takes the skills from Foundations and proofs them in harder places: stores, restaurants, waiting rooms, public transport and busy sidewalks.
Under the ADA, a service dog must be under control and housebroken in public. This course helps you build and check exactly that, step by step, with a checklist you can use before every new kind of outing.
While training: practise in pet-friendly places until your dog is ready. Always follow local rules for dogs in training.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Lesson by lesson
-
1
15 min
The public access checklist
Score your dog on the 10-point checklist at home and in one pet-friendly store.
-
2
20 min
Stores and aisles
Three store visits with a loose leash, no sniffing shelves and a calm wait at checkout.
-
3
20 min
Restaurants and waiting rooms
Your dog settles under a table for 30 minutes at an outdoor café.
-
4
20 min
Transport and busy places
Calm behavior on a ride in a car, bus or train, and a walk on a busy sidewalk.
-
5
15 min
Sound, surprises and recovery
Your dog recovers within 5 seconds from a sudden noise or surprise and stays with you.
You'll log at least 12 practice sessions before signing your record.
WHO IT'S FOR
Handlers whose dog has the Foundations skills and at least one task, and who are getting ready for public work.
WHAT YOU GET
Proof of your work, wherever you go
Certificate of completion
With your dog's photo, your signature, the task trained and a QR code. Print it yourself or have us mail a printed copy.
Public training record
A page anyone can scan: the course, the task, your practice history and your signed declaration.
Wallet card
Your Training Record in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — it updates itself when you refresh.
On your verification page
Registered with USAR? Your dog's verification page shows that you completed USAR training.
What you finish with
- A dog trained on a real task, step by step
- A practice log with optional video — the story of your work
- A signed training record with its own page and QR code
- A certificate of completion and a Wallet card
Where it helps
- Answering "what task does your dog do?" with confidence
- Showing a landlord or business your training history
- Keeping skills sharp with a yearly refresh
- Working alongside a local trainer if you use one
Handler-led training completed through a USAR online course and confirmed by the handler's signed declaration. Not observed in person by USAR.
FAQ
Questions handlers ask
Do I need to finish Foundations first?
It's strongly recommended. This course assumes your dog already has focus, a settle, loose-leash walking and leave it.
Is this a public access test?
It's a training course with a checklist you complete yourself. USAR does not observe or test your dog.
What kind of certificate do I get?
A certificate of course completion for the task training you did with your dog — with your dog's photo, your signature and a QR code to your training record. The ADA doesn't require any certification for a service dog; what matters is that your dog is trained to do tasks for you, and that's exactly what the courses teach.
Can I train my own service dog?
Yes. Under the ADA, handlers may train their own service dog. What matters is that the dog is individually trained to perform tasks related to your disability and behaves appropriately in public. Our courses give you a structured plan for the task training part.
How long does a course take?
Most courses take a few weeks of short daily practice. Each course shows its lessons and the typical number of weeks. You go at your own pace — lessons stay open, and your practice log keeps track of your progress.
What do I get when I finish?
A signed training record with its own public page and QR code, and a certificate of course completion with your dog's photo and your signature. Members also get a Training ID card for Apple Wallet or Google Wallet; with a single course it's an optional add-on.
How does the membership work?
One payment ($79) gives you every course and level for a year, new courses as they come out, the Wallet card and the yearly refresh. It does not renew on its own. Before the year ends we email you: keep it going for $29.99/year if you want, or let it end.
MORE COURSES
Other tasks you can train
Level 1
Service Dog Foundations
Task: Foundation skills: focus on handler, settle on a mat, loose-leash walking and calm public manners
The core skills every working dog needs before task training: focus, a solid settle, loose-leash walking and calm public manners.
Level 2
Deep Pressure Therapy
Task: Deep pressure therapy on cue
Teach your dog to lie across your lap or chest on cue and apply calming pressure during anxiety or sensory overload.
Level 2
Medication Retrieval
Task: Retrieves medication pouch on cue
Teach your dog to find and bring a medication pouch to you on cue, from another room.
Start Public Access Readiness today
Self-paced lessons, a practice log and a signed training record when you finish.