Become a Pet Sitter

You will learn how to become a pet sitter and how to start a pet sitting business, including: what a pet sitter does, how to develop your skills to succeed in a pet sitting career, how to run a pet sitting business, and how to get pet sitting clients.

What Happens in the Pet Sitter Certificate Course

The Pet Sitter Certificate course is an online learning program with suggested readings from the textbook (IAP Career College Guide to Become a Pet Sitter). This course is self directed, which means you may study and complete assignments at times that are most convenient for you from the comfort of your own home.

This part-time Pet Sitter Certificate Course has a recommended completion date of 6 weeks from the start of the program, however, you may choose to complete the course in as little as 2 weeks or as long as 12 weeks, depending on your schedule.

The Pet Sitter Certificate Course has been created to allow you to complete it without any teaching assistance. However, if you have questions or need assistance, you can receive help from a Faculty Member throughout the 6 weeks of the course. Your Faculty Member is a valuable resource person who can provide you with personal teaching assistance to help you succeed in the course and advice to help you succeed in the career.

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Course Topics

The Pet Sitter Certificate Course has been developed to meet high academic standards, ensuring that as a graduate you can display with pride the Pet Sitter Certificate you will earn from the International Association of Professions Career College.

How to Become a Pet Sitter | How to Start a Pet Sitting Business

In this course, you will learn how to become a pet sitter and how to start a pet sitting business. Topics covered in the Pet Sitter Certificate Course include the following:

Introduction

  • What Pet Sitters Do
  • Benefits of Pet Sitting

Pet Sitting Basics

  • Meeting and Building Trust with Clients
  • A Pet Sitter’s Responsibilities
  • Other Services You Can Offer
  • Dog Walks
  • Pet Transportation
  • Pet Massages

Getting Ready

  • Skills You Will Need
  • Pet Expertise
  • Business Skills
  • Developing Your Knowledge
  • Pet Resources
  • Getting Pet Sitting Experience

Starting Your Business

  • Writing a Business Plan
  • Getting Financing
  • Licensing Requirements

Running Your Pet Sitting Business

  • Choosing a Location
  • Equipment and Supplies
  • Hygiene, Health and Safety
  • Setting Your Fees
  • Getting Paid
  • Getting Help and Hiring Staff

Getting Clients

  • Choosing Your Target Market
  • Marketing Tools
  • Advertising
  • Getting Publicity
  • Franchising
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Join 500,000+ Career Changers Since 1999

What Is Included in the Pet Sitter Certificate Course

This all-inclusive Pet Sitter Certificate Course package consists of:

  • Registration for the Pet Sitter Certificate Course
  • Lifetime access to course materials
  • Access to a Faculty Member to provide you with personal teaching assistance and business advice
  • (Optional) 2026 membership in the IAPO International Organization of Professional Pet Sitters for only US$ 2.99 per month
  • Downloadable Pet Sitter Certificate personalized with your name and the seal of the International Association of Professions Career College which you may print
  • (Optional) Opportunity to order official certificates printed on fine linen paper and embossed with the gold seal of the college
  • Textbook: IAP Career College Guide to Become a Pet Sitter (e-book edition)

Register for the Pet Sitter Certificate Course


BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL
Easy changes and cancellations
It’s easy to change or cancel your course registration. See our FAQ page for details.

You can have all this for an incredible price. It can cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to take other programs. (We found courses based on old editions of our guides with registration fees of up to $999 and more.) We are able to offer you online courses at a significantly lower cost to you because of our expertise from over 20 years of producing the leading online guides for non-traditional careers.

Our online certificate courses have previously been offered for a registration fee of $297 U.S. and include a textbook and professional membership – a total value of almost $377.

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL: This all-inclusive registration package for the Pet Sitter Certificate Course is priced as only US$ 149.00 for the September 14, 2026 course.

Associated Courses

Register today for the Pet Sitter Certificate Course. Enrollment is limited and registration is on a first come first served basis, so we recommend that you register early for the Pet Sitter Certificate Course online to avoid disappointment.

If the course is full, please email support@iapcollege.com to be notified when a new course date is scheduled.

To ensure your complete satisfaction all certificate courses are backed by our full 100% money back guarantee.

About a Career as a Pet Sitter

Imagine having a business that lets you get paid to play with and care for pets. You can when you start your own pet sitting business!

Pet sitters are hired to care for pets in the pets’ own homes while their owners are on vacation, travelling for work, or away from home for any other reason.

Pet sitters offer pet owners convenience as well as peace of mind, knowing that their pets and homes are being cared for while they are away. The happy pets enjoy a pleasant stay at home, instead of a stressful trip to a boarding facility or kennel.

As a pet sitter, you will feel needed and appreciated by pets and pet owners alike.

You can start a pet sitting business with only a small investment, working out of your home and scheduling work around your family life or other commitments. You can start part-time or full time and pet sit on your own, or increase your income by hiring a staff of pet sitters who you can schedule as appointments come in.

My experience with IAP Career College was exceptional! I loved how the courses get right to the main points and you learn so much in a short period of time.
Kari Miller, Ohsweken, Ontario

Why Get a Certificate?

How can you benefit with a certificate from the International Association of Professions Career College (IAP Career College)?

A certificate from the International Association of Professions Career College may give you:

  • Respect as a professional
  • A competitive advantage when marketing your services
  • A sense of achievement and confidence
  • A credential for your resume when applying for jobs
  • Assurance to clients of your professionalism
  • Evidence of your expertise
  • Higher earnings (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Certificates: A fast track to careers)

With the International Association of Professions Career College, you can earn a certificate online more quickly and affordably than many other educational options.

Student Spotlight: A Graduate's Success Story

Carol Ann Penta
Revere, Massachusetts, USA

“They actually had a course in how to run a pet sitting business. That was a sign!”

Carol Ann’s love for animals had always been strong, and she wanted to turn that passion into a business. When she discovered IAP College’s Pet Sitter Certificate Course, she knew it was the perfect fit.

After earning her certificate, she started her own cat sitting business in November and already has a growing list of returning clients. The course gave her the knowledge and confidence to make her dream a reality.

“Thank you for pointing me in the right direction and helping make my business a success.”

Why Choose IAP Career College?

The International Association of Professions Career College (also known as IAP Career College) aims to offer the finest in affordable online certificate programs for dream careers.

The textbooks for most of our courses were developed by our parent company, the leading online publisher of career guide books on how to get started in a dream career, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Our guides have been used as textbooks for more than a decade, and you can find them in the career centers and library collections of many famed colleges and universities – from the University of Texas to the Fashion Institute of Technology – as well as in numerous public libraries in cities from Vancouver to New York.

It can cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to take other certificate programs. When we discovered online courses based on old editions of our career guides costing over US$ 1,000.00, we knew it was time to offer our own online certificate programs.

Now, the leader in online career guides for dream careers, along with a team of respected academics, have created online certificate programs through IAP Career College, allowing you to study and earn a certificate from the comfort of your own home.

Established online in 1999, the parent company of IAP Career College (known as FabJob) is an award-winning organization named “the #1 place to get published online” by Writer’s Digest. Our company and career guides have been featured in media ranging from ABC to Oprah’s newsletter and respected news sites ranging from CNN to the Wall Street Journal online.

We continue this tradition of excellence in online career education with the International Association of Professions Career College. Each of our career certificate programs has been developed to meet high academic standards, ensuring that as a graduate you can display with pride the certificate you will earn from the International Association of Professions Career College.

We invite you to learn more about the online certificate courses we offer you by visiting our Certificate Courses page. We are also happy to answer any of your questions to help you decide whether an online certificate course from the International Association of Professions Career College is right for you.

Have questions or need help?

Contact an Academic Advisor at International Association of Professions Career College:

support@iapcollege.com

Student Service Center
(For registered students only)
1-844-204-7982

If you are not a student you can email support@iapcollege.com or use live chat for inquiries.

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Click on “Ask Us a Question” at the bottom of this screen.

About IAP Career College

IAP Career College, also known as the International Association of Professions Career College, is a private online career college affiliated with FabJob Inc, the leading online publisher of guide books on how to get started in a dream career, serving hundreds of thousands of career changers on six continents since 1999. Learn more about us.

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  • What does a pet sitter do?
    Pet sitters care for pets in clients’ homes—handling feeding, exercise, companionship, medication, and household oversight while owners are away.
  • What will I learn in the Pet Sitter Certificate Course?
    You’ll learn how to care for animals safely, manage client communications, set service packages, schedule visits, and run a pet sitting business.
  • How long does the Pet Sitter Certificate Course take to complete?
    The Pet Sitter Certificate Course is designed to be self‑paced, with a recommended completion time of 6 weeks. However, you have the flexibility to complete it in as little as 2 weeks or extend it up to 12 weeks, depending on your schedule.

    Need more time? No problem. All of IAP’s Courses include lifetime access.
  • How much can I earn as a pet sitter?
    Pet sitters typically charge a flat rate per visit, ranging anywhere between $25 and $200. Rates will vary widely depending on the services you are providing during visits, the types of animals you are caring for, the level of care required, the number of animals per household, and whether you are staying overnight or dropping in for short visits.
  • Can I run a pet sitting business after completing this course?
    Yes. The course provides business tools and operational frameworks designed to help you start or grow a pet sitting service—whether working solo or partnering via platforms.
  • Do I need animal care experience?
    No prior experience required. The course is suitable for beginners and includes practical guidance on safe animal handling and client service.
  • Can I take the Pet Sitter Certificate Course from outside of North America?
    Yes. The course is entirely online and self‑paced. It’s accessible worldwide with materials available 24/7.
  • Will I receive a certificate when I finish the course?
    Yes! You’ll receive a Pet Sitter Certificate from IAP Career College—demonstrating your ability to care for pets professionally and manage pet sitting services.
  • What is IAP Career College
    The International Association of Professions Career College (IAP Career College) is a leading online career college offering online certificate courses and professional certifications for non‑traditional and "dream" careers.

    Since 1999, we’ve helped over 500,000 students across six continents get started in dream careers—from life coaching to event planning to end‑of‑life care. Our courses are flexible, beginner‑friendly, and designed for adult learners looking for practical, self‑paced options.

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