Biodetection-Canine Handler-Practitioner Certification
A theoretical psychometric test designed to methodologically evaluate the competence of the handler as a practitioner.
SECTION 1 — GLOBAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
GLOBAL CERTIFICATION
The world's first international canine biodetection program to adopt characterized and quantified reference-quality odor signatures as the foundational basis for its education, training, and certification activities.
Abstract
Reference-quality, characterized odor as a certification basis
The SCENTSOURCE™ Biodetection Canine Global Certification Program is designed to serve as the most comprehensive biodetection canine and canine-team certification program within the detector-K9 industry, and the first to use characterized and quantified odor as a certification basis.
Certifications are achieved using reference-quality odors of known properties and composition that can be plausibly discussed by scientific affiliates of the product manufacturers, and that have also been independently validated by operational practitioners worldwide. Biodetection training aids that fit the SCENTSOURCE™biodetection training-aid criteria are selected for use within the certification program as they become available.
Definitions — Specialty Global Certification Areas
Initial certification specialties
- Explosives Detection (20 reference chemical explosives, all classes — including TATP and HMTD)
- Drug / Narcotics Detection (9 reference drugs and narcotics — including Fentanyl and Xylazine)
- Building Health Detection — (i) Bed Bugs, (ii) Mould, and (iii) Termites; collectively or individually
- Firearms & Ammunition Detection (all firearms, per dictionary definition)
- Mobile Phone & Digital Electronic Media Detection — Mobile Phones and Digital Storage Media
- Cargo Inspection (odor and scent detection)
- Oil & Gas Pipeline Leak Detection
- Human Remains (HR) & Search and Rescue (SR) Detection
- Arson Detection
- Tracking
Methodology — Global Certification Structure
The certification process is modular
The SCENTSOURCE™ global certification process consists of three modular options. Certified canines are badged according to their certification years, indicating seniority and experience in odor-based detection.
Biodetection Canine Certification
A modern certification process for the canine alone, involving a series of odor-recognition tests performed using an inert glass dispenser plus at least one additional material that may be porous (e.g., boxes), reductive (e.g., membranous plastics), or reactive (e.g., metals).
Biodetection Canine-Practitioner Team Certification
Dual participation of canine and practitioner as a detection team — working cooperatively, synergistically and symbiotically through time-controlled, stress-infused, double-blind search-and-detect certification-worthy scenarios.
Reference Index
Search the complete SCENTSOURCE™ reference-odor catalogue
| Category | Reference Odor |
|---|---|
| Explosives | Tagged RDX |
| Explosives | Untagged RDX |
| Explosives | TNT / Tetryl |
| Explosives | Semtex (A + H) |
| Explosives | Nitroglycerin |
| Explosives | Nitrocellulose |
| Explosives | Dynamite |
| Explosives | ICAO-Mandated Taggants |
| Explosives | TATP / DADP |
| Explosives | All-Base Smokeless Powder |
| Explosives | HMTD |
| Explosives | Potassium Chlorate |
| Explosives | Sodium Chlorate |
| Explosives | Black Powder |
| Explosives | ETN / PETN |
| Explosives | Ammonium Nitrate / Urea Nitrate / ANFO |
| Explosives | Ethylene Glycol Dinitrate |
| Explosives | Nitromethane |
| Explosives | Potassium Nitrate |
| Explosives | Firearms |
| Narcotics | Methamphetamine / Amphetamine / Khat / Bath Salts |
| Narcotics | Cocaine / Crack-Cocaine |
| Narcotics | Heroin & Opium |
| Narcotics | MDMA / Ecstasy |
| Narcotics | Marijuana / Cannabis Resin / Synthetics / Hashish / K2 / Spice |
| Narcotics | PCP / Angel Dust |
| Narcotics | LSD / DMT |
| Narcotics | Fentanyl & Derivatives |
| Narcotics | Xylazine |
| Human Remains | Multipurpose (Land/Air/Water) Human Remains Detection |
| Human Remains | Watermarked-Human Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Mould Detection (Denmark's 26-Mould Standard) |
| Specialized Detection | Bed Bug Detection (Live) |
| Specialized Detection | Digital Storage Media Detection — Hard-Drives & SIM Cards |
| Specialized Detection | Green Dog Detection Proficiency Assessment (Search-Behaviour) |
| Specialized Detection | Mobile Phones & Cellular Device Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Laundered (US) Currency Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Guns & Firearms Detection (International Edition) |
| Specialized Detection | Ammunition Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Oil & Pipeline Leak Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Arson Detection |
| Specialized Detection | Tracking |
| Specialized Detection | Termites Detection |
Section A
International Certification in Explosives Detection
The SCENTSOURCE™ explosives certification covers multiple targets across the six known categories of chemical explosives — including the two distinct peroxides currently used in most illicit activities worldwide (TATP and HMTD), and the fastest explosives ever made (the nitrocubanes).
TABLE 1
Available SCENTSOURCE™ Reference Odors — Explosives
- Tagged RDX
- Untagged RDX
- TNT / Tetryl
- Semtex (A + H)
- Nitroglycerin
- Nitrocellulose
- Dynamite
- ICAO-Mandated Taggants
- TATP / DADP
- All-Base Smokeless Powder
- HMTD
- Potassium Chlorate
- Sodium Chlorate
- Black Powder
- ETN / PETN
- Ammonium Nitrate / Urea Nitrate / ANFO
- Ethylene Glycol Dinitrate
- Nitromethane
- Potassium Nitrate
- Firearms
RECOMMENDED “BASIC” CERTIFICATION — EXPLOSIVES
TNT · t-RDX · Dynamite · SP · Semtex · ETN/PETN · AN/UN · PC · TATP · HMTD · BP
Available Certification Combinations
Combined certifications, based on operational requirements, are offered alongside the basic certification:
01
Traditional Explosives Detection
TNT, t-RDX, Dynamite, SP, Semtex, ETN/PETN, AN
02
IED / HME Certification
PC, AN/UN, TNT, ETN/PETN, TATP, NM, PN
03
“Downrange Essentials” Certification
AN/UN, SP, PC, PETN, t-RDX, BP
04
Ammunition / Firearm Detection
SP, BP, AN/UN, PC, PN
05
Advanced “Nitro” Detection
TNT, NC, DYN, AN, NM, ETN/PETN
06
Peroxide Detection
TATP, HMTD, DADP
Section B
International Certification in Drug & Narcotics Detection
The SCENTSOURCE™ drug-detection suite is the most comprehensive set of operations-proven odors available for drug-detection certification within the detector-K9 industry — from the oldest opioid alkaloids through fentanyl and derivatives, to psychedelics (LSD, DMT) and the most recent threats such as xylazine.
TABLE 2
Available SCENTSOURCE™ Reference Odors — Drugs / Narcotics
- Methamphetamine / Amphetamine / Khat / Bath Salts
- Cocaine / Crack-Cocaine
- Heroin & Opium
- MDMA / Ecstasy
- Marijuana / Cannabis Resin / Synthetics / Hashish / K2 / Spice
- PCP / Angel Dust
- LSD / DMT
- Fentanyl & Derivatives
- Xylazine
“BASIC” DRUG-DETECTION CERTIFICATION ODORS
Cocaine · Heroin · Meth · MDMA · Fentanyl · Marijuana / PCP
Section C
Other International Detection Certification Categories
Odor-based training enables detection of materials using quantified non-hazardous odor standards — alleviating the need to procure, store, transport, or handle natural target materials that may be illicit, cumbersome, or hazardous.
TABLE 3
Other Available Reference Odors — SCENTSOURCE™ Detection Training & Certification
- IMould Detection (Denmark's 26-Mould Standard)
- IIBed Bug Detection (Live)
- IIIDigital Storage Media Detection — Hard-Drives & SIM Cards
- IVGreen Dog Detection Proficiency Assessment (Search-Behaviour)
- VMobile Phones & Cellular Device Detection
- VILaundered (US) Currency Detection
- VIIGuns & Firearms Detection (International Edition)
- VIIIAmmunition Detection
- IXOil & Pipeline Leak Detection
- XArson Detection
- XITracking
- XIITermites Detection
In Odor We Trust · With Odor We Train
Get certified under one global standard
Connect with the SCENTSOURCE™ network of SCENTMasters and SCENTCertifiers — available to train and certify your teams worldwide.