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L2Apprenticeship6561 approved provider
The Level 2 Dog groomer, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Groom a range of dog breeds and coat types.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to carry out end-to-end maintenance grooms across a range of breeds and coat types, including wire, wool, smooth, double, silky, and combination coats. Training covers dog anatomy, breed characteristics, canine behaviour, and recognising signs of ill health or stress. Apprentices also learn to select appropriate equipment and grooming products, maintain hygiene and biosecurity standards, handle customer interactions from drop-off to collection, and comply with relevant legislation including the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and COSHH regulations.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On a typical day, an apprentice will assess an incoming dog, create a grooming plan, and carry out the full groom: bathing, drying, brushing, trimming, and nail clipping. They will use tools such as clippers, scissors, slicker brushes, and forced-air dryers, selecting equipment to suit the individual dog's coat, breed, and temperament. They will record welfare observations, flag any health concerns to a senior stylist or the owner, handle payments and booking queries, and clean down workstations in line with salon biosecurity procedures.
Career outlook
Completion typically leads to roles such as dog groomer, dog grooming technician, or assistant stylist. From there, progression often moves towards senior groomer or stylist positions, salon supervision, or self-employment running an independent or mobile grooming service. Employers range from independent grooming salons and mobile operators to large retail pet stores, kennels, rescue centres, and day care providers. The continued growth in pet ownership and demand for specialist breed grooms means qualified groomers are sought across both urban and rural settings.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Bishop Burton College
Employer: 4.0
Bishop Burton College is a specialist land-based and technical education provider offering a wide ra...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move into roles such as Dog Groomer, Dog Grooming Technician, Assistant Stylist, or Spa Assistant Stylist. In these positions, they carry out end-to-end grooms independently, assess breed-specific coat needs, handle bathing and drying, trim nails, and advise owners on coat maintenance. Some enter employment in an assistant capacity first, working alongside a senior stylist while building speed and confidence across a wider range of breeds and temperaments.
Progression paths
With two to three years of post-qualification experience, groomers commonly advance to Dog Grooming Stylist or Senior Groomer, taking responsibility for more complex breed trims and mentoring newer staff. From there, two broad tracks open up. The first is a management route, moving into Salon Manager or Grooming Department Manager roles with responsibility for scheduling, stock, and team performance. The second is a specialist route, developing expertise in competition grooming, hand-stripping specific breeds, or working with rescue and rehabilitation organisations.
Where these roles sit
Hiring comes from a mix of independent grooming salons, mobile grooming operators, and grooming departments within large pet retail chains and garden centres. Rescue centres, boarding kennels, and dog day care providers also employ groomers or grooming-adjacent staff. The sector is predominantly private, with a high proportion of small and micro businesses. Both employed and self-employed opportunities exist, and some experienced groomers move into freelance or mobile work once established.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, the learner works in a real grooming environment, building the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard. Before final assessment, there is a readiness check, often called a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice is prepared to demonstrate full occupational competence. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can carry out end-to-end grooms, handle dogs safely, recognise health and welfare concerns, and provide a professional client-facing service. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's page on gov.uk for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Keeping records of real work throughout the apprenticeship, rather than trying to gather evidence at the end, makes the final assessment process much more manageable. This means documenting different breeds and coat types groomed, welfare and health observations made, and customer interactions handled. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to track progress against the standard helps identify any gaps early. Apprentices should expect to demonstrate their handling and grooming skills in genuine workplace conditions, so consistent practice across a range of dogs is essential.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with active grooming salons or dedicated practical facilities where apprentices complete hands-on grooms throughout the programme, not just at the end. A solid achievement rate sits above 65%; above 75% is a strong signal for a short 12-month standard where drop-out can skew results quickly. Check that tutors hold recognised grooming qualifications and have recent salon experience. Breed diversity matters: apprentices should be working on a wide range of coat types, not just one or two, and the provider should be able to show how they cover brachycephalic and specialist breed handling within their delivery.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high learner numbers but a falling achievement rate, which can indicate quality is being stretched thin across sites. Vague answers about how practical hours are structured, or providers who rely heavily on online learning for skills that need to be done hands-on, are a concern. If a provider cannot explain how they assess handling and behaviour response in a live grooming context, that is worth probing. Limited breed variety across their training animals is also a problem given the range the standard covers.
Questions to ask before you commit
- How many practical grooms will the apprentice complete during the programme, and on what range of breeds and coat types?
- Where does hands-on training take place, and is there a working salon facility available throughout the year?
- How do you assess an apprentice's ability to recognise and respond to stress or fear indicators in a dog during a live groom?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you cover brachycephalic breeds and dogs with anatomical extremes within your practical training?
- What support is in place if an apprentice's workplace cannot provide sufficient variety of breeds or coat types?
- Can I speak to a recent completer or their employer about how the programme prepared them for day-to-day salon work?
Common questions
Who is eligible to apply for this apprenticeship, and are there any entry requirements?
There are no nationally set entry requirements for this standard, so employers can set their own criteria. Applicants must be employed throughout the apprenticeship in a role where they can practise grooming dogs regularly. A genuine interest in animal welfare and the ability to handle dogs safely are practical necessities. Some employers ask for basic literacy and numeracy, as apprentices handle customer records, product data sheets, and payment processing as part of the role.
How long does the apprenticeship take, and how is learning balanced with the day job?
The typical duration is 12 months, though the actual time depends on the individual's prior experience and progress. Off-the-job training is built into working hours and covers breed knowledge, grooming techniques, welfare legislation, and safe use of equipment. The specific off-the-job requirement is subject to current reforms, so check the latest version of the standard on gov.uk for the figure that applies when you're enrolling.
How is the apprenticeship assessed, and what does the end-point assessment involve?
Before reaching end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has developed the knowledge, skills, and behaviours set out in the standard. Assessment typically involves a practical observation of a full end-to-end groom and a professional discussion or questioning element. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current Skills England reforms, so check gov.uk for the current assessment plan for this standard before enrolment.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £5,000, which is the maximum the government contributes or allows to be drawn from the levy. Large employers with an apprenticeship levy account use those funds directly. Smaller employers pay 5% of training costs and the government covers the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing toward training costs. Costs are paid to the training provider, not as a wage supplement.
What does a dog groomer apprentice actually do during a typical working day?
Day-to-day work centres on completing end-to-end grooms across a range of breeds and coat types. That means greeting dogs at drop-off, assessing health and temperament, planning the groom, then bathing, drying, brushing, trimming, and nail clipping. Apprentices record welfare observations, store products in line with COSHH rules, clean and sterilise equipment, and advise owners on coat maintenance at collection. They also handle customer queries, appointments, and payments, and flag any health concerns to senior staff.
What can a dog groomer do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completion typically leads to roles such as dog groomer, grooming technician, or assistant stylist. With experience, groomers can progress to senior stylist or salon management positions. Some move into self-employment, running their own mobile or salon-based grooming businesses. Others go on to study further qualifications in animal care or canine behaviour. Industry bodies such as the British Dog Groomers' Association offer membership and continued professional development for those wanting to build a longer career in the sector.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 656.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.