top of page
APDA LOGO.png

Explosive Detection Certification Standards

Each canine team seeking Explosive Detection Certification shall demonstrate proficiency in detecting the required explosive odor categories. Certification shall be conducted using actual explosive material or explosive precursor chemicals.

Mandatory Target Odors

The canine shall demonstrate recognition of all of the following target odors:

  • TNT- Based Explosives

    • 2,4,6 Trinitrotoluene (TNT) based explosives​

  • Ammonium Nitrate (AN) based explosives

    • Pure AN including prill & powder​

  • Black Powder​​

  • Double-Base Smokeless Powder

  • PETN Based Explosives

    • Pentaerythritol tetranitrate based explosives​

  • RDX Based Explosives

    • Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine based Explosives​

Additional Target Odors

Additional target odors may be included based on the canine team's mission, operational environment, or identified threats. These may include:

-Ammonium Nitrate blended 

with high-explosive-based materials

-Black Powder Substitutes

-Non-Ammonium Nitrate based blasting agents

-Dynamite (Including NG or EGDN)

-Improvised Explosive materials

-Chlorate, nitrate, perchlorate based mixtures

-Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN)

-Peroxide based (HMTD and TATP)

-Urea Nitrate Based explosives

-Photoflash, fireworks, pyrotechnic powders

-Plastic explosives (tagged & untagged)

-Cast Boosters

-Single-based smokeless powder

-Nitromethane based explosives

-HMX Based Explosives

-Tetryl based explosives

-Emerging explosive threats (inc. liquid explosives)

harley 2.jpg
IMG_1474.JPG
ai-generated-IMAGE.jpg

Odor Recognition Test

The odor recognition test is designed to demonstrate the canine's ability to recognize required trained explosive odors while discriminating those odors from non-target and distractor odors. 

Test Administration

The Odor Recognition Test shall be administered under controlled conditions using the following criteria:

  • The assessment shall be conducted as a single-blind or double-blind evaluation

  • The handler shall be informed of the general parameters of the test but shall not know the number, identity, or placement of the target odors. 

  • In  a single-blind assessment, the evaluator shall know the correct outcome and place of target odors. 

  • In a double-blind assessment, neither the handler nor the evaluator accompanying the canine team shall know the correct outcome or placement of the target odors during the assessment. 

  • A minimum of 18 sample containers shall be used.

  • Sample containers shall be arranged in a manner that minimizes environmental influences on odor.

  • Containers shall be spaced a minimum of 3 feet apart.

  • All sample containers shall be identical in appearance and configured to prevent visual cues to either the canine or the handler.

  • Each target odor or distractor shall be placed in a clean, unused perforated container, which shall then be placed within a identical larger external container.

  • A minimum of six target odors shall be randomly placed throughout the configuration. 

  • A minimum of six different non-explosive distractor odors shall also be randomly placed throughout the configuration. 

  • The canine team shall be permitted to search each sample container a maximum of two times. 

Successful Completion

To successfully complete the Odor Recognition Test, the canine team shall:

-Locate all required target odors presented during the assessment.

-Complete the assessment within the permitted number of search attempts.

-Maintain an overall false indication rate not exceeding 10%

-Demonstrate that the canine remains actively engaged in searching. 

-Demonstrate appropriate handler control and safe search procedures. 

A canine team may fail the Odor Recognition Test for:

-Failure to locate any required target odor.

-Failure to complete the assessment within the permitted two search attempts.

-Exceeding the allowable false or non-productive response rate.

-The canine biting, scratching, disturbing, or barking at a placed target odor. 

-Failure of the canine to remain actively engaged in the search. 

-Significant handler-control or safety violations. 

Certification Criteria

Certification shall evaluate the ability of the canine and handler as a team to safely, effectively, and reliably detect the specified target odors under conditions representative of their expected operational environment. 

​

Certification applies specifically to the individual canine-handler team. A handler working multiple canines shall certify independently with each canine. 

Certification Validity

-Certification shall remain valid for a maximum of one year (365 days, or 366 days during a leap year).

-Certification does not replace the requirement for continued maintenance training and proficiency assessments. 

Testing Conditions

Certification assessments shall meet the following requirements:

​

  • Assessments shall be conducted under single-blind, double-blind, or a combination of both testing formats. 

  • At least one certification component shall be conducted as a double-blind assessment. 

  • The handler shall not know the number or placement of target odors. 

  • Target odors shall be concealed in a manner that prevents visual identification by either the handler or the canine. 

  • Target odors shall generally be placed a minimum of 30 minutes before the search, unless the evaluator determines another set time is appropriate based on mission requirements or the associated threat. 

  • Actual explosive materials or explosive precursor materials shall be used for certification. 

  • Whenever practical, target odor aids used during certification should not be the same individual training aids routinely used during the canine team's maintenance training or proficiency exercises. 

  • Natural environmental distractors should be incorporated into testing. Artificial distractors may be added when necessary to evaluate the canine's ability to discriminate target odor from non-target materials. 

  • All target odors shall be placed so the canine cannot retrieve or directly access the explosive material.

Target Odor Quantities

Unless an identified exception applies, the minimum quantity of a target odor used during certification shall be 1/4 pound (0.11 kg).

​

Exceptions may include:

​

-Detonation cord: a minimum equivalent of one 8-foot length of 50 grain-per-foot detonation cord.

-Peroxide-based explosives and ETN: limited quantities of approximately 1-2 grams for safe handling. 

-Non-operational odor recognition testing: no more than 1/4 pound (0.11 kg) of each target odor.

-Nitromethane: not to exceed approximately 1/2 millimeter.

​

Maximum target odor quantities may be determined by the evaluator based on mission requirements, operational threats, and safety considerations. 

Required Operational Assessments

Explosive Detection Canine Certification shall include assessments representative of the canine team's expected operational duties. 

​

For a traditional Explosive Detection Canine (EDC), required operational assessments shall include:

​

  • Baggage/Parcels Search

  • Building/Room Search

  • Motor Vehicle Search

​

One or more additional assessments shall also be selected based on mission requirements , which may include:

​

  • Open area/Perimeter Search

  • Aircraft

  • Maritime Vessel

  • Mass Transit Vehicles

  • Large Cargo Configurations

​

Operational Search Standards

Certification scenarios shall be designed to reflect realistic or operational conditions. 

​

Baggage/Parcels

  • A minimum of 10 baggage or parcel items shall be used, with a minimum of two items containing target odor. 

  • There shall be at least five baggage/parcel items for each target odor used.

  • Target odors shall be randomly placed.

  • Two target odors shall not be positioned directly adjacent to one another.

  • Distractor materials representative of normal operational environments shall be included.

  • Items shall have sufficient spacing to permit a effective canine search. 

  • The assessment shall generally not exceed two minutes per 10 items searched. 

​

Buildings/Rooms

  • A minimum of three rooms shall be searched, each room shall generally range from approximately 200 to 1,200 square feet.

  • No more than one target odor shall be placed within a single room.

  • At least one blank room shall be included.

  • Target odors must be placed from ground level up to approximately 6 feet in height. 

  • The canine team shall generally be limited to two systematic passes through each search area, excluding focused investigation following a demonstrated change of behavior. 

  • Search time should generally not exceed 1.5 minutes per 100 square feet. 

​

Motor Vehicles

  • A minimum of 10 vehicles shall be included, and no more than 1 target odor shall be used for every five vehicles. 

  • Only one target odor shall be placed on or within any individual vehicle. 

  • Vehicles containing target odor shall not be positioned directly adjacent to one another. 

  • Target odors may be concealed in opperationally realistic locations on the vehicle exterior, interior, engine compartment, trunk, undercarriage, wheel wells, fuel area, passenger compartment, luggage, or similar locations. 

  • Passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, busses, tractor-trailers, and other vehicle types may be utilized.

  • The search should generally not exceed two minutes per vehicle unless additional time is warranted by the vehicle size or search complexity. 

​

Open Area/Perimeter

  • The search area shall be a minimum of 22,500 square feet, with no more than one target odor in a single designated search area. 

  • Target odor must be placed from approximately 1 foot below ground level to 8 feet above ground level. 

  • Search areas may include building exteriors, open fields, wooded areas, or other outdoor environments. Search time should generally not exceed one minute per 1,000 square feet.

​

Additional mission-specific operational environments may include aircraft, maritime vessels, busses, rail cars, subway cars, large cargo configurations, or other environments consistent with the canine team's normal duties. 

Passing Standard

To successfully certify, the canine team shall:

​

  • Achieve an overall positive alert rate on at least 90% of target odor hides.

  • Maintain an overall false alert rate not exceeding 10%.

  • Complete required searches within the established or reasonable search time. 

  • Demonstrate a safe, systematic, effective, and controlled search.

  • Demonstrate the handler's ability to recognize changes in the canine's behavior and correctly identify the canine's trained final response. 

  • Demonstrate the canine's ability to discriminate trained explosive odor from non-target odors and environmental distractors.

  • Locate target odor within approximately 3 feet (1 meter) of the source, without disturbing the target odor, regardless of source height, unless environmental conditions reasonably prevent this level of localization. 

Certification Failure

A canine team may fail certification for any of the following:

​

  • Failure to achieve the required 90% positive alert rate.

  • Exceeding the maximum 10% false or non-productive response rate.

  • Failure to complete an assessment withing the specified search time or work period. 

  • Failure of the canine to remain actively engaged in searching.

  • Biting, scratching, aggressively disturbing, or inappropriate barking directed toward a target odor or person.

  • Failure of the handler to maintain control of the canine.

  • Allowing the canine to leave the designated search area.

  • Failure to follow instructions provided by the certifying evaluator.

  • Any significant breach of safety.

  • Deliberate compromise or disclosure of certification test information. 

Failed Certification & Retesting

A canine team that fails certification shall complete a documented corrective action and remediation plan before attempting certification again. 

​

The certifying official shall identify the performance deficiency so the handler and/or trainer can address the specific area requiring remediation. Documentation should demonstrate that corrective training has been conducted before the canine team is permitted another certification attempt. 

bottom of page