Industry revenue, 2004
Payroll establishments only
About ACADA
Over 300,000 grooming professionals in the US and Canada deserved a better standard.
ACADA was built to support the people already doing serious work in grooming, and to make high-quality education easier to access, easier to document publicly, and positioned to carry through a rewarding career.
Why ACADA exists
ACADA is here to provide affordable training and reliable self-regulation.
Many groomers are already skilled, careful and deeply committed to animal care. ACADA exists to support that professionalism with accessible education, reliable standards, and visible documentation of training and review.
ACADA is not a regulator. ACADA was developed to support and maintain industry self-regulation responsibly. ACADA's work is education, curriculum guidance, public records, review milestones, and career support for a profession that deserves a stronger public framework. ACADA will serve as the open, ongoing industry discussion regarding our important trade and its best service for families and their animals.
A growing profession
Pet grooming is a major industry, and ACADA provides reliable guidance.
By the late 1980s and through the 1990s, pets became more central to household life. Grooming gradually moved from occasional luxury to routine care, creating a larger profession with a wider range of students, employers, mobile operators, salons and schools.
Industry revenue, 2026
Pet grooming and boarding combined
Businesses operating today
Across the United States
Responsible, Reasonable Guidance
ACADA helps turn good practice into teachable, documentable practice.
The grooming industry includes many professionals who have learned through hard work, mentorship, experience and care. ACADA gives that professionalism a clearer structure: safety expectations, curriculum guidance, documented learning, and public records that employers, insurers, schools, and clients can review.
"The public operates with the pet grooming industry under the caveat emptor principle. Let the buyer beware."
Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association
The ACADA Founding Team
Built by people within and around the grooming industry.
ACADA was built by grooming operators, mobile grooming professionals, skilled trainers, technical builders and pet owners with outside experience in biotech, hospitality, systems development and customer trust.
The founding team loves pets, respects the grooming industry and believes serious education should be available without pushing students into debt.
An open, living standard
ACADA is independent by design.
ACADA's standards are open for commentary, challenge, improvement and discussion. The standard is designed to live, improve and remain independent.
ACADA is not owned or controlled by any one grooming brand, franchise, supplier, retailer or school.