The maximum weight of explosives used shall be unlimited; a minimum of 1/2 pound shall be used for testing.  Each area tested will contain a minimum of two (2) aids and a maximum of four (4) aids with each aid being a different type of explosive.  The handler will not be told the number or type of explosives they are searching for. 

Basic Certification Standard:
Required certification areas: The following areas are required for basic certification of the explosive detection team:
1.) Building Search
2.) Vehicle Search
3.) Open Area Search

For certification the team CANNOT miss more than one aid in the basic certification.  A miss is defined is a non-response, negative response, or a called positive response at a no hide location.

The certification will be a pass or fail standard conducted by a Certifying Official authorized to conduct explosive certifications. 

All aids will be placed at least thirty (30) minutes prior to testing.  No detonating devices will ever be placed with the aids or used in testing.  If an aid has to be moved to a new location, the previously used area must be removed as a testing sight.  All aids will be hidden in a manner to prevent direct contact by the canine. The Certifying Official will provide all testing aids.  In the event that aids cannot be provided by the certifying official, participating teams may provide such aids so long as they are validated by the certifying official.

Prior to the first detector team attempting certification, a handler and canine will be walked through the testing area to validate each find in the testing area.  Each handler shall brief the certifying official as to the dogs alert and response to aids prior to testing and each indication to an aid by the canine should be obvious to the certifying official.  The certifying official shall, prior to each phase, explain each problem that will be encountered by the handler, such as boundaries, time, starting point, etc.  No team may be told the location or non location of any aids through out the certification process.

The purpose of the testing is to observe the teamGÇÖs ability to locate a hidden explosive.  It should be noted that all aids may not be pinpointed to source due to height, wind current or placement of the aid.  Reasonable judgment should be exercised by the certifying official and all changes of behavior should be noted by the handler for consideration. 

The certifying official may call off or discontinue a certification event for any reason relating to safety issues.  

Time limits:
The following time limits for certifications are:
1.) building search total time allotted will be twenty (20) minutes.
2.) Vehicle search total time allotted fifteen (15) minutes.
3.) Open area search total time allotted fifteen (15) minutes.

Time will be kept from the time the team starts the search of an area and will stop when the handler indicates completion of the search area or when time limits have lapsed.  Time will be kept by the certifying official.

Search area specifications:

BUILDING SEARCH:

The building search will consist of a minimum of four (4) rooms and a maximum of six (6) rooms.  Each room will be at least 400 square feet and have some type of furniture in it.  Each room may also contain additional items, which may be commonly found or seen (boxes, brief cases, suit cases, etc.).  Each room may have a maximum of 1500 square feet.  Only one (1) aid may be placed in each room.  One or more rooms will not contain aid(s).  One aid must be placed high.  The aid may be placed anywhere from eight (8) feet to three feet from ground level.  The aids will be placed so the canine cannot retrieve same. 

VEHICLE SEARCH:

Five (5) vehicles minimum with a maximum of fifteen (15) vehicles, of any vehicle type or model including pickup truckGÇÖs and commercial vehicles, may be used.  The vehicles will be parked in a parking area (such as a parking lot or garage).  The vehicles must be situated as to allow the team to have access to each vehicle.  The aids will be placed so the canine cannot retrieve same. 

Only one aid may be placed on or in each vehicle.  Aids will be placed at the discretion of the certifying official and may be placed, but not limited to:
   1.)  The exterior of gas tank or filler pipe
   2.)  The drive shaft
   3.)  Interior of closed trunk
   4.)  Passenger compartment (closed)
   5.)  Underside and outer body
One or more vehicles will have no aids placed on or within. 

OPEN AREA SEARCH:
 
An open area is defined as:

1.) Open Fields
2.) Wooded Areas
3.) Exterior of Buildings
4.) Large open lots
5.) Any other outside (exterior) area not covered above.

The Certifying Official will determine if the open area selected will be of an appropriate test environment.   The open area should be a minimum of 1000 square feet with a maximum of 3000 square feet.  Aids may be placed no more than one (1) foot below the grounds surface and no more than eight (8) feet above the ground.  All aids will be placed at the discretion of the certifying official.

Optional Search Areas:

Optional search areas are provided for teams who may work in those specific environments.  A team may continue certification to one or all of the optional certification areas at their own discretion.  For certification in each optional area the team may not miss any one aid in that area. 

The type of explosive to be used in the optional areas will be at the discretion of the certifying official (no mandate on type of explosive required).  In order to certify in any optional area the team must already hold a basic certification.  Each area will hold its own additional certification and will not be dependant upon other optional certification areas. 

Each optional area will have a time limit of twenty (20) minutes except the baggage search, which will have a time limit of  ten (10) minutes.

Optional certification areas:

1.) Aircraft
2.) Baggage
3.) Watercraft
4.) Rail

AIRCRAFT SEARCH:

Common sense shall rule as to the size of aircraft to be utilized.  This will be at the discretion of the certifying official as well as.  The entire search shall include all or part of the interior and exterior of the aircraft along with all ground support equipment if available.  One (1) aid must be placed on the inside of the aircraft.  Additional aids will be placed at the discretion of the certifying official.  This can be either inside or outside the aircraft. 

A minimum of one aid and a maximum of four (4) will be placed for certification.  All aids will be placed so the canine cannot come in direct contact with them. The type of explosive aids placed will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  Amounts of explosive will be within certification standards.

BAGGAGE SEARCH:

The baggage search shall consist of a minimum of fifteen (15) bags and a maximum of twenty five (25) items.  Baggage is defined as any hard or soft-shelled suitcase, attach+¬ cases, briefcases, garment bags, duffel bags, boxes, golf bags, or other item typically considered baggage by the travel industry.  A minimum of two (2) aids and a maximum of three (3) aids may be used.  The type of explosive placed will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  Amounts of explosive will be within certification standards. All aids will be placed so the canine cannot come in direct contact with them.

WATERCRAFT SEARCH:

The optional watercraft search will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  One (1) watercraft (such as a large commercial watercraft) or two (2) or more watercraft (such as small recreational watercraft) may be used.  The search area(s) will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  A minimum of two (2) aids must be utilized. The type of explosive placed will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  Amounts of explosive will be within certification standards. All aids will be placed so the canine cannot come in direct contact with them

RAIL SEARCH:

The optional rail search will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  The search area will be of reasonable size sufficient to support proper certification.  The interior or exterior of the rail car may be used. A minimum of two (2) aids must be utilized. The type of explosive placed will be at the discretion of the certifying official.  Amounts of explosive will be within certification standards. All aids will be placed so the canine cannot come in direct contact with them

No communication will be allowed between teams who have already been through the certification areas and teams who have not yet been through the certification area.  Any such communication will result in disqualification from certification from that certification day/event.