EllieRose Grooming Academy · South Shields

Your next chapter starts here.

Build your skills and confidence with practical dog grooming training, guided by Alison Fox, International Certified Master Groomer.

ICMG-approved schoolClasses of up to 5Uniform & grooming kit included
Explore our courses
Learners grooming dogs at EllieRose’s South Shields salon

Find your pathway

Learn. Practise. Progress.

Track 1 · CPG

Certified Professional Groomer

Build your foundations in safe handling, bathing, drying and pet trimming.

£3,500

Plus £419 paid to ICMG for exams, membership and workbooks.

Total: £3,919

Up to 5 participants. Grooming uniform and kit included.

View CPG course

Track 2 · CAPG

Certified Advanced Professional Groomer

Develop your styling and scissoring skills for toy breeds and double coats.

£3,000

Plus £339 paid to ICMG for exams and workbooks.

Total: £3,339

20 days full time or 20 weeks part time. CPG qualification required. Up to 5 participants.

View CAPG course

Combined pathway

CPG & CAPG together

Build your foundations and progress into advanced professional grooming.

£6,000

Exam fees and membership are paid separately to ICMG.

30 days, available full time or part time. Contact Alison for the timetable and combined ICMG fee breakdown.

Enquire about combined course

Send a course enquiry below. Alison will discuss availability, entry requirements and next steps before enrolment. All ICMG courses include a grooming uniform and grooming kit.

Our training partnership

Professional learning with ICMG.

EllieRose is proud to be an ICMG-approved grooming school in the North East. ICMG UK provides training and certification in the UK as part of the international IPG grooming community. International Professional Groomers, Inc. has supported professional grooming education and certification since 1988.

The pathway has three stages: Certified Professional Groomer (CPG), Certified Advanced Professional Groomer (CAPG), and International Certified Master Groomer (ICMG). Candidates have five years to complete all stages. Annual ICMG membership is payable separately.

Practical and written assessments develop and demonstrate knowledge of coat care, grooming techniques, breed standards, canine health and professional responsibility.

Ethical groomingKind handlingKindness to fellow groomersContinuous learning

Explore ICMG qualifications ↗ · Find EllieRose in the approved school directory ↗

Track 1

Certified Professional Groomer (CPG)

Understand the roles and responsibilities of a professional dog groomer and the requirements for offering grooming services to clients. Class size: up to 5 participants.

Stage 1 · Bath and Dry

Practical skills

  • Safe handling and restraint
  • Effective bathing and drying of a coated breed
  • Hygiene area care
  • Nail trimming

Knowledge and understanding

  • Animal welfare legislation and codes of practice
  • Canine health and disease
  • Groomer wellbeing
Assessment

Practical bath and dry: 1 hour; pass mark 86% or above.
Written exam: 100 questions in 1 hour. Open book: 92% or above. Non-open book: 86% or above.

Assessment dogs need at least 8 weeks of coat growth, preferably 10 weeks.

Your resource manual covers

  • Canine handling and behaviour
  • Skin and hair anatomy
  • Bathing and drying techniques
  • Canine health and diseases
  • Parasites and first aid
  • Sanitation and disinfection
  • Groomer health and safety
Stage 2 · Kennel / Pet Trim

Build on Stage 1 with practical techniques for pet and kennel trims.

Practical skills

  • Safe handling and restraint
  • Clipping and styling a pet or kennel trim
  • Proficient use of clippers, blades and scissors

Knowledge and understanding

  • Animal welfare and handling, including aggressive dogs
  • Chemical safety and dog handling and care
  • Skin anatomy, hair growth and epidermal structures
  • Emergency procedures and groomer liability
Assessment

Practical kennel / pet trim: 1 hour; pass mark 86% or above.
Written exam: 100 questions in 1 hour. Open book: 92% or above. Non-open book: 86% or above.

Study topics

  • Pet and kennel trimming techniques
  • Handling aggressive dogs
  • The importance of dog grooming
  • Skin layers and appendages, including hair follicles and erector pili muscles
  • Use and maintenance of clippers, blades, scissors and comb attachments
  • Emergency response
  • Legal and professional responsibilities

Written questions come from the provided study guides and use true/false and multiple-choice formats.

£3,500 course fee + £419 to ICMG for exams, membership and workbooks.

Enquire about CPG

Track 2

Certified Advanced Professional Groomer (CAPG)

Advance your practical grooming skills with guidance from our master groomer. You must have passed CPG to enter CAPG. Class size: up to 5 participants. Study full time over 20 days or part time over 20 weeks.

Skills and study topics

Demonstrate safe handling, bathing, drying and trimming of a toy breed (small-framed and/or senior dog) and a double-coated breed.

  • Animal welfare and canine wellbeing
  • Skeletal structure, canine anatomy and balance
  • Creating style, shape and symmetry
  • Use and care of blades, scissors, blenders and chunkers
  • Toy breed and double-coat grooming techniques
  • Dematting and coat management
  • Advanced scissoring, angulation and diagonal lines
  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Practical assessments · Toy breed and double coat

1. Toy breed groom

  • A dog from the Toy Group with a trimmable coat
  • Under 10 inches (25 cm) at the withers and under 10 lb (approximately 5 kg)
  • Dog must be pre-bathed and prepared
  • 45 minutes; pass mark 86% or above

2. Double-coated breed groom

  • Dog must be unbathed at the start
  • Full bathing, drying and grooming included
  • 90 minutes; extra time may be granted for very large breeds
  • Pass mark 86% or above
Written assessment

50 true/false and multiple-choice questions based on the official study guide. Time allowed: 30 minutes.

Open book: pass mark 92% or above.
Non-open book: pass mark 86% or above.

£3,000 course fee + £339 to ICMG for exams and workbooks.

Enquire about CAPG

Inside the academy

Hands-on learning. Real transformations.

White-coated dog before and after grooming at EllieRose
Coat preparation and a finished pet trim.
Small tan and white dog before and after grooming
Practical grooming in the salon.
Freshly groomed dog on a pink grooming table
Care, handling and attention to detail.

Let’s talk training

Enquire about a course

Tell us a little about yourself. No payment or documents are needed at this stage. Fields marked * are required.

You must have passed CPG before starting CAPG. You can still enquire if you’re unsure which pathway suits you.

Submitting an enquiry does not reserve a place. Alison will confirm suitability, dates and fees with you before enrolment.

We can’t wait to hear from you ♡

Visit Our South Shields Salon & Academy

Enquire via Facebook Messenger to discuss appointment availability, ask about coat care, or register your interest in our CPG & CAPG training courses.

Accreditations and Certifications
CALL US DIRECTLY07593 516409EMAIL OUR ACADEMYadmin@ellierosedoggrooming.co.uk