1. Put Someone in Charge

Identify a training manager to keep the process on track, monitor students’ progress and answer employee questions. The training manager can be the store owner, a manager or an experienced employee.

The training manager should make key decisions about how your store will use Pet Store Pro™:

• Where students are expected to complete the training (at the store or at home)
• When employees should study at the store (during slow times, before or after work)
• Whether students will have access to a computer to study online or will work from printed study guides
• Which chapters are required to become a Pet Store Pro
• What incentives will be offered to reward employees who complete the program

2. Register Your Store

• Click New Store Registration at the top of the page.
• Complete requested information about your store and training manager.
• Create a user name and password to access the Trainer Home Page.

3. Register Your Students

Once you are logged into the Trainer Home Page, click Register New Student and enter the following for each employee:

• The employee’s first and last name
• The user name and temporary password you’ve created
• The chapters you’ve assigned the student to complete

Students will be prompted to create a new password the first time they log in to Pet Store Pro™. The training manager can always reset a student’s forgotten password.

4. Monitor Students’ Progress

Track student progress and performance through the Trainer Home Page.

After logging in, you will be able to see who is enrolled, which chapters have been completed, test scores and when tests were taken. You will receive automatic e-mail updates each time a student takes an online chapter test.

Tests can be printed and completed offline. However, the answers must be transferred to the online test page to receive feedback and automatic results.

NOTE: The order of questions changes each time a test is opened online, so attention must be paid to input answers correctly during the transfer process.

When a student has completed and passed all required chapters, PIDA will mail a Certificate of Achievement.

5. Prepare for Success

Smart employees are critical to your store’s success, but your staff needs your help and encouragement to succeed.

• Set a schedule. One chapter a week usually works well.
• Make time for learning. Provide uninterrupted time for employees to study or take tests.
• Look for learning opportunities. Encourage employees to demonstrate what they’ve learned by using their knowledge to serve customers.
• Provide ongoing encouragement. Check in with students regularly about their progress.
  
• Reward completion. Announce achievement at meetings and post certificates in a prominent location. Offer incentives such as new responsibilities, gift cards for movies or other treats or modest wage increases.
• Offer Pet Store Pro™ to everybody. Full- and part-time employees will benefit from the training. New hires will be more productive faster. Experienced staff can refresh and enhance their knowledge.