CPG Practice Test

This page is for dog and pet groomers preparing for the Certified Professional Groomer (CPG) credential from International Professional Groomers, Inc. It gives you free practice sets on handling, bathing, coat care, safety and client work, worked explanations, a study plan, and a plain summary of the published format, pass marks and fees.

CPG Exam at a Glance

What the CPG is and how it works

According to International Professional Groomers, Inc., “The exam consists of 100 questions, you have one hour to complete it. Answers will be either true or false or selection from multiple choice.”^[1]

The Certified Professional Groomer (CPG) credential is offered by International Professional Groomers, Inc. Candidates can certify live online via Zoom or in salon, without travel.

The Part 1 written exam has 100 questions and a 1 hour limit. The Part 2 written exam has 50 questions and a 30 minute limit. Answers are either true or false or selection from multiple choice. The practical exam in each part has a 1 hour limit. The pass mark is 86% or above for the practical exam and for the closed book written exam, and 92% or above if the written exam is open book. Written scores appear on screen immediately after you finish. Practical results are, in most cases, given on the day.

The published Part 1 study figure is 200 guided learning hours, described as your own studying time. The Track 1 CPG package costs $425.00 and includes membership through December 2027. Membership is then renewed annually and must stay current if you want to advertise your qualification. A Zoom practical session is listed for Sunday, December 6, 2026, 11 AM to 1 PM PST, at $36.00.

Your qualification fee covers a single Zoom session. A retake means extra payment for another session, and a special Zoom price of $20.00 is listed on all Zoom dates. Dates, fees and rules can change, so check the official International Professional Groomers site before you book.

Worked examples: how to reason through CPG questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: How can groomers reduce the risk of injury while grooming?

1. Use heavy gloves at all times
2. Sedate the pet
3. Handle gently and observe animal behavior
4. Avoid using restraints

Answer: C. Handle gently and observe animal behavior

Explanation:

The correct answer is to handle the animal gently and observe its behavior. Stress, fear and early signs of aggression usually show before a bite or scratch, so reading them lets you slow down, pause or change your approach before anyone gets hurt.

Heavy gloves at all times is wrong because they reduce your feel and dexterity and do nothing about the animal's state. Sedating the pet is wrong because sedation is not a groomer's tool and carries its own risks. Avoiding restraints is wrong because appropriate, properly used restraint is part of keeping both pet and groomer safe.

Rule to remember: prevent injury by watching the animal and adjusting, not by relying on one piece of gear or shortcut.

Example 2

Question: Which product is commonly used to hold a sculpted coat shape in place during a creative grooming competition?

1. Conditioner
2. Pet-safe hairspray or finishing spray
3. Detangling spray
4. Whitening shampoo

Answer: B. Pet-safe hairspray or finishing spray

Explanation:

The correct answer is pet-safe hairspray or finishing spray. These products add hold, so a sculpted shape stays in place through a competition. Look for the word pet-safe in the option.

Conditioner is wrong because it softens and smooths the coat, which works against a firm shape. Detangling spray is wrong because it loosens knots and adds slip, so it does not hold a style. Whitening shampoo is wrong because it is a bathing product used to brighten coat color, and it is not used to set a finished style.

Rule to remember: match the product to the job. Bathing and conditioning products prepare the coat, and finishing sprays set the final shape.

Example 3

Question: When should hands be washed during grooming sessions?

1. Only at the end of the day
2. After touching chemicals
3. Between handling different pets
4. Before lunch break

Answer: C. Between handling different pets

Explanation:

The correct answer is between handling different pets. Hands carry germs, bacteria, viruses and parasites from one animal to the next, so washing between pets breaks that chain of cross-contamination.

Only at the end of the day is wrong because it leaves every pet in between exposed to whatever the earlier pets carried. After touching chemicals is wrong because it sounds careful, but it is incomplete: a rule tied only to chemicals ignores the main risk, which is moving from one animal to another. Before lunch break is wrong because it is tied to your schedule rather than to contact with animals.

Rule to remember: tie hygiene steps to the point of possible transfer, which is the switch from one pet to the next.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material from International Professional Groomers, Inc. and note the written and practical requirements for each part. Then take the full practice test once, without notes, to see where you stand. Do not worry about the score yet; use it as a map.

Next, work through the topic sets that match your weakest answers. For each wrong answer, read the explanation and write one sentence in your own words stating the rule behind it. Pay attention to why the other options are wrong, because the exam mixes true or false items with multiple choice, and distractors often sound reasonable.

Because the pass mark is higher for an open book written exam than for a closed book one, plan to know the material rather than hunt for it during the test. Practise answering at a steady pace, and rehearse the practical side aloud: describe how you would handle, bathe, groom and sanitize as if the assessor were asking questions while you work.

In the final days, retake the sets you missed most, then the full practice test again. Keep a short list of rules you still get wrong and review only that list. Check the Zoom booking details early so the technology does not distract you on the day.

Sources & last verified

1. icmguk.com — number of questions, time limit, passing score, eligibility (official source). “The exam consists of 100 questions, you have one hour to complete it. Answers will be either true or false or selection from multiple choice.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. International Professional Groomers, Inc. — exam fee (official source). “**Track 1: Certified Professional Groomer $425**” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
3. International Professional Groomers, Inc. — retake fee, next exam date, delivery (official source). “CPG Zoom Certification Special Pricing–Available on All Zoom Dates $20.00” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
4. icmguk.com — retake policy, score release (official source). “Your qualification fees cover the cost of one Zoom session; additional Zoom meetings will require extra payment, for example retakes.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
5. International Professional Groomers, Inc. — validity (official source). “These Safety Certifications include Membership through December 2027.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
6. icmguk.com — renewal (official source). “Membership is renewed annually on your renewal date and must remain current to advertise your qualifications and professional achievements.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.