AKC Scent Work titles in order, levels and title tracker
AKC Scent Work has four elements, Container, Interior, Exterior, and Buried, and each one runs at four levels from Novice to Master. Three qualifying scores (Qs) in a class earn its title, and holding all four element titles at one level earns the level title, such as SWN. Below is every title in order, a free checker for what your dog can work on next, and the rules in short. Add each run after the trial and the tracker keeps the count.
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What are the AKC Scent Work titles in order?
The 16 element titles each take 3 Qs in that element and level, so SCN is Container Novice and SBM is Buried Master. AKC calls these the Odor Search titles. Each element goes up in order, because Advanced opens once your dog has the Novice title in that element, and so on to Master. A dog can be at different levels in different elements, such as Novice Interior and Advanced Container.
| Element | Novice | Advanced | Excellent | Master |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container | SCN | SCA | SCE | SCM |
| Interior | SIN | SIA | SIE | SIM |
| Exterior | SEN | SEA | SEE | SEM |
| Buried | SBN | SBA | SBE | SBM |
| Level title | SWN | SWA | SWE | SWM |
When your dog holds all four element titles at a level, AKC grants the level title, and it takes the place of those four on your dog's name. The same judge can give every Q, so there's no need to find different judges. These rules are in Chapters 2 and 10 of the Regulations for AKC Scent Work.
AKC Scent Work levels and odors
Each level adds an odor and makes the search harder, with bigger areas, more hides, and hides placed higher. At Novice to Excellent you know how many hides there are, though in Interior Excellent you get the total and not the count for each area. At Master you aren't told, and in Interior Master an area can have no hide at all.
| Level | Odors it can use | Number of hides |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | Birch | Told how many |
| Advanced | Birch, Anise | Told how many |
| Excellent | Birch, Anise, Clove | Told how many |
| Master | Birch, Anise, Clove, Cypress | Not told |
A dog can enter up to two levels in each element at one trial, and each class only once. Novice is split into A and B: Novice A is for dogs without a title in that element (or a similar one elsewhere), whose handlers aren't Scent Work judges and have never worked as professional detection dog handlers, and Novice B is open to all. Both are judged the same way and count toward the same title.
AKC Scent Work Elite titles
AKC says each element Elite title is “granted when ten qualifying scores are earned” in that element and level, so SCNE is the Container Novice Elite. Hold all four element Elites at a level and your dog earns the Elite level title, SWNE to SWME. Our tracker counts an Elite's 10 Qs after the element title, so 13 Container Novice Qs earn both SCN and SCNE.
| Element | Novice | Advanced | Excellent | Master |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container | SCNE | SCAE | SCEE | SCME |
| Interior | SINE | SIAE | SIEE | SIME |
| Exterior | SENE | SEAE | SEEE | SEME |
| Buried | SBNE | SBAE | SBEE | SBME |
| Elite level title | SWNE | SWAE | SWEE | SWME |
After an Elite level title, 10 more Qs in each of the four elements at that level, 40 in all, earn a numbered title. SWNE2 replaces SWNE, then SWNE3 and so on, with no limit. An Elite title can only be replaced by a higher Elite title. The numbered Elites are in Chapter 10 of the Regulations for AKC Scent Work.
What can your dog work on next?
Tick the element, Elite and Handler Discrimination titles your dog already has. The checker shows which level title comes next and what it needs, the next class in each element, and the next Elite and Handler Discrimination titles.
What's next for your dog?
Tick the titles your dog has. Free, no account needed.
A higher title in an element counts the ones below it.
AKC Scent Work Handler Discrimination titles
In Handler Discrimination, the dog searches for its handler's own scent on a cotton glove or sock at Novice, and on cotton balls or swabs at the higher levels. It's one class per level: Novice is a container search, Advanced is interior, Excellent is exterior, and Master combines two or more of them in one search.
| Title | Novice | Advanced | Excellent | Master |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Qs | SHDN | SHDA | SHDE | SHDM |
| 10 Qs (Elite) | SHDNE | SHDAE | SHDEE | SHDME |
After a Handler Discrimination Elite, every 10 more Qs in that level's class earn a numbered title, such as SHDNE2, and there's no limit. Like the Odor Search titles, these come from Chapter 10 of the regulations.
Scent Work Detective (SWD) and the National Championship
The Detective class opens once your dog has any one Odor Search Master title: SCM, SIM, SEM, or SBM. It's one big search across the inside and outside of a building, with 5 to 10 hides of any odor at any height, and 7 to 15 minutes to find them all. Ten Qs earn the Scent Work Detective title, SWD.
The overall winner of AKC's yearly Scent Work National Championship earns SWNC, a title that goes before the dog's name. Regional Championships aren't titling events, but Qs earned there count toward your dog's regular titles.
AKC Virtual Scent Work titles
Virtual Scent Work is a test you film at home and send to AKC, where a judge watches the video. Dogs can start at 4 months old. Your dog searches for a ball, toy or treat you hide while it waits out of sight, and each level asks for more items, more areas and higher hiding places.
| Level | What your dog finds | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1 item (ball, toy or treat) inside, on the floor | 1.5 minutes |
| Intermediate | 2 different items outside, 1 to 2 feet up | 2.5 minutes |
| Experienced | All 3 items, inside and outside, 2 to 3 feet up | 3 minutes |
Passing two different tests at a level, on two separate occasions, earns its title: VSWB, then VSWI, then VSWE. The titles must come in that order, and a higher one replaces the one below. The test rules are in Chapter 11 of the Regulations for AKC Scent Work.
AKC Scent Work rules in short
AKC Scent Work is open to dogs at least 6 months old that are AKC registered, in the FSS program, listed with a PAL number, or enrolled in AKC Canine Partners, which is how mixed breeds take part. A run is a Q when you find and call every hide within the time allowed, with no non-qualifying faults. Calling “Alert” on the wrong spot, calling “Finish” too early, or running out of time all mean no Q.
Other faults, such as handler errors, only affect placements, and there's no limit to how many you can get and still qualify. Placements go to the four qualifying teams with the fewest faults, then the fastest time. The full rules are in the Regulations for AKC Scent Work, and our age requirements page covers how old a dog must be for every sport. The dog sport glossary has the words, and our AKC titles list has every other AKC sport.
Frequently asked questions
How many Qs does an AKC Scent Work title take?+
Three qualifying scores in a class earn its title, such as SCN for Container Novice. An Elite takes 10, and so does the Detective title, SWD.
What is the order of AKC Scent Work titles?+
Each element goes Novice, Advanced, Excellent, then Master, and a dog moves up one level at a time in each element. Holding all four element titles at a level earns the level title: SWN, SWA, SWE, then SWM.
What are the four odors in AKC Scent Work?+
Birch, Anise, Clove and Cypress. Novice uses Birch only, and each higher level adds the next odor.
Can mixed breeds do AKC Scent Work?+
Yes. Dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program can enter, as can AKC registered, PAL and FSS dogs. Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
What is the difference between Novice A and Novice B?+
Novice A is for dogs without a title in that element (or a similar one elsewhere), whose handlers aren’t Scent Work judges and have never worked as professional detection dog handlers. Novice B is open to all, and both are judged the same way.
Is AKC Scent Work the same as NACSW?+
No. They’re separate organizations with their own rules and titles. AKC Scent Work titles go on your dog’s AKC record.
Print the AKC Scent Work title chart
One page with every AKC Scent Work title laid out as a chart: the element titles and Elites by level, the level titles, Handler Discrimination, Detective, and Virtual. Each title has a box to tick, and it prints fine in black and white.
What the AKC Scent Work tracker looks like
Screens from the app on a phone. Scout is our example dog.
Earned titles on the dog’s profile 
Each element and Elite, counted 
Add a Q: date and how many 
Earn a title, the next card opens
AKC Scent Work title tracker
Sixteen element titles, their Elites, and four Handler Discrimination levels are a lot of Qs to count. Add each run on the title's card after the trial, and the tracker counts them by element and level. It works out the element titles, the Elites, and the level titles from the four you hold, and the numbered Elites too. When your dog earns an element title, the card for the one above it in that element opens. It's an independent tracker, so AKC's record stays the official one.
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Independent tracking note
Dog Title Tracker is an independent tracking tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to AKC or any other dog sport organization, registry, club, event provider, or governing body listed on this site.
The tracker is for personal tracking and organization. Users should always verify official points, qualifying scores, titles, awards, eligibility, and records directly with the appropriate organization.