3 answers
Hannah
Student
Box Elder, South Dakota
11
Questions
Asked
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What schooling is needed to be an animal rehabilitatior?
I love animals so so so much and and want to work for their wellbeing. I am thinking about rehabbing wildlife as well as working as an animal control officer. I really struggle with math, science and language. I need help
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3 answers
Ravi KUMAR
AI and Cloud Modernization consultant
10
Answers
Coppell, Texas
Updated
Ravi’s Answer
Here's how to become an animal control officer in a more straightforward manner:
1. Fulfill basic requirements
You need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. High school takes about four years, while the GED can be done in three months. Science subjects like biology can help you understand animals and their care better.
2. Get further education
Some jobs may need you to have more education than just a high school diploma or GED. You could do vocational training, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree. These could take from a few months to four years. Useful subjects include biology, animal science, law enforcement, and veterinary science. You might study topics like animal behavior, care, nutrition, and community policing.
3. Do a training program
Some jobs might need you to do a special training program. These can be done through different organizations and can be for beginners or those with experience. They might cover things like how to catch and hold animals, animal hoarding, cruelty investigations, paperwork, collecting evidence, first aid, public relations, and puppy mills.
4. Get some experience
Having worked with animals or in law enforcement can be useful. You could work part-time or start at entry level as a vet tech, wildlife rehabilitator, police officer, animal trainer, or shelter manager. Volunteering at places like animal shelters or rescue organizations can also be helpful.
5. Pass some checks
You might need to pass a criminal background check and a drug test to get a job. You'll also need a valid driver's license so you can drive to rescue scenes or patrol areas. If you get the job, you might need to keep renewing your license and background check and do regular or random drug tests.
6. Keep learning
You might need to do ongoing education courses and seminars. This can help you stay up to date on things like animal cruelty laws, euthanasia, and humane capture methods. Some places might offer their own courses, or give you a list of places where you can do them.
7. Get certified
Some places might want or need you to have a certificate from an animal control organization. These can be from places like the Animal Control and Care Academy (ACCA), Animal Control Training Services (ACTS), National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), or the National Animal Cruelty Investigation School. Some states might have their own programs that focus on their local animal needs. These can take from a day to a few months.
8. Join a professional organization
You could join a group to meet other animal control officers and find out about jobs and the best ways to do things. The NACA has resources for people in the industry and those starting a new career. They offer online training and certifications, and a career center. They also have a training conference and show. You could also get involved with animal welfare groups like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
1. Fulfill basic requirements
You need to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. High school takes about four years, while the GED can be done in three months. Science subjects like biology can help you understand animals and their care better.
2. Get further education
Some jobs may need you to have more education than just a high school diploma or GED. You could do vocational training, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree. These could take from a few months to four years. Useful subjects include biology, animal science, law enforcement, and veterinary science. You might study topics like animal behavior, care, nutrition, and community policing.
3. Do a training program
Some jobs might need you to do a special training program. These can be done through different organizations and can be for beginners or those with experience. They might cover things like how to catch and hold animals, animal hoarding, cruelty investigations, paperwork, collecting evidence, first aid, public relations, and puppy mills.
4. Get some experience
Having worked with animals or in law enforcement can be useful. You could work part-time or start at entry level as a vet tech, wildlife rehabilitator, police officer, animal trainer, or shelter manager. Volunteering at places like animal shelters or rescue organizations can also be helpful.
5. Pass some checks
You might need to pass a criminal background check and a drug test to get a job. You'll also need a valid driver's license so you can drive to rescue scenes or patrol areas. If you get the job, you might need to keep renewing your license and background check and do regular or random drug tests.
6. Keep learning
You might need to do ongoing education courses and seminars. This can help you stay up to date on things like animal cruelty laws, euthanasia, and humane capture methods. Some places might offer their own courses, or give you a list of places where you can do them.
7. Get certified
Some places might want or need you to have a certificate from an animal control organization. These can be from places like the Animal Control and Care Academy (ACCA), Animal Control Training Services (ACTS), National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), or the National Animal Cruelty Investigation School. Some states might have their own programs that focus on their local animal needs. These can take from a day to a few months.
8. Join a professional organization
You could join a group to meet other animal control officers and find out about jobs and the best ways to do things. The NACA has resources for people in the industry and those starting a new career. They offer online training and certifications, and a career center. They also have a training conference and show. You could also get involved with animal welfare groups like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Hannah
Elissa Ramsay
Veterinary Technician
1
Answer
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Elissa’s Answer
To add to the great information Ravi has given, I want to stress that volunteering for a well-established animal welfare organization can help immensely! They usually have a Humane Investigation department, which has animal control officers on board that can help guide you in your career.
You can also volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation facility to get experience working with wildlife. In animal welfare, volunteer experience can help you feel more comfortable with the hands-on part of the job.
There are lots of resources available that can help with math, science, and language! Khan academy has lots of 10-minute educational videos that can help.
You can also volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation facility to get experience working with wildlife. In animal welfare, volunteer experience can help you feel more comfortable with the hands-on part of the job.
There are lots of resources available that can help with math, science, and language! Khan academy has lots of 10-minute educational videos that can help.
Nirah Shomer, DVM PhD DACLAM
Senior leader in laboratory animal science, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance
63
Answers
Updated
Nirah’s Answer
A high school education is typically the minimum educational requirement to start a career as a wildlife rehabilitator or an animal control officer. However, other requirements for these positions, including minimum age, can vary greatly depending on where you live. In some places, you need to be at least 21, instead of the more usual 18, in order to get a wildlife rehab license or be an animal control officer.
Animal control officers typically work for the municipality, meaning the city or county where you live. There may be a civil service exam required to get a job, or in some locations it may even be an elected position. An animal control officer is usually considered a type of police officer (some even carry weapons) and often needs to meet the background check requirements and other requirements for working on the police force.
The majority of people working as wildlife rehabilitators do so as unpaid volunteers. You need to be licensed to be a wildlife rehabilitator. In most states, being in possession of wildlife is illegal unless you have a license. Those requirements are very different depending on which state you live in. Most wildlife rehabilitators do their work in their own home, and so you also need to be very aware of any municipal regulations regarding which wild animals are legal to have in your home. There are, of course, some wildlife rehabilitators that do work paid jobs, typically at nonprofit organizations such as the raptor rehab center.
The South Dakota rehab license main requirements are:
you must pass a written examination to demonstrate your knowledge of this subject
you must line up a licensed veterinarian to assist with animal care and evaluation as needed
you must be able to provide a facility that matches the needs of the species you propose to provide temporary care for, and
you must be willing and able to maintain records to allow your work to be evaluated annually.
Animal control officers typically work for the municipality, meaning the city or county where you live. There may be a civil service exam required to get a job, or in some locations it may even be an elected position. An animal control officer is usually considered a type of police officer (some even carry weapons) and often needs to meet the background check requirements and other requirements for working on the police force.
The majority of people working as wildlife rehabilitators do so as unpaid volunteers. You need to be licensed to be a wildlife rehabilitator. In most states, being in possession of wildlife is illegal unless you have a license. Those requirements are very different depending on which state you live in. Most wildlife rehabilitators do their work in their own home, and so you also need to be very aware of any municipal regulations regarding which wild animals are legal to have in your home. There are, of course, some wildlife rehabilitators that do work paid jobs, typically at nonprofit organizations such as the raptor rehab center.
The South Dakota rehab license main requirements are:
you must pass a written examination to demonstrate your knowledge of this subject
you must line up a licensed veterinarian to assist with animal care and evaluation as needed
you must be able to provide a facility that matches the needs of the species you propose to provide temporary care for, and
you must be willing and able to maintain records to allow your work to be evaluated annually.