Q&A for How to Become a Dolphin Trainer

Watching dolphin trainers in aquatic parks and other places can get the flow of how a person trains and what things to look out for.

All science involves math. For dolphin care and training, you would need to be able to accurately measure different types of food, vitamins, and medications.

You might need to help a fellow member of your team if they start to drown while in the tank with the dolphins. It's just good sense to know it in an emergency situation.

Yes, there are plenty of online classes and classes outside of your school.

If your school does not have a biology program, then you can take Animal Science. It is actually a lot better then biology.

The article does recommend doing well in science and math to become a dolphin trainer. However, the job isn't really that focused on math; the science part is more important. If you aren't great at math, you can still do the job - just do the best you can.

A dolphin allergy would mean you need to consider a different career. Perhaps you could talk about the dolphins, research them from a distance or do the ticket takings.

It can vary from place to place and from full time to part time. A quick search shows that the average dolphin trainers salary is $18,000-$20,000 a year while a dolphin trainer with 8-12 years experience gets $25,000-$40,000 a year.

The full body suit keeps you warm, which is important if you'll be in the water all day.

Yes. You should be at least 18 years old. Some places will allow younger people to volunteer or complete an internship.

Yes. If your main passion or interest is marine mammals, caring for them and providing them with enrichment should be very fulfilling. However, burn out rate is increasing due to the low wages and irregular hours. It may not be for everyone.

You can get an Occupational Associate's Degree from Dolphin Research Center or Associate's Degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management at Moorpark college in California. There are a few more in the UK and the U.S. If school is not a possibility, you can be a volunteer at a rehabilitation center or your local zoo, or a docent or educator in an aquarium or marine mammal facility. Some places accept four years of volunteering in lieu of a degree. After two or three years, you can apply to an entry-level position. You can increase your chances by applying to internships; they don't necessarily have to be with dolphins - you can work with seals. penguins, polar bears, etc.

A typical bachelor's degree is four years, but even after graduation you may need to volunteer or intern to get experience.

You don't have to have a degree to be a dolphin trainer, but you are more likely to get hired if you have a degree in marine biology.

It is unlikely, because they require very different and unique training to do each of these jobs.

A four year degree in a life sciences related field will give you a good starting point in terms of the necessary expertise and knowledge to be an effective dolphin trainer. Be aware that many places with dolphins are rethinking keeping dolphins in captivity, so having a good degree will assure you of other jobs too.

You have to be 18 years old to start formal dolphin training, but you can start volunteering and helping at a couple years younger.