PAT Certificate Program Application

This is an application only and does not ensure acceptance into the program.

Application Deadline: April 20th, 2026

***This program is offered to those who are currently in the marine mammal training profession or those with a minimum of 1 year training and/or handling experience in the last two years with terrestrial animals.***  If you do not have this qualification, please go to the link below to learn about a similar program called Dolphin Academy that is for individuals without this experience: 

Student Requirements for Enrollment:

• Must be currently working in the animal training/handling field or have one year of consecutive animal handling experience within the last two years
• Must have trained at least three different animals (may be same species, but multi species preferred)
• Must have trained a minimum of three behaviors (preferably at least one husbandry behavior)
• Must submit a current resume
• Must 18 years of age or older
• Must be fluent in English, however if necessary, students may utilize a translator at their own expense
• Complete this application and submit
• Provide the names and professional email addresses of THREE (3) Letter of Recommendation authors.  LOR authors MUST be professional contacts and NOT friends or relatives.  Examples include: employers, supervisors, coaches, volunteer coordinators, professors/teachers, clients, etc. 
• Must have access to the internet and Google Drive/Google Classroom installed.
• For lecture and lab portions of the course students are required to video sessions with their animals and have the ability to upload the video to the instructor.  If currently working in the field, students must get their facilities permission to video and share. The permission form can be downloaded in the enrollment form once a student is accepted.  If the student’s facility doesn’t approve the videoed sessions, we will work with the student to determine other options. 
• It is highly recommended that students attend the on-site portion of the program.

Applications will not be considered complete until all documents required are received. Incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to insure all documentation has been received by DRCTI administration.

By submitting this form you are indicating that you are capable of fulfilling all program performance standards and performance requirements as listed below and in the course catalog (available at www.dolphins.org/drcti).

Program Specific Requirements
Students will be required to purchase both Touching Animal Souls by Gabrielle Harris as well as Animal Training 101 by Jennifer Zeligs, which are used for several classes.  All other required reading will be provided.

Students will be expected to have a computer, laptop, and/or tablet on which they can access Google Drive with the ability to use Google Classroom, Google Sheets, and Google Docs. This can be done by creating a Gmail account or modifying a currently existing Gmail account. We suggest you create a special Gmail account for your classes to help you stay organized.

Each course will have links to publications, YouTube videos, as well as document attachments for further course materials. Dolphin Research Center Training Institute has a collection of over 1000 pdf journal articles that are available online via Google Drive. Active students will receive access to these journal articles.

The Professional Animal Trainer Certificate Program provides experience in the field of marine mammal care and training. It is important to note that students will be working directly with marine mammals during the course of this program and that marine mammals are large animals that can be dangerous. Therefore, students enrolled in the Professional Animal Trainer Certificate Program are expected to rigorously adhere to the rules and regulations of the program in order to ensure the safety of the students, animals, staff, and general public at Dolphin Research Center. All students are expected to maintain the highest personal and ethical standards of conduct consistent with the professional effort expected by Dolphin Research Center Training Institute faculty and all personnel at Dolphin Research Center. These standards are outlined below. Any information indicating that such standards are not being maintained will be reviewed by faculty and may result in student dismissal by the administration.

Program Specific Performance Standards
In addition to Dolphin Research Center Training Institute’s ‘General Student Performance Standards’, the following program specific performance standards apply:

Mobility: Without assistance, sufficient to rapidly walk the span of Dolphin Research Center without interruption, run and swim distances of 50 yards, easily maneuver on and off floating/moving platforms without assistance, maneuver in tight spaces while manipulating overhead objects, work outdoors in both intense sun and heat as well as under rainy and cold conditions. Students are required to participate in facility cleaning and maintenance of the diet preparation area, training session equipment, and training props. 

Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective animal care, including: without assistance, the ability to routinely lift 50 lb. boxes of frozen fish and maneuver non-motorized rolling carts carrying up to 60 lbs. over the entire span of the facility (approximately 230 yards) without interruption. 

Hearing: Ability sufficient to monitor human communication, auditory training bridges and animal vocalizations and behavior across large distances (half the length of the facility animal habitats combined).  

Visual: Ability sufficient for observation and visual assessment of animals, humans and habitats in extreme high light (intense sun) and low light situations, both indoors and outdoors. Students must see well at a distance of 90 feet or more. This is in accordance with human and animal safety issues and observational needs.

Swimming: Ability to swim comfortably at the surface for a minimum of 5 minutes, tread water comfortably and confidently without assistance, distance swim at least 200 meters, hold breath for at least 30 seconds, and haul out of the water onto a floating dock without assistance.

All applicants who have met the above conditions will be considered for acceptance into the program. Applying is not a guarantee of acceptance. If more applicants apply than there are spaces available, the spots will be filled on a first come first served basis.  If you apply, are accepted, and there are no available spaces in the class, we will defer your acceptance for up to one year.