Do you dream of working with with dolphins or other animals?  Dolphin Academy will help you achieve it!

One mission of Dolphin Research Center is to teach our relationship-based training style to those interested in the animal training field. No previous animal training is required, but it is helpful. In our Dolphin Academy program, we work with small groups of students on-site - no more than 6 per class. This ensures students maximum dolphin time and focus of the trainers/instructors. 

Attending the Dolphin Academy Program, you have the opportunity to:

• Build relationships with dolphins, learning how to play with them both on the docks and in water.
• Work with dolphins in training sessions
• Learn and understand how to implement relationship-based positive reinforcement from the Dolphin Research Center (DRC) dolphins, who will act as your primary “teachers”. 
• Learn to read basic dolphin behavior and understand how they communicate with us
• Participate in discussion groups with marine mammal care and training specialists, covering topics such as training, welfare, Q&A, and networking
• Experience on-line classes that focus on relationship building, training, physiology, and public speaking.  DRC trainers participate in the discussion groups online, giving you a foundation of knowledge before you arrive onsite to actually work with the dolphins.
• Learn to give live presentations that are entertaining, informative, flexible, and motivating. By the end of the week on-site the students will give a public presentation at DRC, both working with the dolphins and narrating.
• Understand how these relationship-building and training techniques work with all animals, adapting for each species and individual animal’s personality and needs.
• Work with multiple species, including dog training, to understand how relationship building can be applied to different species. 

This is an intensive immersion program requiring students to participate in programming exceeding 10 hours a day during the onsite portion of the program. Students will be working with a team of marine mammal care and training specialists caring for and actively training marine mammals in a non-profit, educational facility that is open to the public. Graduates of this program will have experienced online classroom instruction as well as the hands-on experience that most zoos, aquariums, rescue facilities, sanctuaries, etc. value in job candidates.

• This is a hybrid learning program and consists of both online and onsite learning
• Multiple onsite dates may be offered depending on demand.

Includes:

• Onsite & Online Tuition

• Student Housing Lodging

• Daily Lunch and Snacks during onsite week

• Whistle & DRCTI Shirt

• Photo Package

• Completion Document

• One year Dolphin Research Center Keep-In-Touch Membership

Courses:

• Furthering Relationships and Enrichment

• Basic Behavior Modification and Training

• Public Speaking and Controversy of Animals in Professional Care

• Physiology

2025 Program Dates

Online Portion

Start Date: March 3, 2025

The online portion must be completed prior to arriving for the onsite portion.

Online classes are at your own pace and schedule.

Onsite Portion

May 25, 2025 - May 31, 2025

OR

June 1, 2025 - June 7, 2025

Application Information

• Application Deadline: February 23, 2025

• You must submit a completed application with all required documents for your application to be considered valid.

• Scholarship Application Deadline: February 9, 2025

Enrollment and Admissions Information

• Upon acceptance, you will be provided with an enrollment form to complete

• Minimum age: 18 years old

• International students are eligible 

Meet the DRCTI Professional Animal Trainer course instructors

If you are a team member of a facility/organization that would like to schedule a group class, please email drcti@dolphins.org prior to completing any paperwork.

General Student Performance Standards

All students are expected to maintain the highest personal and ethical standards of conduct consistent with the professional effort expected by DRCTI staff 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 staff and may result in student dismissal by Dolphin Research Center Training Institute.

Attendance

All students must meet attendance requirements as defined by program policy or guidelines. Absences must be planned and coordinated in advance with the program director. Programming can exceed 10 hours a day during the onsite portion of the program. As this program includes participation in the operation of a marine mammal facility that is open to the public, appropriate behavior is expected. Due to the nature of a facility that cares for live animals, students are expected to be understanding and flexible in scheduling.

Communication

All students will be expected to:

• Communicate effectively
• Meet the unique needs of different audiences
• Absorb new information without difficulty
• Speak and write clearly, concisely, and coherently
• Express information accurately and in an organized manner
• Listen to all of the information given and listen respectfully to others’ opinions
• Keep the appropriate people properly informed
• Use the appropriate communication channels.

Critical /Analytical Thinking

All students should be able to:

• Exercise sound judgment
• Prioritize
• Understand critical issues in complex situations
• Know how much analysis is needed to move ahead
• Assess risks and rewards with a minimum of data and know what data is missing and how to get it
• Gather facts before making decisions
• Take actions rather than acting on assumptions.

Interpersonal skills

All students should demonstrate the ability to:

• Interact with individuals and groups of various ages with diverse social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds
• Facilitate cooperation to implement/adhere to program policies
• Actively seek to establish and maintain relations with individuals at all levels
• Cooperate readily with others and elicit cooperation to achieve goals
• Modify personal behavior to adapt to the requirements of the people and program involved
• Function effectively under stressful conditions
• Deal positively and confidently with unexpected events.

Personal Integrity

All students will be expected to demonstrate personal integrity in all matters including:

• Honesty
• The ability to maintain confidentiality
• Earning the respect and confidence of others
• Portraying a positive role model for others
• Accepting responsibility for negative results
• Maintaining an open mind and dealing productively with differing opinions
• Treating all others with appreciation, respect, and courtesy
• Adhering to organization policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Problem Solving

All students should show the ability to:

• Use appropriate conflict-resolution techniques and confront difficult tasks effectively
• Seek reasonable and mutually beneficial agreements/solutions to solve problems/achieve goals/directives.

Program Specific Performance Standards

In addition to DRCTI’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 the cleaning of coolers and other materials related to animal care.
 

Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective animal care, including without assistance, the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. 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, 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.

Travel Expectations

Each student is responsible for his or her own food, transportation, travel arrangements, and expenses.

DRCTI Student Residence Housing

The DRCTI Student Residence provides housing for up to six students throughout the duration of the onsite portion of the Dolphin Academy program. Student Residence bedrooms are shared with two to three students per room. The shared bedrooms are composed of either bunk or loft beds. All bedrooms will have desks and clothing drawer space. Closet space is also available. Two full bathrooms in the residence are communal. The Student Residence has a full kitchen, dining area, living room, study room, and laundry facilities. Housing costs include: washer and dryer, water, electric, cable, internet service, and building maintenance services. Bed linens will be provided but students will be responsible for providing their own towels, blankets, and pillows. Room selection is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, while the Student Residence is considered co-ed, bedrooms within the residence are not. Therefore, DRCTI reserves the right to determine the best configuration so co-ed habitation of the bedrooms is avoided.

DRCTI's Dolphin Academy Program Tuition & Fees

Other costs incurred by students may include but are not limited to travel, food, personal supplies, and other living expenses.

Download the credit card authorization form in the Application & Forms tab. Upload the completed form to your application/enrollment forms. Please submit your application and remember to complete any additional requirements such as deposit, letters of recommendation, etc. 

Full payment of tuition is due 30 days before the start date of the program. If the date is within 30 days of the start of the program, the balance is due immediately. Payment of the balance not received by this deadline will result in the automatic removal of the applicant from the program.

Scholarship

In order to further this mission, we would like to make our Dolphin Academy program available to individuals whose interest and passion to pursue a career with marine mammals exceeds their bank accounts. Through the generosity of a DRC donor, the Dolphin Academy Scholarships were created to make this possible.  

Each scholarship will cover tuition. The scholarship award will be based on the greatest financial need and highest motivation to share knowledge acquired in the program for the benefit of marine mammals around the world.

For mor information about available scholarships, email drcti@dolphins.org

Cancellation and Refund Policy

The $200 deposit is refunded in the event the applicant is not accepted into the Dolphin Academy program or if the session is canceled by Dolphin Research Center.

Application

Application period has ended.

Forms & Waivers