How to Become a Zookeeper

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Zookeepers take care of wild animals in zoos and animal parks. Learn how to get the right education to become a zookeeper.

Step 1: Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website
Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more detailed job information. The work can be dangerous and require long hours and heavy lifting.

Tip
A zookeeper's job isn't always glamorous. Cleaning animal exhibits and cages can be part of your daily routine.

Step 2: Volunteer at a local zoo
Volunteer at a local zoo for an entry-level view of a zookeeper's daily routine. The Louisville Zoo in Kentucky offers volunteer jobs for high school students.

Tip
Special high school programs include California's North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet.

Step 3: Visit the American Association of Zookeepers site
Visit the nonprofit American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) site to learn about zoology or biology degree programs offered at certain colleges.

Tip
Because zookeeper positions are rarely available, competition can be fierce. An advanced degree can give you an edge.

Step 4: Learn about 2-year programs
Learn about two-year animal care programs taught at colleges with an on-campus zoo or an affiliation with an off-campus zoo.

Tip
Moorpark College in California and Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, have on-campus teaching zoos.

Step 5: Learn about 4-year bachelor's degree programs
Learn about four-year bachelor's degree zoology and biology programs at colleges offering hands-on experience at zoos.

Tip
Canisius College in Buffalo offers a four-year program with hands-on training at zoos in western New York and Ontario.

Step 6: Start at an entry-level zoo job
Start at an entry-level zoo job such as a park aide or grounds cleaner. You'll have an inside track for newly available positions posted by human resources.

Did You Know?
Opened in 1765, the Zoo Vienna, the world's oldest existing zoo, started as a menagerie for Austrian royalty.