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How to Work at an Aquarium: The Basics Explained

Did you know that almost 30 thousand people around the United States work at zoos and aquariums?

Working with animals is a fun and fulfilling career choice, and it allows you to explore many different fields.

Have you ever wondered how to work at an aquarium? If you love taking care of fish, aquarium careers may be of interest to you.

Here are some steps you can take to find a job in the aquarium of your dreams:

Get the Proper Education

If you want to begin working with animals, you need to get a bachelor’s degree involving animals or biology.

Some of the most popular degrees for aquarium careers include:

You can start to work in an aquarium from the ground up in another sector, such as customer service, but it is important that you complete your education to begin working with animals.

Are you still in high school or junior college? You can always join clubs and take certain courses to get a jump start on your education so you can begin taking care of fish as soon as possible.

Scuba Diving Certification

A scuba diving certification is absolutely necessary if you want any type of job in an aquarium, especially something like certified aquarium maintenance professional.

Part of your work with the aquarium may involve going out on fieldwork missions into oceans, so scuba training is very important.

You may also need scuba diving training to work on larger tanks within the aquarium. Having a tank of oxygen makes cleaning and maintaining enclosures much more efficient so you do not have to go up for air regularly.

Usually, you can complete your scuba certification in a short amount of time. Many scuba schools offer night courses to accommodate different schedules as well.

Try an Internship

An internship is a great way to bolster your resume and give you some professional experience for your future aquarium jobs. Ask your local aquarium or organization about internship opportunities.

Many internships do not pay and will only help you get credits for school. You may not earn an hourly wage, but you will certainly gain skills that you can apply to jobs later on.

Start Working With Animals

Lastly, you should simply start working with animals to gain experience in caring for fish. The more hands-on experience you have, the more likely you will be able to get a job in an aquarium.

Look around job boards and different organizations for volunteer opportunities where you can participate.

How to Work at an Aquarium

If you want to learn how to work at an aquarium, you should never give up on your dreams. With this guide, you can begin taking care of fish and pursue aquarium jobs that you will love.

Would you like to know more about how you can get involved in working with animals? Take a look at our site for more ideas and inspiration for your next career move.

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