Hello Visitor,

Certificant Highlight
Chris Jenkins, CPBT-KA, Chief Operating Officer of Natural Encounters, Inc. took a few minutes to talk to us about his certification process.

“My work with animals began with a summer job at SeaWorld in San Diego, California. After obtaining a degree in Psychology from UC Davis, I volunteered at the Sacramento Zoo until I decided to pursue a career with animals full time. In 2002, I was accepted into the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College. Upon graduation, I worked as a wildlife educator at inner city schools in Los Angeles. I've worked for Natural Encounters since 2005, first as a trainer and later as Supervisor at each of our company’s shows at a major theme park in Central Florida, and I also work as an NEI training and show development consultant, training workshop instructor, and online educator and host for the company’s new NEI TEC initiative. I’m a member of AZA, ABMA, and IAATE, where I'm a member of the organization's Professional Development Committee.

I chose to become a certified bird trainer because I’m always interested in learning, growing, and expanding my skill set in our field. As someone who regularly has the chance to mentor others both inside and outside of my company, I thought the IATCB certification was an opportunity to give that skill set a test and review what I’ve learned over the years about husbandry, training, education, and welfare, not only for myself but to make sure that I have a good grasp on these subjects as I work to help grow that understanding in others.”

We would love to highlight you or your facility in our newsletter and on our Facebook page. Let us know the amazing things that you are doing to help raise the bar! Contact kelly.garrison@accgov.com for more information.

Want to find out more about setting these types of standards within your facility or becoming certified? Contact the IATCB board by visiting our website!

Are you a Hopeful Certificant?

Looking for the study guide for the CPAT- KA exam? Click here

Looking for the study guide for the CPBT- KA exam? Click here

Testing Cycles for 2020

Fall Testing is October 24 – November 7, 2020 ... Application deadline September 9, 2020

ONLINE REGISTRATION is now open!

Go to PTCNY to learn more about who’s eligible to take the exams, download the handbook and start studying!!!
Our testing company, PTC has partnered with Prometric for Computer-Based Testing. Learn More here. With Prometrics there are no additional International Testing fees!!

Already certified?

The CPBT-KA and CPAT-KA credential is valid for 5 years from the date it is awarded. To renew the credential a certificant must either re-take the examination after 5 years or accumulate sixty Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) by attending IATCB approved workshops, seminars, classes, or conferences. Head over to here to check out a list of approved CEUs!

Trainers Talk

IATCB’s very on Board Member Nicki Boyd shares with us about emergency recalls.

Emergency Animal Recall Training at San Diego Zoo; by Nicki Boyd – Associate Curator of Behavioral Husbandry, CPBT-KA, CPAT-KA

In 2017, the San Diego Zoo embarked on a new safety protocol with emergency recall for our open fronted habitats that had dangerous animals inside. We knew the tragedy that befell another North American Zoo, when a child climbed a barrier and then fell into a gorilla habitat, could happen anywhere and we wanted to be prepared for that or any type of emergency. I knew the Kolmarden Zoo had been doing some amazing recall behaviors with carnivores so I reached out to my colleague and peer Pieter Giljam the Behavior Manager to get some help setting up our program. They had some great videos and he talked me through our list of questions. Read on…

Species Spotlight

Rock Ptarmigan; Lagopus muta

Rock Ptarmigan nest in arctic and alpine tundra, especially higher and drier parts of tundra with abundant lichen, mosses, and rocks. A plump chicken-like bird with a short neck, small head, small bill, and rather large, feathered feet. They nest as far north as there is land in the world. This chunky grouse wears two kinds of camouflage: it’s nearly all-white in the snowy winter and mottled brown in the summer. Male Rock Ptarmigan stay white until they’ve finished courting females, and then intentionally dirty their plumage to hide from predators until they have molted into a safer brown plumage. Their feathered feet help them to walk on deep snow and to dig snow burrows and tunnels for refuge from severe cold. In winter, Rock Ptarmigan are white with dark eyes, bill, lores (area between bill and eye), and tail feathers. Male and females are white in the winter with black coloration on their outer tail feathers. Males have a more pronounced red eyebrow and black stripe in front of the eye. Breeding males have scarlet patches above their eyes. They remain white into midsummer, then molt into brown plumage with dark barring and dark tail feathers. Breeding females are camouflaged with dark and pale brown mottling, with some white in legs and wings. Rock Ptarmigan eat mostly plant buds, catkins, leaves, flowers, small twigs, berries, and seeds. They also consume spiders, insects, and occasionally snails, taken from the ground, from snow, and from low vegetation. They forage by walking slowly and browsing foliage with the sharp bill. Rock Ptarmigan are highly territorial in spring, but conflicts between neighboring territorial males are usually resolved with threat displays rather than actual combat. At territorial boundaries, rivals square off and walk or run parallel to each, very near, stretching the neck, fanning the tail, and displaying the fleshy red combs above the eye while uttering gruff, barking calls. IUCN list this species as Least Concern, This species has an extremely large range. EU Birds Directive Annex I and II. In most of its European range, the only management is the setting of hunting seasons and bag limits and in Europe it is only protected in a few countries. A small proportion of its range is covered by protective areas, although these are considered to only have a low role in species survival except in those countries at the edge of the range.

The International Avian Trainers Certification Board and the International Animal Trainers Certification Board, IATCB, offers you a way to gain professional credibility, increase your earnings potential, and advance your career. We live in a competitive world, and animal trainers are no different than anyone else looking for advanced knowledge and skill in their profession. IATCB endorses voluntary certification by examination for all professionals involved with animals, including trainers, educators, handlers, veterinarians, and all others involved in the care and handling of animals.

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