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What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Environmental Service Systems pathway.

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Additional Information

The real starting point for aspiring conservation officers is in the classroom. People who are considering this career should begin preparing for it by taking high school math, English, biology, physical education and law.

Official educational requirements for conservation officers differ from state to state. Some areas require only a high school diploma. Because of stiff competition, however, the better trained you are, the better your chances of breaking into this field.

Programs in resource management or conservation differ greatly among colleges. Depending on the school you plan to attend and the type of education you're looking for, an education in this field may involve a one- to three-year program in fish and wildlife management or resource management and wildlife technology, or a four-year degree in wildlife biology or conservation.

A background in criminal justice may also be a valuable qualification for a position in this field.

"If you're going to be a conservation officer, back it up with criminal justice. You have to be a cop. In the parks, you're dealing with people, so you're looking at child abuse, domestic abuse, [and] driving while impaired," says conservation officer Dina Hopper Lincon.

While classroom learning is important, conservation officers need some outdoor experience as well. Snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating and swimming are all useful hobbies for a conservation officer.

"You have to like the outdoors to do this job. Almost any kind of outdoor activity is job training for a conservation officer, because we have to be so adept at maneuvering outside," says Missouri conservation officer George Allerby.

There's lots of opportunity to get your feet wet in this field with volunteer projects such as local stream enhancement and habitat preservation.

Local state park offices are a good place to start. They may have volunteer programs in place, or they can point you toward local conservation projects.

To find out about qualifications or education in your state, contact your nearest representative of the North American Association of Wildlife Officers. The NAAWO has no head office, but each region has a representative who can provide you with information specific to the area.