[IATCB] News and updates for January 2022

Hello Visitor,

Happy new year from IATCB

A Message from the Chair

Happy New Year to all of our subscribers and certificants, the board hopes that 2022 will bring you all great learning opportunities and wonderful training experiences.

It is my desire to see 2022 bring an expansion of the certification board. If you would like to be considered for a general board position, please email board@iatcb.org with a short statement of why you would like to join us. Keep it brief, no more than 500 words. Do include your experience to date in that note.

In addition, IATCB is working on new examinations to be released in the fall of 2022 and we need item (question) writers. CEUs are available for writers whose items are accepted after initial review. Get 1 CEU for each five items submitted. If this is something you would like to do, please email board@iatcb.org and we will send you the item writers guide.

Once again, IATCB wishes all of our subscribers a very Happy New Year! 

Certificant Highlight

Amanda Sweeney, CPBT-KA, from the Southeastern Raptor Center took a moment to share with us! 

“I began working with birds of prey eight years ago and quickly realized that I had found my passion. I currently work at the Southeastern Raptor Center, where I spend my days as both an educator teaching about raptors and as a trainer for the center’s raptor ambassadors. I’m also a licensed falconer of five years and hold a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Auburn University.

I am always looking to advance myself as an avian trainer and educator. In pursuit of this, I have attended training workshops, taken courses, shadowed at other facilities, and joined organizations such as IAATE and RRF. I chose to get certified as it seemed like the next step to broaden my knowledge and demonstrate my understanding. The recommended reading list for the exam was full of valuable resources. I’ve been able to not only incorporate what I learned into my own training but have also been able to teach more to my volunteers, which has allowed us to communicate better with our ambassadors.  My advice to those who are considering taking the exam would be to read through all of the recommended reading and pace yourself. The certification covers a wide range of topics and there is a lot of material to learn. I also encourage everyone to build relationships with other animal training professionals. The community is full of people who are dedicated to maintaining the best practices in the field and are happy to provide support in others quests for knowledge.”

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!

2022 Testing Dates

*Applications will not be accepted after 11:59pm Eastern on this date

Our testing company, PTC has partnered with Prometric for Computer-Based Testing.  Learn More here.  With Prometrics there are no additional International Testing fees!!

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 

 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!

Please note that all CEUs MUST be claimed with two (2) months of the event, submissions will not be accepted after this period!

 Trainers Talk

"What’s App With That?” A Closer Look at how Technology can Assist us with our Animal Goals Scott Trauger CPBT-KA, Senior Trainer Natural Encounters, Inc.

“Technology has changed the way we communicate. In our field, possibly more than others, we still rely on actual physical communication to facilitate our jobs. What if there is a way to keep that personal connection while still allowing us to achieve animal-based goals with a better antecedent arrangement? At NEI, we have decided to embrace the future and find new ways to help us achieve our goals using current technology. This paper will look at the specific tools and scenarios in which these technological applications might be beneficial to you to achieve your animal goals.” Read More

Species Spotlight

Mountain goat; Oreamnos americanus

The native range of this species is from southeast Alaska to Washington, western Montana, and central Idaho. Mountain goats are native to the northern Rocky Mountains. They have also been introduced to parts of South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington.  Mountain goats prefer steep, rocky areas with cliffs or bluffs in alpine or sub-alpine regions. They prefer areas with sufficient escape terrain (steep rocky areas), moderate slopes, mid-elevations, and southern exposures.  Mountain goats are stout-bodied with a thick coat made up of white hairs with some brown intermixed dorsally. The pure black horns are long, rather thin, and present on both sexes. They do not shed these horns--annual growth rings increase the horn size. In this way, the age of the goat can be determined by counting the number of annual growth rings. The male's horn, however, curves back greater than the females. Mountain goats have relatively large, oval hooves with an almost rubber-like sole that aids them in climbing steep rock.  The degree of sociality of mountain goats varies throughout the year. They tend to form large groups during the winter and concentrate at salt licks in the spring, but they form smaller groups or are solitary in the summer. They are active from sunrise to mid-day and again at dusk. Mountain goats establish dominance hierarchies at a young age, by means of the kids' playing behavior. Males are dominant during the breeding season, but non-breeding season hierarchy is unusual. At this time, adult females are dominant, while adult males are subordinate to females and juveniles.  These animals are largely protected from threats due to the inaccessible nature of their habitat. The species is hunted, but regulations in both of its range states have stabilized past declines. Mountain goats are more sensitive to human disturbance than most other ungulates and are particularly sensitive to harassment from aircraft. Increasing aircraft use, particularly helicopters, for industrial and recreational purposes on mountain goat habitat is a major concern for their conservation. This species is listed as Least Concern by IUCN in view of its wide distribution, large population, active management, and because it is not declining at anything close to the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

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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