[IATCB] News and updates for August 2022

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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.

News from the Board

Your Board is meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic to review new test questions in Atlanta, Georgia Sept 10 and 11.  Many thanks to Zoo Atlanta for generously donating the meeting space.

What Have You Been Up Too?

We would love to highlight you or your facility in our newsletter and on our Facebook page.  We want to see what you have been up to so please share your successes and let us know the amazing things that you are doing to help raise the bar! Send us a photo and a brief description of what you have been trying.  Contact Amy Robinson at beanelib@yahoo.com for more information.  We’ve had some new members join so just a reminder this group is a safe space to ask questions about your current training, get advice and discuss or share your successes!

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

Mark your calendars, the next application deadline is September 14, 2022 and October 15-29, 2022.  Our testing company, PTC has partnered with Prometric for Computer-Based Testing.  Learn More here. 

*************** Prometrics there are no additional International Testing fees!!**************

Are you a Hopeful Certificant? Know a Hopeful Certifiant?  Share the Dates!

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 (60) 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.

New Board Member Spotlight:

Meet Nicky Plaskitt, our first International Board Member:

Hi, I’m Nicky Plaskitt. I have been working in zoos across the UK and worldwide since 2000, predominantly in prestigious UK collections. I spent 10 years working for ZSL (London and Whipsnade Zoos), and 9 years as the Section Leader of the bird department at Paradise Wildlife Park (PWP). At PWP I was also the Animal Training Coordinator which involved working collaboratively with other Sections to ensure all animals were trained using the most positive, least intrusive methods, whether for husbandry, veterinary or encounter purposes.

In this role my team and I revolutionised the care and training of the birds of prey, shifting from traditional falconry practices to positive reinforcement based training. This included changing the housing so that there were suitable aviaries to free loft the birds, removing anklets and jesses and the use of traditional falconry furniture, and introducing choice based, force free training for all.

This was incredibly challenging, but proved very rewarding for the birds, and the team!

In 2014 I became the first person in Europe to sit the IATCB CPBT-KA exam, and I believe I am still the only person in the UK with this qualification – something I am desperate to change!

As a member of the Board of IATCB I am really hoping to bring the international perspective and raise awareness on ‘this side of the pond’ and try to get some more of the excellent trainers I know to take the certification program. I recently became a Board member for IAATE and am trying to boost the international membership for them also, I believe this will go hand in hand with IATCB certification.

In 2021 I left Paradise Wildlife Park and set up my own business ‘Shaping Behaviour’ through which I travel to zoos and colleges in the UK and overseas and work with the teams to improve animal welfare by boosting keeper skills and knowledge and promoting love for all things R+!

I intend to take the CPAT-KA exam this year in order to keep challenging and developing myself.

I look forward to working with you all ?

Never underestimate the value of small approximations.