High School
High school classes in art, woodworking, and metal shop may help develop the skills necessary for this career. Also, a class or classes in biology might be helpful for learning the bodily workings of certain animals.
Postsecondary Training
In the United States, several schools offer programs or correspondence courses in taxidermy. Courses often last from four to six weeks, and subjects such as laws and legalities, bird mounting, fish mounting, deer, small mammals, diorama-making, airbrush painting, and form-making are covered. Taxidermists who hope to work in museums should expect to take further training and acquire additional skills in related subjects, which they can learn in museum classes. Some aspiring taxidermists train for the field by apprenticing with an experienced taxidermist.
Self-employed taxidermists need accounting, advertising, and marketing courses to help in the management of a business, including maintaining an inventory of chemicals and supplies, advertising and promotion, and pricing their work.
Other Education or Training
The National Taxidermists Association and the United Taxidermist Association offer professional development opportunities at their annual conferences.
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Trainers
- Anthropologists
- App Services Workers
- Arborists
- Archaeologists
- Archivists
- Artists
- Book Conservators
- Cleaning Service Owners
- Conservators and Conservation Technicians
- Dry Cleaning and Laundry Workers
- Education Directors and Museum Teachers
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Ethnoscientists
- Exhibit Designers
- Funeral Home Workers
- Gallery Owners and Directors
- Genealogical Researchers
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grounds Managers
- Historic Preservationists
- Home Health Care Aides
- Household Workers
- Landscapers
- Lawn and Gardening Service Owners
- Life Coaches
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Museum Technicians
- National Park Service Employees
- Painters and Paperhangers
- Personal Care Aides
- Pest Control Workers
- Pet Sitters
- Professional Organizers
- Spa Managers
- Swimming Pool Servicers
- Tattoo Artists
- Tour Guides
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zookeepers
- Zoologists