Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator or Care Provider

Read the articles on this website about wildlife rehabilitation. Visit a wildlife or nature center to learn more about Virginia’s native wildlife. This will help you decide what species you are best suited to care for. In Virginia, rehabilitators are licensed to care for reptiles, mammals and/or birds. Rehabilitation of migratory birds or waterfowl also requires a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Authority.

Read the VDWR Permit Conditions and learn what is required in terms of setting up your wildlife room. This is one of the key determiners for whether you are ready to be an apprentice or whether you need to instead set your sights on a care provider permit until you have the right facilities available to you be a permitted apprentice. Please take this important step before you reach out to a potential rehabilitator sponsor (next step) as the personal and time commitment from the rehabilitator for a care provider versus an apprentice is very significant.

Before you reach out to a potential sponsor, think about your current lifestyle. Do you work full- time in an office environment? If yes, then you should consider a care provider permit or look for a sponsor who supports wildlife that are self-sufficient during the day (e.g., turtles). Are you home-based and/or could you bring in baby wildlife to your work cubicle? Are you retired and free to rehab all day and night? Do you go to Florida with your RV for a couple of months a year? Be self-aware of how much time you can dedicate to wildlife if you do get a permit. Is it evenings and weekends? You’re a good fit for care provider. Is it 24/7? You’re a great fit for an apprentice.

Answers to these questions will influence what will and won’t work for you, as well as shape your expectations of timing (i.e.., years or decades) for your journey to become a wildlife rehabilitator.

To obtain a Cat I apprentice permit, you must be sponsored by an actively licensed VDWR Cat II or III rehabilitator or wildlife center. This permit requires a home inspection by VDWR to ensure you have the appropriate facilities, caging and other considerations for keeping wildlife in your home or other facility. To obtain a Cat IV permit, you be sponsored by a Cat I, II or III permittee, although it is not required. There is no home inspection for a Cat IV permittee since you don’t take wildlife into your premises; you work with wildlife at the home or facility of a Cat I, II or III permittee.

Wherever you live in Virginia, you can look for a licensed rehabilitator near you at Virginia DWR or nationally at National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. Be respectful of the rehabilitator as they are volunteers and prioritize their time for the care and feeding of wildlife.

If you’re in the Northern Virginia area, WRL will assist you in contacting the local rehabilitators to see if there is a match between your interests and their needs. If you are interested, please contact the chair of our WRL Rehabilitator Committee at rehabchair@wildliferescueleague.org.

FYI, if you want to care for birds, look for a rehabilitator sponsor who has a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS) permit for migratory birds.

The VDWR application requires proof of six hours of continuing education prior to application. There are lots of related educational programs available on the internet, through our Virginia wildlife centers and from the many rehabilitators who offer seminars. Be sure to get continuing education certificates when you complete each course.

Once you have a commitment from a permitted rehabilitator to sponsor you, you can download the application from the VDWR website. Sponsoring rehabilitators must sign your apprentice application. Care provider applications must list the sponsor, if applicable, but sponsor signatures are not required at this time.

After filing for a Cat I permit, the VDWR CPO (Conservation Police Officer) will perform an in- home visit, and if approved, you may begin caring for healthy and orphaned animals in your home.

To be an apprentice for birds, you must be added as a sub-permittee on your VDWR sponsor’s Federal permit. When you apply for your rehabilitator’s permit, you should also apply for your own permit from (USFWS).