Reptiles at Risk

So You Want to Be a Herpetologist

Posted by Jeff Hathaway on July 28, 2006 at 2:50 PM

We get asked a lot about careers involving reptiles! Kids often want to know how to become a herpetologist, which is a person who studies reptiles and amphibians. It isn't easy! The first advice we'd have to offer is to stay in school, study hard, and get good grades! Jobs in this field require post-secondary education, generally at the university level, though some college programs can also be a good choice. High school courses in sciences and maths are typically required for entry in these programs, and often there is competition for limited spaces, so reasonably high marks are necessary to get accepted into a program. This doesn't mean you have to be a genius- hard work can take you a long way!

So, let's say you're in high school, and you're taking the right courses, and you're considering where to go next. What are your options?

College programs are a possibility, especially if you want to spend more time out in the field, as these programs are usually more practically based than theoretical. There are no programs that focus specifically on reptiles or amphibians, but there are programs about fish and wildlife, ecosystem management, etc. Sir Sanford Fleming College (www.flemingc.on.ca) in Lindsay, Ontario, is an example of a school that offers such programs.

University programs are generally a better choice, as most positions related to reptiles and amphibians are geared towards this type of academic program. Again, there aren't any programs at the undergraduate level specific to herpetology. A more general biology degree program is usually taken, and in senior years, courses can be selected to focus on certain areas. Some program choices are out there that offer a major in Wildlife Biology, or similar topics, which are often a little more specialized than others. However, not all universities even offer a single course specifically related to reptiles and amphibians.

The university of Guelph (www.uoguelph.ca) has offered a fourth year Herpetology course for a long time. I took this course years ago, and loved it! We even take our live collection in to this course in the fall for the students to see what some of the animals look like when they're not pickled! The future of this course is in serious doubt, though, since the professor, Dr. Bogart, is now retired. The course was cancelled last year, but reinstated for this year. Who knows what will happen in the future?

Laurentian University (www.laurentian.ca), in Sudbury, Ontario, has just begun its own Herpetology course in the last couple of years. Dr. Jackie Litzgus, a turtle researcher, is now a professor there and is developing the course. Since it is new, the course is very up to date and also likely to be around for quite some time! This is one of the reasons we approached Laurentian to partner with us in this 'Reptiles at Risk on the Road' project- it is great to work with an institution that we can recommend to prospective herpetologists as a place to go to further their education! Of course, our live collection also visits Laurentian in the fall!

I believe that McGill University in Montreal also has a course in herpetology, but that's about it for Canada.

And, at this point, if you're serious about a career as a herpetologist, you really need to consider pursuing a Master's of Science degree, so count on spending quite a bit of time in school!

Another good thing to look at is which schools have professors who study reptiles or amphibians as part of their research. Often these professors will have volunteer positions (or even paying positions!) for students to work in their labs or with field projects. These positions are a great way to get valuable experience which can really help when you want to get a job!

Lots of other places also have volunteer opportunities, such as zoos, parks, educational programs, and probably others I can't think of at the moment!

Of course, not everyone who wants to work with reptiles and amphibians wants to be a herpetologist- their are other things to consider as well. Zookeepers, veterinarians, breeders, educators, conservation officers, and lots of other people get to work with these animals in the course of their careers.

Finally, it is important to realize that there simply aren't a lot of jobs out there that are specific to reptiles and amphibians. They aren't easy to get, and they also frequently don't pay very well. It is definitely not a career choice people should make for the money! But, if you do it for the right reasons, it can be a very rewarding career!