Wildlife Rehabilitation Training & Education
Our mission extends beyond the animals in our care - it includes the people who will care for wildlife long into the future.
Through hands-on training, mentorship, and structured educational programs, we support both current wildlife rehabilitators and those seeking to enter the field. Our education program for wildlife rehabilitators operates in direct alignment with our animal care work, ensuring that learning is practical, ethical, and grounded in real-world rehabilitation experience and practice.
Training opportunities are offered on-site, and remotely where feasible, connecting participants to local wildlife, conservation principles, and the skills required to make a meaningful, responsible impact.
For questions, please contact us at info@riwildliferehab.org
RI Wildlife Rehabilitation Regulations: Click here
Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation (RI Level 1 Course)
~Meets the educational requirement to apply for a Rhode Island Level 1 Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
~Completion of this course is one component of the overall permitting process; additional state requirements apply. Depending on species, additional federal requirements may also apply.
This comprehensive introductory course provides the foundational knowledge required to responsibly care for injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife. Participants are guided through the full scope of wildlife rehabilitation, from initial intake and triage through housing, medical decision-making, and release. Course content includes legal and ethical obligations, permit structures, professional conduct (including appropriate use of social media), core medical and veterinary concepts, species-appropriate housing, rehabilitation planning, and release considerations. Emphasis is placed on animal welfare, conservation outcomes, and the realities of rehabilitation work in a regulated environment.
Participants receive an expanded, 200+ page training manual that extends beyond the classroom and is designed to function as a living reference for the practicing wildlife rehabilitator, supporting ongoing learning, decision-making, and skill development over time.
Participants are also introduced to our organization, how wildlife rehabilitation functions within the broader conservation landscape, and meaningful ways to support wildlife in their own communities.
Course Features
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Comprehensive, permit-aligned curriculum
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Interactive discussion and hands-on learning components
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Expanded course materials to support continued development
Stay tuned for 2026 dates
Neonate Wildlife Care (RI Subpermittee Course)
~Meets the educational requirement to apply for a Rhode Island Sub-permittee Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
~ Completion of this course is one component of the overall permitting process; additional state (requirements apply. Depending on species, additional federal requirements may also apply.
This focused course provides the specialized knowledge required to safely and responsibly care for neonatal wildlife - one of the most technically demanding areas of wildlife rehabilitation. Participants are guided through the unique physiological, developmental, and behavioral needs of neonates across multiple species groups.
Course content addresses intake and stabilization of neonates, age and species assessment, thermoregulation, hydration and feeding principles, common medical and developmental concerns, housing and sanitation, growth monitoring, transition milestones, and preparation for release or transfer. Legal and ethical responsibilities, permit limitations, professional conduct (including appropriate use of social media), and welfare-centered decision-making are woven throughout the course, with emphasis on minimizing habituation/imprinting and optimizing survival outcomes.
Participants receive an expanded, 200+ page training manual designed to serve as a living reference for the practicing wildlife rehabilitator, offering detailed guidance, troubleshooting support, and ongoing learning tools well beyond the classroom setting.
The course situates neonate care within the broader wildlife rehabilitation framework, helping participants understand how early-life interventions affect individual animals and inform the ethical standards and professional decision-making that guide wildlife rehabilitators and aspiring practitioners.
Course Features
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Permit-aligned curriculum focused specifically on neonatal wildlife care
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Interactive discussion and hands-on learning components
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Expanded course materials to support continued skill development
2026 Class Dates and Registration
1. In Person: Saturday, February 28th; 9am-4pm; Warwick
Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane Warwick, RI 02889. Register Here
Class limited to 25 participants.
2. Remote: Wednesday & Thursday, March 18th & 19th; 5:30pm-9pm; Teams link will
be provided. Must attend both evenings to receive full credit toward permit.
3. In Person: Saturday, March 28th; 9am-5pm; Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island, 2865 Tower Hill Road, Saunderstown RI 02874. Register Here
Class limited to 25 participants.
4. In Person: Saturday, April 18th; 9am-5pm; Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island, 2865
Tower Hill Road, Saunderstown RI 02874. Register Here
Class limited to 25 participants.
RI Sub-permittee Permit & Training
Individuals holding a subpermittee permit work under a fully licensed Rhode Island wildlife rehabilitator and may assist with in-home care or as volunteers with at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island. Once permitted by RIDEM, subpermittees may help raise certain species of orphaned wildlife including squirrels, opossums, rabbits, and baby birds.
The requirements to obtain a Sub-permittee permit include:
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6 hours of formal classroom training (the Neonate Wildlife Care course meets this requirement)
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An open-book examination administered by the RIDEM
(50 question, open-book multiple choice and true/false exam. The exam is administered free of charge by RIDEM)
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25 hours of hands-on skills training (usually at the Wildlife Clinic)
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A home inspection if the Sub-permittee intends to rehabilitate wildlife at home.
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Must be 18 years or older to receive a permit
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Sponsorship of a Level 2, Ri permitted wildlife rehabilitator
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Veterinary Support
Wildlife rehabilitators are volunteers and this is not a paid position. We are happy to assist individuals interested in becoming wildlife rehabilitators through the licensing process.
Please email info@riwildliferehab.org with any questions.