Wildlife rehabilitation in the United States is supported by a network of professional organizations, training providers, state associations, and reference materials. Connecting with these organizations is one of the fastest ways to find mentors, access training, and stay current on regulatory changes.
National Organizations
The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) is the primary national professional organization. They publish the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, offer the Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation course, maintain a member directory, and host an annual symposium. Website: nwrawildlife.org.
The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) offers the Foundations of Wildlife Rehabilitation course (widely accepted by state agencies), a member directory, and the Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) credential. Website: theiwrc.org.
The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota is a leading resource for raptor rehabilitation training and research, offering workshops and serving as a major referral hub for Midwest raptor care. Website: raptor.umn.edu.
State Wildlife Rehabilitation Associations
Every state with an active rehabilitation community has a state-level organization. Some key examples: OWRA (Ohio), TNWRA (Tennessee), TWRC (Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition), GAWRT (Georgia), WWRA (Wisconsin), NYWRA (New York). Search your state name plus "wildlife rehabilitators association" to find yours.
Federal Resources
The USFWS migratory bird permit application system (ePermits) is at fws.gov/epermits. Regional permit office contacts are available at fws.gov. The National Eagle Repository (for eagles found dead) is managed by USFWS Law Enforcement.
For specific training requirements in your state, see the state guides. Use the permit pathway finder to get your personalized roadmap.