Airport Wildlife Biologist
FAA Requirements
(from AC 150/5200-36B 01/24/19)
7.3 To meet the requirements of §139.337(c) and (f)(7), a wildlife damage management biologist (from now on referred to as a “qualified airport wildlife biologist”) must:
1. Have the necessary academic coursework from accredited institutions and work experience to meet the qualifications of a GS-0486 series wildlife biologist as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management classification standards (Appendix A) or be designated as a Certified Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society (http://www.wildlife.org) and,
2. Have taken and passed an airport wildlife hazard management training course acceptable to the FAA Administrator (Appendix C) and,
3. While working under the direct supervision of a qualified airport wildlife biologist:
a. Have conducted at least one Wildlife Hazard Assessment acceptable to the FAA Administrator (as described in Section 139.337) or,
b. Conducted at least one year of continual wildlife hazard monitoring at a certificated airport using FAA-approved methodology (FAA AC 150/5200-38, Ch. 4).
4. Have successfully completed at least one of the following within 5 years of their initial FAA approved airport wildlife hazard management training course, and every 5 years thereafter:
a. An airport wildlife hazard management training course that is acceptable to the FAA Administrator (Appendix C), or
b. Attendance, as a registered participant, at a joint Bird Strike Committee– USA/Bird Strike Committee–Canada annual meeting, or
c. Other training acceptable to the FAA Administrator.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for GS-0486 Series Wildlife Biologists
To be qualified as a GS-0486 series wildlife biologist, a candidate must have the following:
1. A degree in biological science that includes—
a. At least 9 semester hours in such wildlife subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, and wildlife management or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and
b. At least 12 semester hours in zoology in such subjects as general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, and entomology or research courses in these subjects (excess courses in wildlife biology may be used to meet the zoology requirements where appropriate); and
c. At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences; or
2. A combination of education and experience equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science, as shown in Paragraph 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education; or
3. Be designated as a Certified Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society (http://www.wildlife.org).
OPM: Wildlife Biology Series, 0486