Those seeking an apprentice license to practice the sport of falconry and those who wish to be a licensed volunteer wildlife rehabilitator can take the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation exams on Friday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Watertown DEC Regional Office at 316 Washington St.

The deadline for registering to take the exams is April 1.

There is no charge to take either written exam. There is no fee for the wildlife rehabilitator license. There is a $20 fee for the two-year falconry license.

To qualify for the DEC Apprentice Falconry license, applicants must be at least 14 years of age, possess a valid New York small-game hunting license and maintain DEC-approved facilities for housing the raptors. Apprentices are limited to possessing one bird, either an American kestrel (a falcon also known as a “sparrow hawk”) or a red-tailed hawk.

After two years as an apprentice falconer, a licensee may qualify for a general falconry license and, after five years, a master falconer.

A wildlife rehabilitator study guide and examination manual are available to applicants for $15 a set. The study materials include the application for the examination. These materials were developed by wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians and biologists to teach applicants about the practice of wildlife rehabilitation, including technical requirements for licensed volunteers.

Wildlife rehabilitator applicants must be at least 16 years of age, submit two character references with their application to the NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit, have no convictions for violations of the State Environmental Conservation Law, and be interviewed by a DEC regional wildlife staff person.

Applicants should understand that a degree of technical skill and a significant commitment in time, money and effort is required to be a wildlife rehabilitator. Prospective applicants are encouraged to gain experience by serving as an assistant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

To apply for either the falconry exam or the wildlife rehabilitator exam, contact the Special Licenses Unit at (518) 402-8985, or NYS DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752, or fwslu@gw.dec.state.ny.us.