Best institutions to study Taxidermy/Taxidermist
A program that prepares individuals to reproduce life-like three-dimensional representations of living animals for permanent display using elements of the deceased specimen(s) as well as artificial materials, and to manage taxidermy services and businesses.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 12 Taxidermy/Taxidermist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0508, a specialization of Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05).
About Taxidermy/Taxidermist programs
A program that prepares individuals to reproduce life-like three-dimensional representations of living animals for permanent display using elements of the deceased specimen(s) as well as artificial materials, and to manage taxidermy services and businesses. Includes instruction in specimen grading and selection, caping and fleshing, preservation procedures, tanning, drying, measurements, form and armature construction, carpentry and woodworking, molding and casting, drawing, sculptural techniques, painting and finishing techniques, basic business operations, customer communications, and applicable laws and regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Taxidermy/Taxidermist program, part of Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, prepares students to create life-like representations of animals for display. This program is ideal for individuals interested in combining artistry with biological sciences, focusing on the preservation of animals for educational and aesthetic purposes.
Students will gain hands-on experience in specimen grading, caping, fleshing, and preservation techniques. The curriculum also covers form construction, carpentry, sculptural techniques, and basic business operations to effectively manage taxidermy services.
Credentials awarded
What Taxidermy/Taxidermist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year11 graduates / yr · 1 institution92%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.3%
Graduates over time
Taxidermy/Taxidermist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 43 |
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 12 |
Top 1 institutions for Taxidermy/Taxidermist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery Community College Troy, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 84% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Taxidermy/Taxidermist graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1 | 12 | Montgomery Community College12 / yr |
Other Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05).
- Equestrian/CIP 01.0507
Equine Studies 573 graduates / yr47 institutions - Dog/CIP 01.0504
Pet/ Animal Grooming 408 graduates / yr11 institutions - Animal TrainingCIP 01.0505partial data164 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Agricultural and Domestic Animal ServicesCIP 01.0599partial data32 graduates / yr3 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Farrier Science01.0509
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs →
Common questions
What is taxidermy?+
Taxidermy is the art of preserving and mounting deceased animals to create lifelike representations.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn specimen preservation, carpentry, sculptural techniques, and business management.
How long does the program take to complete?+
The program offers awards that range from at least 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in taxidermy services, creating displays for educational and aesthetic purposes.
What is the CIP code for Taxidermy/Taxidermist?+
Taxidermy/Taxidermist is CIP 01.0508 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to reproduce life-like three-dimensional representations of living animals for permanent display using elements of the deceased specimen(s) as well as artificial materials, and to manage taxidermy services and businesses. Includes instruction in specimen grading and selection, caping and fleshing, preservation procedures, tanning, drying, measurements, form and armature construction, carpentry and woodworking, molding and casting, drawing, sculptural techniques, painting and finishing techniques, basic business operations, customer communications, and applicable laws and regulations.
How many institutions offer Taxidermy/Taxidermist programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Taxidermy/Taxidermist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 12 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services graduates.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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