![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/631635f4553f41a94f16714e_home-whale-aerial.webp)
Become an ACS-OC Certified Naturalist
Love whales? This is a great chance to learn more about whales, dolphins, and other cetaceans!
2024 ACS-OC Naturalist Certification Course
Registration is now closed.
The American Cetacean Society is the first non-profit conservation group anywhere devoted to cetaceans - whales, dolphins, and porpoises. By completing our certification course, naturalists can represent ACS-OC aboard whale-watching vessels, at schools, special events, and other venues.
The 11-session class will take place as a hybrid model on Thursdays, January 4th - March 14th, 2024, from 7-9 p.m. In-person sessions will occur at Orange Coast College (OCC) in the Lewis Center. All other sessions will meet virtually via Zoom.
The American Cetacean Society is the first non-profit conservation group anywhere devoted to cetaceans - whales, dolphins, and porpoises. By completing our certification course, naturalists can represent ACS-OC aboard whale-watching vessels, at schools, special events, and other venues.
The 11-session class will take place as a hybrid model on Thursdays, January 4th - March 14th, 2024, from 7-9 p.m. In-person sessions will occur at Orange Coast College (OCC) in the Lewis Center. All other sessions will meet virtually via Zoom.
Class dates:
- January 4th Defining Our Whales (In-person @ OCC)
- January 11th Cetacean Behaviors (In-person @ OCC)
- January 18th Baleen Whale Recognition (In-person @ OCC)
- January 25th General ACS Chapter Meeting (On Zoom)
- February 1st Toothed Whale Recognition (In-person @ OCC)
- February 8th Gray Whales (In-person @ OCC)
- February 15th Pinnipeds (In-person @ OCC)
- February 22nd General ACS Chapter Meeting (On Zoom)
- February 29th Seabirds and Coastal History (In-person @ OCC)
- March 7th Humans and Whales (In-person @ OCC)
- March 14th Becoming a Naturalist & Final Test (In-person @ OCC)
- March 16th POSSIBLE Graduation Celebratory Whale Watch Trip!
![group of ACS-OC naturalists on a boat next to dolphins](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/63266edf3009592c792c8b63_naturalist-cta.webp)
ACS-OC Graduating Classes
Congratulations to our Certified Naturalists!
![Naturalist graduating class of 2024](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6605d8c8fb66093011d57ac4_2024.webp)
Spring 2024
![ACS-OC Fall/Winter 2023 Naturalist Program Graduates](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/649f3068bd81b82edf04af41_Boat%202023.webp)
Fall/Winter 2023
![ACS-OC Fall/Winter 2023 Naturalist Program Graduates](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/649f3068f832fc8215ed67f6_Grads%202023.webp)
Fall 2022
![Group photo of ACS-OC Naturalist Graduates, Class of Fall 2021](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6324e70d28c25574b4243694_2021-Fall.webp)
Fall 2021
![Group photo of ACS-OC Naturalist Graduates, Class of Fall 2019](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6324e70c6c24783031d50bae_2019-Fall.webp)
Fall 2019
![Group photo of ACS-OC Naturalist Graduates, Class of Spring 2019](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6324e70da2a2348031ec3685_2019-Spring.webp)
Spring 2019
![Group photo of ACS-OC Naturalist Graduates, Class of Spring 2018](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6324e70ccd40a81cbfe909fe_2018-Spring.webp)
Spring 2018
![Group photo of ACS-OC Naturalist Graduates, Class of Summer 2017](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/6324e70ce1a81d1d8a0c6533_2017-Summer.webp)
Summer 2017
![Group photo of the 2016 Spring class, ACS-OC Naturalists](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63160abe06881e8b345d15bc/655e800076726fc7481b853b_2016-Spring.webp)