How does one become that person at sea world that swims & takes care of the killer whales/dolphins etc?

http://www.seaworld.org/ask-shamu/faq.htm#animal-training
How do I become a marine animal trainer?

The following information is SeaWorld’s basic job description, requirements, and background information on an entry-level animal trainer position.
• ANIMAL TRAINER
Responsible for the daily care, feeding and maintenance of show animals. Develops and trains animal behaviors and performs in animal shows for the public and educational shows for school groups. An apprenticeship period of at least a year is required for all trainer positions, even with previous experience.
Our requirements for animal trainers include:
° must be at least 18 years of age
° prior experience training animals
° public speaking, drama, or other performance and communication skills (a microphone test is part of the interview process)
° experience working with animals
° scuba diving certification
° CPR certification
° an ability to interact with the public
° academic coursework in zoology, marine biology, animal behavior or psychology (preference is given to those applicants with a college degree)
° strong swimming skills (part of the interview process is a rigorous swim test that includes a 200 ft. freestyle swim, a 100 ft. underwater swim, and a free-dive to the bottom of a 26 ft. pool.)
° excellent physical health and the ability to lift 50 lbs.
In addition, even with previous training experience, new trainers are hired as associate trainers, and learn about SeaWorld’s training methods and animals in at least a one-year apprenticeship period.

• HOW TO GET EXPERIENCE
To try and see if a career in animal training or animal care is for you, SeaWorld offers a weeklong Career Camp for grades 9-12 during the summer at all three parks. Check online at SWBG-AdventureCamps.com for more information.
Many colleges and universities offer internship opportunities along with the local zoos or aquariums as part of a zoological science or similar type of degree program. Moorpark College in Southern California offers a special Exotic Animal Training and Management program designed for those who want to enter into zoological careers. In Florida, Santa Fe Community College and Pensacola Junior College offer similar programs. Volunteering at a local animal shelter, veterinarian, or wildlife rescue facility is another great way to get experience. In addition, many zoos and aquariums have docent or other volunteer positions available. It is also helpful to gain experience at the park or facility that you’re interested in working for. At SeaWorld, many of our openings for trainer and animal care positions go to applicants that have worked at the park in another department such as education – so this is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Another thing to keep in mind is when position openings are available. At SeaWorld, we have most openings for trainers and animal care in the early spring, and usually post these positions on our website (www.becjobs.com) in late winter. During this time we hold the swim tests and microphone tests as the initial parts of the interview process.
As you can imagine, we get hundreds of applicants each year for trainer positions. For killer whale trainers there may only be one or two openings each year— so this is an even more competitive area to get into. While a college degree is not currently required, those applicants that have a degree in marine biology, animal behavior, zoology, psychology, or related fields are almost always the ones that get interviews. Also, the swim test and microphone test are critical parts of the interview process. Most people who take these tests do not pass the underwater swim portion of this test, so it is critical to practice for this.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (www.aza.org) also posts career information and job openings on its website. We also have a lot more info on our website (www.swbg-animals.org) about training and other animal careers. Other great sites to check out are the websites for the International Marine Animal Training Association (www.imata.org) and the Society for Marine Mammalogy (this has an excellent section on pursuing a career in marine mammal science at http://www.marinemammalogy.org/strat.htm).

Though a degree isn’t required, it be good to get a degree psychology, animal behavior, animal training or management, zoology, animal science, marine biology, theater, education, or something similar

After college, you might not be able to get a job right away as a marine animal trainer. You may have to work a different job or work with other animals till a marine animal trainer position becomes available. It might also be a good idea to do some sort of internship before applying. An internship is a good way to get experience and it may help get your foot in the door.

There isn’t any special school required to become an Marine Mammal Trainer. However, there are programs and degrees for people wanting to get into Zoological Careers
http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources/info-books/zoo-careers/school-&-university-programs.htm
http://www.aazk.org/zkcareer/training.php

The Exotic Animal Training and Management program at Moorpark is a good program for people wanting to become animal trainers. They only have one marine mammal, a sea lion, and you have to have excellent grades and attendance to get the chance to be it’s trainer. The students with the best grades and attendance get the first pick of the animals they would like to train.
http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_students/teaching_zoo/FAQs.shtml
16. Will the EATM program give me an advantage over any other schools or programs?
…Many of our students want to train marine mammals – we send graduates all over the world to do this. Especially to the Caribbean – a new Dolphin Program hired 4 graduates in the summer of 2001, and more in 2002, 2003 & 2004.
The May 2003 graduates currently have many wonderful jobs. One is working in Shamu Stadium at Sea World in San Diego, training the Killer Whales! (His photo is to the right) Several others are with Universal Studios – both in Orlando and Hollywood. Others are with various Marine Mammal facilities in the U.S. and abroad. Graduates from the class of 2004 are working training Guide Dogs in California, with marine mammals at Sea World Orlando, Sea Life Marine Park in Hawaii, Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, California – and many other facilities. Graduates from the class of 2008 have jobs at – Sea World San Diego, the U.S. Navy training sea lions, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, Universal Studios Hollywood – and many other places. EATM graduates get jobs everywhere.
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/teaching_zoo/

http://www.amysutherland.com/kbs-synopsis.aspx
Chapter: Dolphin Dreams
pg 216
…He [a trainer at SeaWorld] tells them to get scuba- and CPR-certified, to join the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA), and to get a college degree. In interviews, he tells them, don’t say you only want to work with dolphins. You may have to work with sea otters, even walruses, to get your foot in the door. Don’t mention any spiritual connections you might have with cetaceans. "If someone says in an interview, ‘I was a dolphin in a previous life,’ uh, they’re out of here," he says. Give yourself any edge you can, because "everyone wants to be a dolphin trainer. They’ll kill you for it."…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfHCOUEKjkY

http://www.swbg-animals.org/connections/shared-video/on-the-job/index.htm?vID=v5
How Do I Become an Animal Trainer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZGxyG6Ixz4
Tell Me How – Dolphin Trainer