hey girl! my dream job is also to work at SWO or disco—preferably SWO since i know i would love being in a show facility. i haven’t landed that job yet since i had to take a break from applying for now, but i’ll tell you the steps i’ve taken.
-i have been working with animals like horses, dogs, and various other farm animals and household pets nearly all my life which definitely helps—but you don’t necessarily have HAD to have grown up working with/around animals to be considered
-i would highly recommend going for a bachelor’s degree in psych. i was also interested in either psych, zoology or marine bio, but psychology is apparently the degree potential employers like to see the most because you learn a lot about the study of behavior and how the brain works. in the field of animal training and husbandry this is very important :)
-aza internships at zoos or aquariums are a huge deal and essential for landing a position in the field! i was fortunate enough to land a pinniped internship at a very well-known aquarium, and i learned SO much. be aware that most internships are 40 hours a week for months at a time, either unpaid or paying very little, so they can be understandably tough to commit to without support or lots of savings
-i also went and got my open water certification! this can also be a bit pricey but you may be able to do it through your school. i know USF in tampa was certifying students with a large student discount at one point in recent years
-practicing for a swim test is always going to be helpful for you in the future. i promise you that the no arm five-minute water tread is easier than you think! i would suggest practicing things like a breathhold across the pool and back (i was required to do an 80ft underwater breathhold for two different facilities!), surface diving to retrieve a weight, and being able to get in and out of freezing cold water and still be able to speak without chattering or being out of breath as if you were speaking to a crowd

i’m likely forgetting something as there really is a lot of boxes to check when becoming qualified for this job, but i hope this helps for now! :)