I'm a little unclear on how the furry identity works. Is it like an LGBT+ thing where you just are this thing regardless of your feelings or desires, or does wanting to be a furry make you one? Like, I've fought against being trans much of my life, but now I see I pretty much always was. But I don't know if liking the puppygirl idea makes me a furry, or if that's something I have to have always been? (this is not a reaction to a recently popular puppygirl, I've meant to ask this for a while) I also may be terribly misunderstanding furries; that's a taboo subject where I live, so I don't know much.
To become a practicing furry an individual must obtain a bachelor's degree in anthropomorphic studies, followed by a Furry Degree (F.D.) from an accredited fur school. Afterward, they must undergo a 3-year residency program in digital art production.
Following residency, furries must obtain board certification from a recognized fur board, such as the American Board of Anthropomorphism, by passing written and oral exams. They also need to obtain state licensure to sell commissions.
Additionally, some furries pursue fellowships in suspecialities like feathers or scalies, and continually binge watch furry television programs on Netflix to maintain their certification.