Develop your skills in domestic animal care and handling with our qualification to give you the best start to your career in an animal related field or as a pathway to further study. In our full time one semester programme you will learn about the behaviour, nutritional needs and newborn care of companion animals including cats, dogs, rabbits and rodents. You will learn about the principles of safe and hygienic working practices, ethics in animal handling, first aid and safe transportation of injured animals and how to assist with clinical examinations. To complete the certificate, it is also necessary to achieve five credits from another field of study. A special five credit course on communications will be offered to help you complete these requirements. Or choose other courses including business management office administration, generic computing, service sector skills, self management, social and cooperative skills and interpersonal communications. Work placement is required as part of this programme. You must have no objections to working with animals, dissection of body parts, body fluids and cadavers. You must be able to understand and apply industry requirements to comply with safety regulations during work experience. It is also important for you to be able to relate well to others and participate in group processes.

With this national certificate you will be ready to begin your career in animal care, breeding or boarding facilities. With further experience you could work as a zookeeper or in wildlife parks or work with specialist breeders.