Certificate in Animal Care

There is a way to formalise your love of animals into a career, or to make the most of the skills you have with animals already.

The Certificate in Animal Carehas been specially custom designed for pet owners and it will teach you all the things you need to know about how to properly care for your, or others’ pets and animals.

This course teaches you all the things you wish you knew about your pet – how to administer first aid, correct nutrition, health and identifying disease. You'll also get heaps of included learning materials and access to Open Space, the online learning community portal, so you can share your learning with other pet lovers online.

This course could even be a stepping stone to a career in the pet care industry, or towards other Animal Care courses available through Open Colleges. The course even covers information on shelters and animal shows as well as grooming and bathing, with a focus on cats and dogs.

If you love your pet and want to learn more about animals, this course could be a great way to learn. You can achieve this course in your own time, at your own pace, paying as you go via Open Colleges’ flexible payment structure, building this course around your current work or study commitments.

Potential career paths:

• Animal attendant
• Pet shop employee

• Course Detail

  Course number E0015	Course duration Max 18 months
  Course fees from $51.11 per week	Qualification Open Colleges Certificate
  Delivery mode Online	Nationally recognised No
  Assessments 7 written assessments, 4 multiple choice assessments	Awarded By Open Colleges

• Subjects

  • Introduction to animal care
    • Background to animal care
    • Education for animal care
    • Safety, and effective handling of animals
  • Types of animals
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Other companion animals
    • Care of birds and fish
    • All about horses
  • Animal anatomy
    • Terminology in the field of animal care
    • Introduction to the anatomy of animals
    • Arthrology and mycology
    • Blood vascular system
    • The digestive system
    • The genitor-urinary and respiratory systems
    • The nervous system
    • The endocrine system
  • Animal health, diseases and first aid
    • Signs of health and disease
    • Common diseases of dogs and cats
    • Canine infectious hepatitis
    • Hygiene/sanitation in the care of animals
    • Basic first aid for animals
    • Bandaging/wound dressing for animals
    • Immunity, vaccination and quarantine
  • Animal welfare
    • Animal care products
    • Weights and measures
    • Animal foods and diets
    • Pet shops
    • Shelters, hospitals, kennels and catteries
    • Grooming, manicuring and bathing
    • Animal shows and competitions

• Requirements

  Minimum education

  Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

  Minimum age

  Minimum age of 16 years. If you are under 18 your application must be signed by a parent or guardian.

  Computer requirements

  Students will need access to a computer and the internet. For students who do not have access to either a computer or the internet please contact a student support officer to discuss alternative methods of communication.

  Minimum specifications for the computer are:

  • Microsoft Office 2003 or equivalent, and
  • Microsoft Windows 98, or
  • Mac OS X, and
  • CD-ROM drive.

  Students will also need access to a printer and the following applications:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader and
  • Macromedia Flash player.

  English language requirements

  If English is not your first language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competency before enrolling into the course. Examples of appropriate evidence are listed below:

  Evidence	Example
  IELTS	Overall score of 5.5
  TOEFL	530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 (internet)
  12 months in English-speaking employment	Testimonial, statutory declaration

   

• Pathways

  Upon completion of this course, you will have developed a better understanding of the subject area and be able to put your new skills into practice.

• Trainers and Assessors

  • Madeleine Lindsell

    Madeleine Lindsell is passionate about animal care, and makes the ideal pet care trainer.

    Madeleine is highly qualified, and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine Studies) from Charles Sturt University as well as Certificates in Domestic Animal Care, Horse Husbandry and Zookeeping.

    During the course of her career, she spent four years working for the Blue Ribbon Riding School providing care for their horses, and also spent some time as an animal carer on a private estate in the UK.

• Extra Benefits

  Included materials (valued at $135)

  • Small Animal Care & Management textbook
  • Physical Examination & Bandage Care DVD
  • Handling & Restraint of the Horse DVD
  • Small Animal Nursing DVD

Payment Options

Pay by installment	Pay in full
Enrol Online via EduPay - the Trusted and Secure enrolment gateway preferred by thousands of students. Course: Certificate in Animal Care ENROL NOW Fortnightly and monthly payment plans are also available when you pay online. Click Enrol Now and choose a payment plan or call a Course and Careers Advisor on 1300 853 033 for more details. Prices shown are for the online study option only. A surcharge applies for the print study option (if applicable to this course).
Pay Just $51.11 per week with a $100.00 deposit	Pay in full $1649.00 and Save $291.00