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Certificate III in Companion Animal Services

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Course: Certificate III in Companion Animal Services ACM30410

Pets not only make wonderful companions, they offer the prospect of a satisfying career for people passionate about working with animals.

Ideal for anyone interested in pet store, kennel or cattery work, this highly flexible distance learning course enables you to customise your learning program with a choice of electives. Start anytime, study at your own pace and pick the electives that best reflect your career ambitions, from nutrition to native animals.

The course includes a practical work placement to build your contacts and get you job-ready, while access to the interactive OpenSpace learning platform and an experienced trainer help you make the most of your studies. Achieve your nationally recognised qualification in as little as six months and youâ€™ll be ready to pursue your dream role with animals or pursue further studies.

Potential career outcomes:

Pet shop/aquarium assistant
Kennel attendant
Cattery attendant
Assistant dog trainer
Pet exerciser
Assistant grooming attendant
Vet assistant

Animal Industries Resource Centre

Known as a one-stop shop for practice development and educational excellence, the Animal Industries Resource Centre (AIRC) has partnered with Open Colleges to offer high quality training in companion animal services and care.

Course Number	E0134
Course Fees From	$66.67 per week View our payment options

Delivery mode:	Print or online
Course duration:	6-24 months
Assessments:	Questions, case studies, skills log and workplace demonstration
Qualification:	Certificate III
Awarded by	Animal Industries Resource Centre
Nationally Recognised	Yes
Government Funding	No

Career One jobs for:
Veterinary & Zoology	31

ID	Subject expand all

Study Period 1	Core units ACMCAS301A Work effectively in the companion animal industry Organise and complete daily work activities Work ethically with companion animals Communicate effectively with clients Maintain companion animal records ACMGAS203A Complete animal care hygiene routines Confirm workplace animal care routine schedules Check animals Maintain a clean workplace Complete hygiene practices for animals Complete post-hygiene care of animals ACMGAS301A Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing Follow animal health management practices Monitor and maintain the physical wellbeing of animals Identify and report signs of ill health or injury in animals Administer and record animal treatments ACMINF301A Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal work Follow infection control guidelines Identify and respond to infection risks Maintain personal protection Limit contamination Contribute to incursion readiness processes ACMOHS301A Contribute to occupational health and safety processes Plan and conduct work safely Support others in working safely Contribute to OHS participative processes Contribute to hazard identification, OHS risk assessment and risk control activities Participate in the control of OHS emergency situations ACMSUS201A Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices Identify current resource use Comply with environmental regulations Seek opportunities to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental hazards
Study Period 2	Electives â€“ choose six units from the following ACMCAS302A Provide advice on companion animal selection and general care Provide information and advice on companion animal selection Advise on housing and environmental requirements Advise on health and nutritional requirements Advise on additional products and services Complete transactions ACMCAS303A Provide advice on selection and care of aquatic animals Provide information and advice on aquatic animal selection Advise on housing and environmental requirements Advise on aquatic support systems Advise on health and nutritional requirements Complete aquatic animal sales transactions ACMCAS304A Capture, handle and transport companion animals Plan the capture and restraint of companion animals Capture animals Prepare animals for movement ACMCAS305A Maintain aquascapes and aquatic animals Follow effective personal health management practices Identify unhealthy aquatic animals Sample, analyse and adjust aquascape water quality Administer aquatic animal treatments ACMCAS306A Provide grooming services for companion animal comfort Establish client requirements Plan grooming routine Groom animals Trim coat for animal comfort Complete grooming and trimming procedures ACMCAS307A Provide companion animal hydro-bathing services Assess bathing requirements Prepare and bathe animal Complete bathing procedures ACMGAS302A Provide enrichment for animals Observe and record animal behaviour Assist with managing undesirable animal behaviour Implement enrichment programs ACMGAS303A Plan for and provide nutritional requirements for animals Identify nutritional requirements of animals Evaluate food sources and calculate dietary requirements Prepare diets and provide food and water Monitor feeding and watering practices ACMSPE302A Provide basic care of birds Identify commonly kept and available birds Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Approach and handle birds Assist with health care needs Feed and water birds Maintain records ACMSPE303A Provide basic care of common native mammals Identify commonly available native mammals Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Catch, handle and restrain native mammals Assist with health care needs Feed native mammals Maintain records ACMSPE304A Provide basic care of dogs Identify commonly available dogs Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Handle and restrain dogs Assist with health care needs Feed dogs Maintain records ACMSPE305A Provide basic care of domestic cats Identify common domestic cat breeds Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Handle and restrain cats Assist with health care needs Feed cats Maintain records ACMSPE307A Provide basic care of freshwater fish Identify commonly available freshwater fish Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Catch, handle and restrain freshwater fish Assist with health care needs Feed freshwater fish Maintain records ACMSPE310A Provide basic care of mammals Identify commonly available mammals Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Catch, handle and restrain mammals Assist with health care needs Feed mammals Maintain records ACMSPE312A Provide basic care of rodents and rabbits Identify commonly available rodents and rabbits Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs Catch, handle and restrain rodents and rabbits Assist with health care needs Feed rodents and rabbits Maintain records ACMGAS207A Provide reception services for an animal care facility Complete reception services Maintain office records Provide basic animal care assistance Maintain records
Study Period 3	Electives â€“ choose three units from the following and/or from Study Period 2 SIRXCCS001A Apply point-of-sale handling procedures Operate point-of-sale equipment Use numbers in the workplace Perform point-of-sale transactions Complete sales Wrap and pack goods SIRXMER002A Coordinate merchandise presentation Coordinate merchandise presentation and display Implement merchandise pricing SIRXFIN001A Balance point-of-sale terminal Remove takings from register or terminal Reconcile takings SIRXICT001A Operate retail technology Maintain retail equipment Apply keyboard skills Operate data entry equipment SIRXINV001A Perform stock control procedures Receive and process incoming goods Rotate stock

Entry requirements

Minimum education

Year 10 or equivalent OR
relevant qualification OR
relevant vocational experience.

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 your second 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

Open Colleges will endeavour to provide additional assistance to students who experience difficulties with language, literacy and numeracy.

Workplace requirements

Students will be required to complete a minimum of 120 hours in a companion animal workplace through either paid employment or work experience. Examples of suitable workplaces would include veterinary practices, animal welfare organisations, pet shops, kennels and catteries.

The workplace must provide a mentor with sufficient industry experience (usually at least three years) to supervise and guide the student. The workplace must provide the student with access to animals and equipment required for the delivery of the elective units chosen by the student. This might require the student to obtain a work placement with more than one organisation. The Student Workbook for each unit of competency contains guidelines and forms for work placement and workplace assessment.

Additional requirements

Students will require access to a video recording device. Students might need access to digital video editing or compression software. The maximum file size that can be submitted to OpenSpace is 100MB. Each video submitted as evidence of competency should demonstrate the specific skills required in no more than two-five minutes.

Students who successfully complete the Certificate III in Companion Animal Services ACM30410 may go on to study for their Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services ACM40310.

Madeleine Lindsell

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

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.

Possible Jobs for this Course include: Equine Nutritionist Manager- Senior Technical Consultant / Veterinarian Gain highly regarded industry experience A leading company & Well known Brands Excellent professional development opportunities If you come from the racing stables you will be very familiar with this dynamic brand. You will already know how well they have...

Regional Animal Health Sales Executive - Veterinary Sydney Metro Region Global Company New product launches ready An excellent opportunity has now arisen for a tenacious and results-driven Sales Executive to join an award winning, dynamic business that is becoming a leader in service for the veterinary ind...

Available payment options

Pay Just $66.67 per week with a $100.00 deposit

Pay in full $2,640.00 and save $660.00

Fortnightly and monthly payment plans are also available through EduPay. 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 is applicable for the print study option).

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Work Placement

Why is a work placement required?

This course includes 120 hours of work placement. Work placement is required to ensure that the student is able to demonstrate and apply what he or she has learnt in an industry context.

Workplace assessments and training must be undertaken in workplace organisations that are suitable for the course. The student must be under the direction of an appropriately qualified and experienced supervisor. The workplace assessments will be conducted by Open Colleges workplace assessors, who will contact both the workplace organisation and the student to arrange mutually convenient times to conduct the workplace assessments.

Open Colleges will assist students to identify work placement opportunities in an appropriate organisation. However, it is the responsibility of the student to find and complete the work placement. In the event that the student has previously arranged a work placement Open Colleges will check the suitability of this arrangement.

Open Colleges will make reasonable efforts to organise for assessment to be conducted in the workplace. However, the student may be required to attend assessment events at other locations. If the student does not complete a mandatory work placement within the duration of the cours, Open Colleges is not permitted to issue the qualification.

You will need to complete this part of your studies in an Australian workplace.

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Course: Certificate III in Companion Animal Services ACM30410

Animal Industries Resource Centre

ID

Subject

Entry requirements

Minimum education

Minimum age

Computer requirements

English language requirements

Evidence

Example

Workplace requirements

Additional requirements

Madeleine Lindsell

Available payment options

Work Placement

Why is a work placement required?

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