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Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services

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Course: Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services ACM40310

The booming pet industry offers plenty of potential for animal lovers to build a rewarding career or even establish their own small business.

Put yourself in the best position to achieve success with the help of this distance learning course. It offers the ideal combination of specialist knowledge and business skills, can be customised to suit your particular needs and incorporates a work placement for building real-world skills and contacts.

Start anytime, study online or by correspondence and progress at your own pace. Unlike classroom-based learning, you can schedule your studies around your employment, which allows you to â€˜learn while you earnâ€™. Youâ€™ll have access to Open Collegesâ€™ renowned student support throughout and, when you graduate with your nationally recognised qualification, you'll have gained a solid foundation from which to pursue a role as a team leader or business owner.

Potential career outcomes:

Pet shop/aquarium manager
Companion animal trainer/behaviourist
Companion animal breeder
Companion animal groomer
Boarding kennel/cattery manager
Animal shelter supervisor/manager
Pet-minding and exercise operator
Mobile hydro-bathing operator

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	E0135
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 IV
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 ACMCAS401A Manage compliance in the companion animal industry Provide high-level advice on companion animals Manage animals in accordance with relevant codes of practice and legislative requirements Provide advice on legislative requirements Manage external relationships Maintain records 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 ACMOHS401A Maintain occupational health and safety processes Provide information to the work group Ensure others are able to implement safe work practices Implement OHS participative processes Monitor compliance with work procedures Implement hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control procedures Implement organisation procedures for maintaining OHS records Implement OHS emergency procedures
Study Period 2	Electives â€“ choose six units from the following ACMCAS402A Manage and maintain aviaries and bird rooms Determine housing needs Maintain enclosures Detect and control pests and report notifiable diseases ACMCAS403A Design, construct and maintain aquascapes Identify client needs Prepare aquascape design Establish aquascape Maintain aquascape ACMCAS404A Develop enrichment strategies for companion animals Develop enrichment strategies Implement enrichment programs Monitor and review enrichment strategies ACMCAS409A Provide training advice to companion animal owners Determine clientsâ€™ needs Develop training plans Conduct training Conduct ongoing assessments Instruct client in ongoing management ACMCAS410A Conduct companion animal training classes Develop class training plans Advertise training classes Conduct training classes Conduct ongoing assessment Instruct classes in ongoing training maintenance 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 behavioral and housing needs Catch, handle and restrain rodents and rabbits Assist with health care needs Feed rodents and rabbits Maintain records
Study Period 3	Electives â€“ choose four units from the following and/or from Study Period 2 BSBSMB403A Market the small business Develop marketing strategies Determine a marketing mix for the business Implement marketing strategies Monitor and improve marketing performance BSBSMB405A Monitor and manage small business operations Develop operational strategies and procedures Implement operational strategies and procedures Monitor business performance Review business operations BSBSMB407A Manage a small team Develop staffing plan Recruit, induct, train and retain the team Comply with industrial relations obligations Maintain staff records Manage staff Review team performance SIRXMER004A Manage merchandise and store presentation Manage store merchandising Plan and manage store advertising and promotions Manage store pricing policies Manage housekeeping

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 140 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 IV in Companion Animal Services ACM40310 may go on to further studies in this field.

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...

Administration Officer - Event Assistant Agriculture administration Client member facing plus event management Great career start Are you looking for your first job out of school or university and have a connection with the country? Our client wants to offer someone that first opportunity at cor...

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).

Start today - enrol now

Work Placement

Why is a work placement required?

This course includes 140 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 IV in Companion Animal Services ACM40310

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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