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Animal Care & Horticulture

Certificate II in Animal Care

ACM20121

Get ready to spend your days surrounded by animals. Equip yourself with the practical skills to set yourself up for a long-term career in this popular industry. By graduating industry-ready you will enjoy a diverse range of career opportunities.
  • Flexible payment options
  • Study to fit into your routine
  • Nationally recognised accreditation
  • Start studying as soon as you enrol
  • No exams, ever.
Start studying today
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Certificate II in Animal Care

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We speak with students everyday who arenā€™t sure if this is the right course or institution for them. Here are some quick links to help you decide.

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    • Pay in 52 weekly instalments

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Speak with an advisor to discuss your payment options. CallĀ 1300 853 033.

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Start now, pay later with a zero-interest payment plan. A credit check is required, and either you or a family member at your address can apply. Youā€™ll complete the application on Payrightā€™s site.

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Certificate II in Animal Care

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Certificate II in Animal Care

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Intro to Certificate II in Animal Care

Work with Animals

Our nationally accredited ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care will provide an excellent foundation for your career in animal care. You will learn how to care for a variety of animals and turn your passion into an exciting career.

Extra Benefits

Join our weekly Animal Care Q&A sessions to explore the course, get industry insights, and connect with your trainer. Ask your questions live and see if this path is right for you. View course guide for session times, days, and the meeting link.

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Job Outcomes

Explore More Careers

Job Skills

  • Pet grooming
  • Animal care
  • Animal first aid
  • Feeding animals
  • Maintain records

Spend your time studying and let Open Colleges organise your work placement for you. In partnership with leading provider SkilTrak, we have introduced Guaranteed Work Placement to provide you with real-world experience in your dream career that's close to home.

Learn More
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Course breakdown

What youā€™ll learn in this course

This qualification includes a range of units designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required to provide the right care for a variety of animals. Youā€™ll gain skills in animal care management, reception duties, communication, basic animal care, hygiene, animal welfare, and many more. Start your dream career working with animals today.

Animal Care Information Session: Curious about studying Animal Care? Join our weekly Animal Care Q&A sessions to explore the course, get industry insights, and connect with your trainer. Ask your questions live and see if this path is right for you. View the course guideĀ for session times, days, and the meeting link.

Certificate II in Animal Care

ACMGEN201
Work in the animal care industry
  • Contribute to a productive work environment
  • Recognise and identify animals in the workplace
  • Identify physical, social and behavioural characteristics
  • Incorporate animal needs in conduct of work practices
BSBCMM211
Apply communication skills
  • Identify communication requirements
  • Communicate using verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Draft written communications
ACMWHS201
Participate in workplace health and safety processes
  • Plan and prepare to work safely Ā 
  • Conduct work safely Ā 
  • Participate in work health and safety activities Ā 
  • Follow emergency response proceduresĀ 
ACMGEN202
Complete animal care hygiene routines
  • Prepare to work
  • Check animals
  • Clean animal housing
  • Complete hygiene practices for animals
  • Complete post-hygiene care of animals
ACMGEN203
Feed and water animals
  • Prepare for feeding
  • Feed and water animals
  • Complete the feeding and watering process
5/ modules
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Letā€™s match you with the right career

Take the Quiz Now
My experience has been amazing with Open Colleges! My trainer Sharon has been so encouraging and friendly along the whole way and goes out of her way to support me whenever I need it. I now get my work experience from the local Zoo, and complete my placement at the farm that I have always worked at. Open Colleges was so helpful with the process and I could not recommend them enough!
Georgie O.
Animal Care & Horticulture Student, June 2025
I had a pretty good experience with Open Colleges. My trainer was excellent and always willing to help me out when I needed it.
Caitlin P.
Animal Care & Horticulture Graduate, April 2025

Studying with Open Colleges

Study designed to
fit into your routine

What ever your reason for study, our courses are
designed to fit into your routine.Ā 

  • No exams, ever.

    We mean it. Instead, assessments range from open book multiple choice quizzes, portfolios, videos & written assessments

  • Flexible study to fit into your routine

    Study anywhere at any time with 24/7 access to your units.

  • A learning platform optimized for online study

    Our courses are curated to maintain engagement across video, written content, assignments & audio.

When can you start? Anytime you like!

There are no start and finish dates, no semesters, so no need to wait. Just enrol and start the path to your new life whenever youā€™re ready!

Envision your routine while studying with Open Colleges

How quickly do you want to finish your course?

  • 18 months
  • 12 months
Learn more about online study
  • Daily routine
  • 07:00 am - 08:00 am

    Coffee + Study
  • 08:00 am - 09:00 am

    Morning routine + commute
  • 09:00 am - 05:00 pm

    Work
  • 05:00 pm - 06:30 pm

    Evening routine
  • 06:30 pm - 07:30 pm

    Study session
  • 07:30 pm - 08:00 pm

    Break
  • 08:00 pm - 09:00 pm

    Study session
  • 09:00 pm - onwards

    Relax
  • Daily routine
  • 07:00 am - 08:00 am

    Coffee + Study
  • 08:00 am - 09:00 am

    Morning routine + commute
  • 09:00 am - 01:00 pm

    Work
  • 01:00 pm - 02:00 pm

    Lunch + Study
  • 02:00 pm - 05:00 pm

    Work
  • 05:00 pm - 06:30 pm

    Evening routine
  • 06:30 pm - 07:30 pm

    Study session
  • 07:30 pm - 08:30 pm

    Break
  • 08:30 pm - 09:30 pm

    Study session
  • 09:30 pm - onwards

    Relax

Your course may include work placement which will be completed in addition to weekly study blocks.

We'll help you study smarter!Ā 

Get in touch for tailored study advice
Our passionate team

Your trainer

Sharon Cliffe
With over a decade of experience in the animal care industry, Sharon Cliffe brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her role as a trainer and assessor for Certificate II in Animal Care students. A qualified veterinary nurse, Sharon has worked extensively in surgical and medical nursing, patient care, and client communication, and she now channels that expertise into supporting the next generation of animal care professionals.
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Sharon Cliffe

Environment & Animal Studies
With over a decade of experience in the animal care industry, Sharon Cliffe brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her role as a trainer and assessor for Certificate II in Animal Care students. A qualified veterinary nurse, Sharon has worked extensively in surgical and medical nursing, patient care, and client communication, and she now channels that expertise into supporting the next generation of animal care professionals.
Sharonā€™s teaching journey is deeply personal. Having faced challenges in her own school years, sheā€™s passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels capable, valued, and respected. She firmly believes that everyone learns differently, and she tailors her approach to reflect each studentā€™s unique goalsā€”whether theyā€™re chasing a career in animal care or simply nurturing a lifelong passion.

Through flexible online learning, Sharon empowers students to balance their education with work, family, and placement commitments. Her course not only covers essential practical skillsā€”like safe handling, feeding, first aid, and infection controlā€”but also builds strong professional foundations in teamwork, communication, and workplace protocols.

Her advice? ā€œStay curious, stay committed, and never be afraid to ask for help. Believe in yourselfā€”your passion and dedication will take you further than you think.ā€

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours of work placement do I need to do for Certificate II in Animal Care?

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You will be required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of work placement in an approved host organisation. This should be completedĀ in 2 blocks after successful completion of Modules 1-6 and Modules 8-13. To find out what the suitable workplaces are for this course, download the course guide.

Can I undertake this qualification if I'm under 18 years old?

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Yes, you can! But firstly, we will need permission from your parent or guardian before you can begin your studies.

Is this course a pre-requisite to other Animal course?

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Yes, this course is a pre-requisite for the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. So before you begin an exciting career in Vet nursing, make sure you complete this course.

When can I start the course?

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Anytime you like! The majority of our courses are ready for enrolment right now. There's no need to wait for a specific date or a new semester to start ā€“ just enrol, login, and start learning. If you enrol online today and complete your application, you can start studying the course today!

Please note: Courses offered by the Open Colleges School of Health, which are campus-based, do have specific intake dates. Be sure to check the course page for more information.

Study and pay, your way

Payment Options

Week to week
Pay as you go
Save 5%
Pay in $200.00 today & then over 52 instalments
$69.23 Weekly
Total course cost: $3,800.00
Save $200.00
was $4,000.00
Pay Upfront
Save 40%
$2,400.00 Save $1,600.00
was $4,000.00
Full course breakdown
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