Certificate in Practical Animal Care Skills L3

What you will learn
This course will help you to develop practical skills, promotes sound working practices, and will provide you with essential industry knowledge to help you to progress into higher levels of learning or into sustainable employment in the land-based sector. Learners will complete this qualification with a concrete understanding of the following; How to promote and maintain the health and well-being of animals, including identification of abnormal signs, monitoring, maintaining accurate records and planning diets for animals.

Ideal if
You wish to gain a qualification in animal care through vocational study and have an interest in moving into employment in one of the following sectors; Kennels and Catteries, breeding, training, preservation or retail of animals and related care products. The structure of this qualification provides learners with the flexibility to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills depending upon their designated career pathway.

What to expect
You will learn in our training centre within one of our fully equipped classrooms with access to our many onsite animals, including ferrets, hamsters, degus, geckos, stick insects and many more. For each unit your assessor observes and asks questions as you perform tasks to assess your practical animal handling skills. Your understanding of theory will be carried out within the classroom.

What next
On completion of this qualification, you can progress onto a Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Animal Management. You could move into employment as an Animal Care Worker within a range of settings, including Kennels and Catteries, Pet shops, Zoos, Veterinary Practices, Welfare centres and Riding stables. Certificate in Practical Animal Care Skills Level 3 Including short courses in Animal Health, Husbandry, Handling and Animal Nutrition

Animal Care Field trips
Every year we go on a number of trips throughout your course, including visiting places such as Dartmoor Zoological Park, The National Marine Aquarium as well as a number of local farms. Wider curriculum activities visitors come from organisations such as the RSPCA, Animal Shelters and Birds of Prey Specialists. These visits will inspire you to explore the many different types of job roles in the sector as well as supporting your study.

Work Placement and Hours
Students are required to complete 150 hours at a good quality work experience placement, to enhance your knowledge and skills and to develop employability skills. This can be across a variety of different types of organisation such as an Animal Care Assistant in a Kennels or Cattery, a Pet Retail Assistant or in a Vet Surgery.

What it feels like to be a student
Class group sizes are between 10 to 20 students, with a dedicated tutor. Support staff are on site such as pastoral care, finance and careers advice.

“I just completed a Level 2 Animal Care course and can’t recommend everyone enough! Tutors are amazing, the facilities are brilliant and the support system in place is outstanding! I can’t wait to start Level 3 next month”.

Students come from a variety of schools across Plymouth, they all help each other out and develop a really good bond over the year, encouraging each other to achieve. Most students never want to leave, and progress onto higher level courses.

Salary and Career expectations
As a qualified Animal Care Worker, you can expect, on average, a starting salary of £13,500 and can go up to £22,000, when you have gained experience within your specific sector. Professional careers can exceed salaries of £50,000 or more. Students have opportunities to progress into employment or to move onto the advanced level qualifications, such as the Diploma in Work Based Animal Care Level 3 or the Level 3 Certificate in Practical Skills in Animal Care. This course will prepare you for university studies.

Attendance days 09:00 – 16:00 Tuesday and Thursday Term time only

The term starts in September and finishes in July