Animal Care Courses

Do you love animals so much that you want make your living working with them, caring for them or nursing them back to health? We have a great range of animal care courses to get you set for a wonderful, fulfilling career amongst furry and four-legged colleagues, great and small.

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Vet Assistant Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Do you love animals? Have you always thought about working with animals professionally? But not sure where to start? Then our Vet Assistant course is perfect for you! This Vet Assistant course is the ideal starting point for anyone who is looking to wo...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Veterinary reception and gen... +6
Learning Online - Course

Animal Health & Veterinary Care Foundations

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Get ready to turn your love for animals into a rewarding career! Go behind the scenes with animal and veterinary care experts at RSPCA Queensland and other leading organisations. Find your passion as you learn about every aspect of animal health and ca...

Study Method Online, Virtual
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Animal Care Attendant +7
Ulleo - Course
in collaboration with

Animal Care Certificate

Do you love animals and dream of working with them? Want to learn how to manage animal health for pets, wildlife or farm animals? Do you aspire to work in the pet care industry or with wildlife? Or are you a pet-owner who simply wants to learn how you...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Pathways to: +8
Careerhouse - Course

Certificate II in Animal Care ACM20121

This nationally recognised certificate will give you practical skills and ensure you are job-ready to work in animal shelters, kennels, catteries, sanctuaries or veterinary clinics. Gain administrative skills related to the animal care industry, how to...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Animal attendant +4
Swinburne Open Education - Course

Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

The Advanced Certificate in Equine Studies delivers an advanced introduction to the equine industry, covering a broad range of topics, including caring for and breeding horses, understanding the health of horses, and the complex nature of horse behavio...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Veterinary Assistant +1
Careerhouse - Course

Dog and Pet Grooming Certificate

Are you passionate about caring for dogs? Have you always dreamed of starting your own pet grooming business, but not sure how? Do you love the idea of working with dogs (and other pets) and want to learn more about how best to care for them? Then this...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Starting your own Animal Gro... +6
Careerhouse - Course

Dog Grooming Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Do you love dogs? Do you want to be a Dog Groomer? But don’t have the time or option to be in a classroom? Then this is the course for you! Learning Online in partnership with IgroomHub is proud to present the only Professional online dog grooming cert...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Start an animal daycare/dog ... +3
Learning Online - Course

Zoology Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Do you have a passion for animals? Maybe even exotic animals? And would like to work with animals as a Zookeeper? This course is a terrific introduction to working in zoos, safari parks, aquariums or wildlife sanctuaries. Not only will you be learning...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Zoo Assistant +7
Learning Online - Course

Canine Care and Training Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Have you always dreamed of working with dogs? Are you excited to learn how to provide the best life possible for our four-legged friends? Then our Canine Care and Training Course is a perfect choice for you. To work with dogs requires a thorough unders...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Dog Trainer +6
Learning Online - Course

Vet Assistant Certificate

Working as a vet assistant can be rewarding and yet it’s also a highly skilled field that demands the highest quality skills and knowledge. You can gain these skills and get a competitive edge that will set you apart to employers with this certificate...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Animal breeding +5
Careerhouse - Course

Wildlife Conservation and Management Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Year on year our wildlife and wildlife habitats dwindle. This course is ideal for those wildlife warriors who are committed to keeping our native flora and fauna in tact! This wonderful course is perfect for beginner learners who have a passion for con...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Zoo Assistant +7
Learning Online - Course

Wildlife Veterinary Assistant Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Do you love animals? Are you passionate about caring for and working with wildlife? Are you interested to learn more about how to conserve wildlife and their habitats? Then this course is for you. This introductory course is designed for anyone who wor...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Veterinary Assistant +8
Careerhouse - Course

Dog Psychology, Behaviour & Training Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Teaching all dogs new tricks. Here’s your chance to teach your dog good behaviour habits in the human and canine world. Our highly instructive online course will teach you all about canine psychology, their senses and behaviour, and you’ll learn how to...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Veterinary Assistant
The Career Academy - Course

Equine Studies Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

Do you love horses? Do you even own your own horses? Maybe you have had a lengthy career within the equine space but would like to formalise your skills by earning a certificate. There are several components to owning or treating horses that anyone wor...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Veterinary Assistant +1
Learning Online - Course

Animal Welfare Certificate

Do you love animals? Are you passionate about caring for and working with them? Do you want to learn more about how to look after your own pet at home? Would you like to better understand animal healthcare? Then this course is for you. Designed for any...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Animal Shelter Assistant +8
Careerhouse - Course

Wildlife Conservation and Management Certificate

Become a wildlife warrior and be part of a highly rewarding industry with our Certificate in Wildlife Conservation and Management. This highly practical and up to date course will teach you the practical and theoretical skills you need to be successful...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Wildlife education +8
Careerhouse - Course

Advanced Certificate in Dog Grooming

Whether you’ve already got some experience in grooming and want to increase your knowledge base, or you want to get your foot in the door as a grooming apprentice, this Advanced Certificate will be for you. To begin with, you will learn about the care...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Pet Shop staff member +2
The Career Academy - Course

Dog Care and Training Certificate

Do you love dogs and have a passion for caring for them or working with them? Do you want to better understand why dogs behave the way they do, so you can change the way you handle dogs or train them? Then this course is for you. Designed to give you a...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Animal Shelter Assistant +5
Careerhouse - Course

Reptile Zoology Certificate

Do you dream of working with snakes, lizards and other reptiles? Do you have a passion for animal welfare and would like to work with animals as a Zookeeper or in a wildlife sanctuary? Do you want to have a positive impact on the conservation of threat...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Zookeeper +5
Careerhouse - Course

Animal Welfare Certificate

Short Course
This is a short course focused on skill based training rather than a nationally accredited certificate or diploma.

The animal welfare industry predominantly focuses on supporting an animal’s wellbeing and assessing its environmental conditions, in addition to dealing with managing animal behaviour and rehabilitation. Have you ever felt strongly about animal r...

Study Method Online
Location Anywhere
Job Outcomes Pet Resort Attendant +7
Learning Online - Course

About Animal Care

Do you love animals so much that you want make your living working with them, caring for them or nursing them back to health? We have a great range of animal care courses to get you set for a wonderful, fulfilling career amongst furry and four-legged colleagues, great and small.

Animal Care Study Options

Animal care is a growing industry too. More than 63% of Australian households now have pets, and there are thousands of animals in shelters and the wild that need care. The government expects job numbers to increase rapidly over the next few years. With the right animal courses qualification, you could be a vet or wildlife nurse. You could work in a shelter, animal hospital, kennel or pet shop. You could even run your own pet service business.

Training.com.au lists a range of Australia’s best animal care online courses and distance learning. To fit your needs and availability, these nationally recognised TAFE certificates and diplomas include full-time, part-time and self-paced study options.

Most courses have no entry requirements and involve practical workplace hours. They’ll have you ready for your dream career as an animal groomer, breeder, carer, healer – or whisperer!

Animal Attendants and Trainers care for the needs of animals, including training, feeding and grooming requirements. Depending on your animal care course and career choice, you could be performing tasks such as teaching animals to obey commands both verbal and non-verbal, maintaining comfortable and hygienic animal enclosures, maintaining animal health records and treating minor injuries, and playing with animals and providing companionship.

Career Outcomes for Animal Care Professionals

Depending on the specific animal care course you choose to complete, there is a wide range of potential careers you could pursue.

Job Outlook for Animal Care Professionals

Animal Attendants and Trainers make up approximately 16,400 full-time and part-time positions Australia wide. This is expected to grow moderately to 2018. As such the availability of positions in some areas may be limited.

  • Average full-time wages for Animal Attendants and Trainers is $49,972 per year

  • Over the past five years growth in the industry has been 51.8%, compared to the 6.5% average across all industries

  • 5% of the workforce are female, while 37.5% are male

Types of Animal Care Courses

There are a range of Animal Care courses to take, from people just wishing to find out a little more about caring for their own pets, through to TAFE and university qualifications to kick-start a career in Animal Care. You can specialise in a wide variety of fields, that will enable you to work in a range of animal care facilities, such as zoos, veterinary clinics, theme parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Certificate

If you’d like to become an Animal Attendant or are a pet owner who wants to know more about caring for companion animals, then a Certificate in Animal Care may be the course for you. With a particular focus on caring for dogs and cats, you will be trained to understand animal anatomy, health, disease, first aid, dietary safety, animal handling, grooming, manicuring and bathing. There are no pre-requisites to enter the Certificate of Animal Care short course. You can also study this animal care course online.

Certificate I

While the Certificate in Animal Care is a taste of what the industry could provide, or a way for pet owners to increase their knowledgebase, the Certificate II in Animal Studies is your first step to a career in the industry. You’ll learn how to care for animals in a variety of environments, including kennels, catteries, animal welfare centres and pet stores. This course requires no educational pre-requisites. Upon completion you’ll be able to pursue a career as an Animal Attendant.

Certificate II

The Certificate II in Animal Studies includes core subjects that teach you about working in the animal care industry, workplace communications, complete hygiene routines, health care and environmentally sustainable work practices. During this course you are encouraged to find a work placement in an animal care environment to increase your experience and receive on the job training. There is no minimum education requirement to complete the Certificate II in Animal Studies at TAFE or any other approved course provider.

Certificate III

At this point in your studies you are able to continue with a Certificate III in Animal Studies. Alternatively you can focus on a specific Animal Care discipline such as a Certificate III in Captive Animals, Companion Animal Services or Pet Grooming.

A Certificate III in Animal Studies will include those subjects studied in the Certificate II course plus other core subjects and electives such as planning nutritional requirements, infection control policies and procedures, caring for young animals, reception services and simple breeding procedures.

While the Certificate III in Pet Grooming doesn’t have any educational pre-requisites, the Certificate III in Captive Animals and Companion Animal Services requires a Certificate II or relevant work experience. It is highly recommended that during your studies in these more specific Certificate III courses, you undertake work experience in a facility corresponding to the course or you are already employed at a relevant animal care facility.

Certificate IV

Certificate IV courses are highly specific to a particular field of study. These qualifications are for people working towards:

  • Certificate IV in Captive Animals – senior keeper level who care for animals at zoos, wildlife or theme parks.

  • Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services – caring for animals and maintaining animal housing facilities while monitoring their health and wellbeing.

  • Certificate IV in Pet Styling – maintaining styling standards for specific breeds, understanding small animal anatomy and identifying potential health risks.

  • Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing – providing professional assistance at a veterinary practice.

Animal Care Courses Online

All Animal Care courses at Certificate level are available online. Various TAFE colleges and approved education institutions offer them online for those interested in pursuing a career in looking after animals and maintaining animal care facilities. As such they are perfect for:

  • Those who are currently working in the industry but would like to acquire additional qualifications.

  • People looking at a career change while continuing in their current employment.

  • Recent high school leavers.

  • Those wishing to re-enter the workforce.

However, for most Certificate level studies you will be required to undertake practical work experience at an approved animal care facility. This could either be at your current place of employment if you already work in the industry, or with a facility that is willing to accommodate you.

Is Animal Care right for you?

If you love animals, enjoy hands-on practical work, the outdoors and dislike paperwork, a career in Animal Care could be for you. You should be patient and caring, while having the confidence to handle animals that could be sick or undisciplined.

You’ll be predominantly working within a team and often communicating with colleagues and members of the public. Animals require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you could find yourself working in the evenings or on weekends, depending on where you find employment.

You may also have to be willing to get your hands dirty with at times unpleasant tasks. There can be an emotional toll when dealing with injured, sick or badly treated animals.

But the rewards far outweigh the negatives if you’re an animal lover, and combining what you love with a career is the ultimate in professional job satisfaction. If this sounds like the right career for you, check out the animal care courses available now.

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