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- Certificate II in Animal Care
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Overview
About this course
Turn your love for animals into practical animal care skills. You’ll learn the basics to get started in the industry. Work as an animal attendant in boarding kennels, pet shops, grooming businesses and animal welfare organisations.
Outcomes
What you'll gain
Learning outcomes
Through a mixture of theory and practical course work, learn to:
provide care to a range of animals
monitor and assist with animal health routines
practice hygiene and infection control
manually handle animals safely
work safely and effectively in a team environment.
Course outcomes
Gain practical experience and develop specialist skills that give you an advantage in the job market.
A strong understanding of how to follow diet plans for a range of animals.
Techniques to safely handle and restrain animals.
Experience in completing observation checklists and doing routine health and hygiene checks.
The ability to provide enriching environments for animals.
A strong pathway to continue your study and add to your career opportunities.
Suitability
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
This course requires evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol.
This course can be completed as part of a traineeship. Enquire today to check the eligibility requirements.
Assessment conditions for Certificate II in Animal Care require learners to have access to an animal care facility. For some delivery locations, this may occur on a TAFE NSW site. Please check your preferred campus location for campus-specific entry requirements.
Completion requirements
During your study you’ll need to provide your teacher with the following evidence:
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:
a passion for animals and their wellbeing
a reasonable level of fitness to handle animals and do some lifting
the ability to follow simple written instructions and complete tasks safely with supervision
access to a computer or device with internet to help you with home study
suitable clothing such as covered non‑slip shoes, trousers and shirts for your classes. TAFE NSW will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for animal care.
We tailor our courses to meet local community needs, so some campuses may have extra entry requirements. Check your preferred location for details. Need help preparing? Contact us for support.
Find Your Fit
This simple tool guides you to a suitable course level based on your foundation skills and confidence.
Pathways
Future career and study options
Career pathways
Our graduates go onto roles like: animal attendant or carer and pet shop attendant.
Study pathways
Take your study further with other courses offered at TAFE NSW:
Previous study0 Courses
Begin here to gain experience and confidence in this study area.
The Certificate II in Animal Care does not have any pre-requisite courses.
Further study2 Courses
Advance your skills to take your career to the next level
Related study0 Courses
Strengthen your expertise and gain specialist skills to expand your employability.
The Certificate II in Animal Care does not have any related courses.
Your experience counts
At TAFE NSW, we recognise your previous study and work experience. You can apply for recognition of prior learning or a credit transfer with any of our courses. If you're successful you'll get your qualification faster.
Units
Units taught in this course
Courses are made up of a combination of both core and specialty units. In the Certificate II in Animal Care qualification, you’ll need to successfully complete 12 units of competency, including 7 core and 5 speciality units.
Please note, not all specialty units are offered at every TAFE NSW location. It is highly recommended that you check with your preferred campus for information about the specialty units offered at that location.
Core units - 7
Core units are central to the job outcomes of a particular industry or occupation. These are the units industry has agreed are essential to be capable and qualified at a particular study level.
Participate in workplace health and safety processesACMWHS201
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practicesACMSUS201
Apply communication skillsBSBCMM211
Assist in health care of animalsACMGEN204
TAFE NSW services
Facilities and support
TAFE NSW provides support services across all campus locations and online. Whatever your needs or circumstances, we have the people, resources, counselling and facilities to support you in focusing on your studies.
TAFE NSW Disability Support Service
TAFE NSW Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support
TAFE NSW Aboriginal Support; Learner support (ABE)
TAFE NSW Careers, Counselling and Pathways Service
TAFE NSW Libraries
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Read&Write literacy and study support software is available free for all TAFE NSW students to use while studying on campus and at home
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Study options