New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) (Companion Animals)

About the programme

Start here for a fulfilling career working with animals.

This programme will give you an entry-level animal care qualification. It will also give you a taste of the wider range of animal-related qualifications available and allow you to get a feel for tertiary study before attempting a higher-level qualification.

It’s also a great first step if you want to enter an animal-related profession such as SPCA work, pet shop work or kennel and cattery animal care.

You'll learn about the health, welfare, husbandry, anatomy, physiology, and low-stress handling techniques for animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and birds.

Once you’ve completed the first course, you’ll need to organise access to animal-related facilities such as boarding kennels or catteries so you can do your 40-hour work placement.

You will also need to attend regular online sessions during this programme (although compulsory, these are flexible, and you will be offered some options).

Studying part-time

We know full-time study isn't always possible. We offer a one-year part-time study option that starts in February.

Entry

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• Open entry.
• You must complete a health declaration and a copy of your current Criminal Convictions history.

Language requirements

• All applicants for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language need to provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme (the IELTS requirements is 5.0 with no band score lower than 5.0 from one test completed in the last two years, or equivalent).

Please note: This programme is not available to international students.

Selection process

Once your application is complete we will let you know whether you have been accepted via your application portal.

All enrolments will be contingent on your Criminal Convictions History. Convictions of any kind may not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the delegated authority.