New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care – Companion Animals

Ready to kick-start your professional career working with animals? You might be straight out of school, already working with animals, or thinking about a career change.

This programme covers all aspects of animal care, including their health, hygiene, behaviour, and handling. You’ll develop the practical knowledge and skills to care for a wide range of companion animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, and birds, in various settings, including your home, pet shops, kennels, and catteries.

Highlights

• Prepare to work in a range of companion animal workplaces. Develop a comprehensive understanding of animal husbandry, essential communication skills, and professional capabilities.
• Practical applied learning and work experience. You’ll get a hands-on introduction to animal care in 10 hours of on-site practical training at Unitec’s Behaviour and Husbandry Centre, Te Puna Kararehe. You’ll also complete 48 hours of placement experience at an approved external facility.
• Learn from the best. Passionate teaching staff who are experts in their fields and work closely with the industry.
• Get qualified for higher-level study. This programme provides a pathway for further study in a range of animal-related programmes at Unitec like zookeeping, vet nursing, animal behaviour & welfare, and conservation-based programmes.

Study options

We offer four flexible study options for this programme, designed to fit around your lifestyle whether you are working, have family commitments, or are based in Northland.

• February Intake (Part-time study at Mt Albert, evening classes)
  • Ideal if you are working and wanting to study during evening hours
  • One-Two evening classes per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Sem 1, Wednesdays in Sem 2, 3 hours each)
  • Duration: February – November
• June Intake (Full-time study mostly online with on-campus block courses at Mt Albert)
  • Ideal for students living outside Auckland and wanting to progress into higher-level qualification in animal study
  • Online delivery over 19 weeks (June – November)
  • Includes two compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus for practical skills
• **September Intake 1(Full-time study at Mt Albert, daytime classes)**​
  • On-campus classes at Unitec Mt Albert
  • Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
• September Intake 2 (Full-time study online, with block courses at Whangārei)
  • Online learning with two compulsory block courses at NorthTec, Whangārei campus

Blended learning

We call this ‘Blended learning’ as it is a mixture of online, self-directed learning, supported by your lecturers, with two 5-day face-to-face sessions (block courses) that includes practical experience. This will either be at our Mt Albert campus, or at Northtec in Whangarei, depending on which option you have chosen. To study from a distance, you must be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. To be successful in this type of programme you must attend all block courses, tests, practical assessments, and work experience, and complete your self-directed study (reading, revision) and assessment writing. You’ll also need consistent access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and appropriate office software, e.g., Microsoft Office, which we’ll provide once you‘re enrolled. If you learn better with routine, and the ongoing support of our teaching team, the onsite study option might be best for you. We have two to choose from – our February and September 1 intakes – see above

Where to next?

Once you’ve graduated, you’ll be qualified to work in the animal care industry with limited supervision.

Interested in more study? This programme will give you the academic admission requirements for higher-level animal programmes at Unitec, including: 

• New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal)
• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management – Zookeeping
• If you’re specifically interested in dog training, look at our New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management – Canine Behaviour and Training.

Under certain circumstances, graduates from this programme may also be accepted into the Bachelor of Applied Science

Career Options

• Animal minder in a range of animal facilities
• Boarding kennel or cattery attendant
• Entry into further study at certificate or diploma level.
• Facility assistant for SPCA
• Pet shop assistant
• Pet supply sales representative
• Wildlife rehabilitation aide

Annual Tuition Fees

Domestic/NZ students

$4,200

(Approximate fees only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Your final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. View options for funding your study and fees-free eligibility)

International students

This programme is not open to international students - check our international study options instead.

Semester Dates

Sem 1 2026: 23 Feb – 28 Jun

Sem 2 2026: 20 Jul – 23 Nov

For course and class timings, refer to the specific course webpage.

For StudyLink purposes, please ensure your application states your earliest.

Please see “Study options schedule” below to view the semester dates by study option

Downloads and resources

Programme regulations - New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care – Companion Animals Order a personalised brochure Scholarships and awardsStudent LifeFor Māori studentsFor Pacific studentsFor International students