Animal Management Advanced Technical Certificate – Level 3 (360)

Required qualifications

You will need to have a minimum of four GCSEs at grade four or above, or equivalent, including science as well as either maths or English.

If your predicted grades suggest you will get a Level 4 or above in both maths and English, we advise that you apply for the 540 version of this course, which does not include retaking either maths or English.

Alternatively, you will have already gained a Level 2 qualification in Animal Care, or another relevant vocational programme, being awarded a merit grade or above.

What skills will I develop?

This qualification gives you the opportunity to gain a range of specialist practical skills and knowledge that builds upon your knowledge of animals. You will study how to work safely around animals and be responsible for planning and carrying out animal husbandry, health, handling, feeding and nutrition.

You will also learn about animal behaviour, animal breeds and welfare, and animal biology. You can then learn further specialist skills in your second year such as caring for exotics, birds or fish, or skills for working in kennels, a cattery or a pet store.

Please see below for a full list of the animal-related modules you will complete over the two years of the course:

Careers

Upon completion of the course, learners could progress on to Higher Education to get a degree if they have gotten enough UCAS points over the two years. South Staffordshire College offer a two-year Foundation Degree in Zoo Animal Management with Conservation (Levels 4 and 5) that can be topped up to a full degree in a third year with our BSc Zoo Animal Management with Conservation (Level 6). Both of these are accredited by Staffordshire University and delivered at Rodbaston College, meaning that learners are taught in the same familiar facilities, and by some of the same lecturers, as they were at Level 3.

If you choose to go straight into employment, the Animal Management Advanced Technical Certificate may lead you on to a career such as:

• Animal Care Assistant

• Kennel and Cattery Worker / Supervisor

• Pet Store Assistant / Supervisor

• Hospital Care Assistant

• Wildlife Assistant

• Dog Grooming Assistant

• Animal Feed Sales Rep

• Pet Sitter

• Dog Walker

Work experience

During this course you will be required to gain and undertake a work placement within the animal industry. This can be anywhere with living animals such as kennels, catteries, rescues, sanctuaries, pet shops, groomers, vets and zoos. During this you will keep a logbook of the activities and roles undertaken at your placement and acquire knowledge and skills of working in industry.

You will be expected to achieve:

• First year – 150 hours of work experience
• Second year – 315 hours of work experience

You will also be taught how to produce a CV and covering letter and how to apply for jobs.

English and maths

If you still need to gain your English or maths qualifications, then you can work on those alongside your animal care studies. To reinforce your skills, maths and English will also be embedded in your animal-based studies via contextualised industry specific examples. This will enable you to appreciate why these skills are important when working with animals.

Other important information

As you will be undertaking practical elements, working hands on with the animals you will need to purchase some personal protective equipment (PPE). You will require a boilersuit/overalls to protect your own clothes (compulsory), steel toe capped boots/wellies (compulsory) and waterproofs (if desired).

Students should be aware that when carrying out practical tasks on the Animal Zone:

• Jewellery is not allowed
• Piercings must be removed
• Nail varnish / false nails are not allowed
• Long hair must be tied back

There will be a selection of trips and guest speakers throughout the course. Some of these are integrated into the learning and assessments therefore compulsory. Others are optional, including the opportunity to go on study tours abroad.