Certificate II in Animal Studies by Open Colleges
ACM20117

Certificate II in Animal Studies by Open Colleges

See how this course can change your future
Delivery method
Enquire now
Duration
Self paced
Maximum 12 months
Delivery method
Online with Work Placement
Fees
Flexible payments options available
(25% off)
ACM20117

Certificate II in Animal Studies by Open Colleges

Get qualified to start a hands-on career in Animal studies with our accredited, industry-developed Certificate II in Animal Studies course
Duration
Self paced
Maximum 12 months
Delivery method
Online with Work Placement
Fees
Flexible payments options available
(25% off)
Duration
Self paced
Maximum 12 months
Delivery method
Online with Work Placement
Fees
Flexible payments options available
(25% off)
Delivery method
Enquire now

Course Description

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. And as the popularity of pets continues to rise, so too does the need for qualified workers with the right skills to keep pets happy and healthy.

The ACM20117 Certificate II in Animal Studies will qualify you to work in a pet store, shelter, kennel or cattery.

This course is superseded by ACM20121 – Certificate II in Animal Care. For now, you may still enrol in this course, and we will transition you to the new course at no additional cost once it is available. We’ll be in touch closer to our launch date to give you more information about what this means for you. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, as our friendly Enrolment Consultants are always happy to help.

What you’ll learn

  • Learn the ins and outs of the animal care industry, and how to work alongside both animals and people.

  • Get a handle on the administrative side of working in the animal care industry and how to maintain records, provide reception services and communicate with colleagues.

  • From proper feeding to correct hygiene practices, understand the key necessities of animal care.

  • Gain the skills to respond appropriately to an emergency and provide basic first aid to animals.

Why study this course?

  • If you love animals and are passionate about promoting their welfare, then a job in animal care could be perfect for you. This course will provide an excellent foundation for your career in animal care.

  • Gain first-hand experience in the animal care industry with 80 hours of structured workplace learning.

  • Learn from Trainers and Assessors who are passionate about the industry and have years of experience.

  • As this is an online course, you can enjoy the flexibility and convenience of being able to fit your study around your schedule.

This course involves work placement that currently needs to be undertaken in Australia. More information available in our FAQs

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note – limitations do apply.

Potential career outcomes

  • Animal Attendant (Veterinary Clinic)
  • Animal Care Attendant (Animal Shelter)
  • Assistant Animal Groomer
  • Cattery Attendant
  • Kennel Hand
  • Pet Shop Attendant
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Get your career started, download a course guide
Download course guide

Requirements

Entry Requirements

There are no mandated education entry requirements for this qualification as per the ACM – Animal Care and Management Training Package.

To successfully complete this course, it is recommended that students:

  • Be over 16 years of age

  • Have language, literacy and numeracy skills that ensures the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email. These skills are equivalent to those that would be required to successfully complete year 10

  • Access to a modern computer with high speed internet

  • Basic computing skills including the ability to make a short video

Language, Literacy and Numeracy

Our free online assessment tool can help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to study a VET course. This tool can also help you determine your learning level and help you plan your future studies. You can access the Language, Literacy and Numeracy tool here.

MEET THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS COURSE?

Subjects

Open Colleges may make changes to the course from time to time to reflect changes introduced to the relevant Training Package or other regulatory requirements. Please download the course guide for current information about the course and its status.

Work in the animal care industry

Introduces the learner to the animal care workplace and industry. This module gives the learner the basic knowledge and skills needed to work in the industry and to place the modules in an appropriate context.

ACMGAS201

Work in the animal care industry

  • Contribute to a productive work environment
  • Recognise animals in the workplace
  • Use industry terminology
  • Incorporate animal needs in conduct of work practices

Participate in workplace communications

Supports the learner to develop verbal and written communication skills in a variety of workplace contexts. This will enable the learner to effectively communicate in the following modules.

ACMGAS202

Participate in workplace communications

  • Follow routine instructions  
  • Obtain and provide information in response to workplace requirements
  • Complete relevant work-related documents
  • Participate in workplace meetings and discussions

Participate in workplace health and safety processes

Contains the knowledge and skills needed to conduct work safely in the animal care industry. It is important that the learner attains this knowledge and skill to be able to carry out future tasks responsibly.

ACMWHS201

Participate in workplace health and safety processes

  • Plan and prepare to work safely  
  • Conduct work safely  
  • Participate in work health and safety activities  
  • Follow emergency response procedures  

Structured Workplace Learning

This module has been included for the work placement documentation.

ACMGAS201

Work in the animal care industry

  • Contribute to a productive work environment
  • Recognise animals in the workplace
  • Use industry terminology
  • Incorporate animal needs in conduct of work practices

ACMGAS202

Participate in workplace communications

  • Follow routine instructions  
  • Obtain and provide information in response to workplace requirements
  • Complete relevant work-related documents
  • Participate in workplace meetings and discussions

ACMGAS203

Complete animal care hygiene routines

  • Prepare to work
  • Check animals
  • Maintain a clean workplace
  • Complete hygiene practices for animals

ACMGAS204

Feed and water animals

  • Prepare for feeding
  • Feed and water animals
  • Complete the feeding and watering process

ACMGAS205

Assist in health care of animals

  • Prepare to work with animals
  • Capture animal under supervision
  • Assist in assessment of animals
  • Assist in treatment of animals

ACMGAS206

Provide basic first aid for animals

  • Assess the situation
  • Provide basic first aid to animals

ACMSUS201

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

  • Identify current resource use
  • Comply with environmental regulations
  • Seek opportunities to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental hazards

ACMWHS201

Participate in workplace health and safety processes

  • Plan and prepare to work safely  
  • Conduct work safely  
  • Participate in work health and safety activities  
  • Follow emergency response procedures 

ACMGAS207

Provide reception services for an animal care facility

  • Complete reception services
  • Maintain office records
  • Provide basic animal care assistance
  • Maintain records

ACMGAS209

Provide information on companion animals, products and services

  • Identify information requirements
  • Provide information

ACMGAS208

Source information for animal care needs

  • Interpret product information
  • Gather information on products and services
  • Read and locate animal identification information
  • Complete animal history documentation

ACMSPE304

Provide basic care of dogs

  • Identify common dog breeds
  • Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs
  • Handle and restrain dogs
  • Assist with health care needs
  • Feed dogs
  • Maintain records

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Enables the learner to identify areas of the workplace where resource improvements can be made. In hindsight of the previous modules, the learner can use the acquired knowledge and skill to identify resource inefficiencies in areas of food and water supply and hygiene.

ACMSUS201

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

  • Identify current resource use
  • Comply with environmental regulations
  • Seek opportunities to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental hazards

Feed and water animals

Introduces the learner to animal dietary requirements and how to fulfil those through the supply of food and water. This module focuses on the daily animal care practices.

ACMGAS204

Feed and water animals

  • Prepare for feeding
  • Feed and water animals
  • Complete the feeding and watering process

Complete animal care and hygiene routines

Introduces the learner to regular hygiene practices in animal care workplaces. With this module the student will learn about the daily animal care practices.

ACMGAS203

Complete animal care hygiene routines

  • Prepare to work
  • Check animals
  • Maintain a clean workplace
  • Complete hygiene practices for animals

Provide basic care of domestic dogs

Provides the learner with the knowledge and skills to assist experienced staff in providing care for domestic dogs. In this module the student will learn how to identify common breeds of dogs, behaviour, how to train a dog and how to meet health and care needs.

ACMSPE304

Provide basic care of dogs

  • Identify common dog breeds
  • Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs
  • Handle and restrain dogs
  • Assist with health care needs
  • Feed dogs
  • Maintain records

Assist in health care of animals

Provides the learner with the knowledge and skill to assist experienced staff in the assessment of animal health. While this module focuses on animal health, it will also assist with the learning in the following module.

Provide basic first aid for animals

Provides the learner with insights into how to deal with first aid requirements. It also introduces the learner to emergency situations that may arise while working within animal care facilities.

Provide reception services for an animal care facility

Introduces the learner to the day-to-day activities that take place within animal care facilities. it also provides the learner with the knowledge and skills to manage administrative duties and provide customer assistance.

ACMGAS207

Provide reception services for an animal care facility

  • Complete reception services
  • Maintain office records
  • Provide basic animal care assistance
  • Maintain records

Provide information on companion animals, products and services

Provides the learner with the skills to be able to provide reliable advice. This helps the learner understand how to interpret information requirements to be able to provide quality information when working in an animal care facility.

ACMGAS209

Provide information on companion animals, products and services

  • Identify information requirements
  • Provide information

Source information for animal care needs

This is an essential unit that will assist the learner in sourcing animal related information. It also contains important knowledge in regard to applying the correct medication dosages to the animal as required.

ACMGAS208

  • Interpret product information
  • Gather information on products and services
  • Read and locate animal identification information
  • Complete animal history documentation

Payment Options

Pay in Full

You can choose to pay your course fees in full upon enrolment and benefit from a 10% discount (unless otherwise advertised).

Pay 50% & Payment Plan Combo

You can also choose to pay 50% of your total course fees upon enrolment and the balance on a Payment Plan.  When you do, you’ll benefit from 50% of the standard Pay in Full discount (unless otherwise advertised).

Payment Plan

You can choose to pay for your course in weekly or fortnightly instalments. By paying in instalments, you can schedule your payments around your regular outgoings and get ahead without breaking the bank. Open Colleges payment plans are interest-free.

Zip Money Payment Plan

If you need a little more flexibility with your finances and would like to pay off your course fees over a longer period of time, we can assist by organising Zip Money to pay your course fees directly to us on your behalf, and you pay this loan back to Zip Money over an agreed period of time. Zip Money provides you flexible options of selecting a 24, 36 or 48 months interest-free, payment plan (dependant on which course you’re enrolling into) to suit your lifestyle, giving you more flexibility than ever before.

BPAY®

With BPAY®, you’re able to pay quickly and securely, 24/7 through your internet, mobile or phone banking service. You can choose when, how much and from which account to pay from – whatever works for you. BPAY® is only available when paying in full. Call an Enrolment Consultant to find out more. 

BPAY® is a trademark of BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518. Check if BPAY® is right for you by reading the terms and conditions available from your Financial Institution.

Trainers

Amanda St Clair

Amanda has been a Veterinary Nursing and Animal Studies Trainer/Assessor at Open Colleges for the last five years.

With over 15 years’ experience as a Veterinary Nurse, Amanda also manages her own Grooming Salon. She enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge with students, supporting them throughout their stages of enrolment & work placement.

She holds a Diploma in Emergency & Critical Care (Veterinary Nursing) & is a member of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia.

Work Placement

The course contains a minimum of 80 hours of work placement

The workplace will need provide a range of services to various animal species. The workplaces which would offer this could include:

  • Veterinary practices

  • Boarding facilities

  • Retail pet stores

  • Kennels and catteries

  • Zoos

  • Day care facilities for companion animals

  • Animal welfare facilities

  • Companion animal breeding facilities

Cost of work placement

All costs of work placement including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or OC), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation and uniforms are the responsibility of the student.

There are a number of statutory checks that may be required by workplaces, such as a National Police Check, Wor

The course contains a minimum of 300 hours of work placement

You will need to complete your placement in a general dental practice. Your workplace must be a registered business and be involved in the delivery of dental services.

Requirements include access to paid clients, as well access to equipment and resources used in the delivery of general and specialised dentistry services.

Work placement for this qualification will be completed in two sections to allow you to observe and practice your skills via simulation before you begin the practical component.

Pre-Structured Work Placement duration:
50 hours of simulation minimum

Structured Work Placement duration:
250 hours of practical experience minimum

Cost of work placement

All costs of work placement including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or OC), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student.

Immunisation

Each individual host organisation may have different requirements regarding vaccinations. Please discuss these with your Work Placement provider before beginning your placement. Please note – there are mandatory vaccination requirements within each state, and it is up to the student to ensure they are complying with their own state, territory legislation, and workplace organisation policies and procedures.