Program Overview

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Certificate III in Animal Care Services (Animal Care) Traineeship

The Certificate III in Animal Care Services (Animal Care) traineeship, ACM30122, is a nationally accredited qualification that combines the best of animal sciences and applied animal care skills. This 18-month traineeship is government subsidized and offers a blended model of online learning and workplace-integrated learning within the industry.

Program Overview

Graduates of this program will gain a nationally recognized qualification and the skills to become leaders in the animal care industry. The traineeship covers a range of core skills, including:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Husbandry
• Health and infection control
• Nutrition
• Animal handling

How You'll Learn

Traineeships combine training with working a real job, with a real boss, for a real wage. As a trainee, you'll work towards the completion of this qualification while learning valuable skills at work and under the guidance of the UQ Skills team.

Optional Training Workshops

You can attend optional workshop training blocks at the Gatton campus to supplement any gaps in your workplace experience for training and assessment purposes or to gain extra practical experience.

Assessment

You will be assessed through:

• Written assessments
• Skills portfolios
• Online quizzes
• Practical demonstrations

Start Dates

You can start this program anytime, but you must be employed as a trainee within a veterinary clinic or animal hospital.

Vaccination Requirements

As you'll be exposed to animals and agricultural environments as part of your learning, immunizations against tetanus are mandatory. You may also require vaccination against Q fever, lyssavirus, rabies, or influenza (flu), depending on the work and environment within which you interact with animals.

Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (LLN) Testing

You're required to complete a language, literacy, and numeracy test as part of the enrollment process to identify and plan for any learning or support needs you may have before you start your training.

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have recent work experience, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Resources

You'll need to contribute to the cost of your training through a co-contribution fee. The fee you pay will depend on your eligibility to receive funding under the Queensland Government's Career Start program.

Payment Plans

You can pay for this program over 6 months as part of a monthly payment plan. Payment plans incur a 10% processing fee.

Units of Competency and Course Codes

To achieve this qualification, you must complete 17 units of competency over 18 months. The units are divided into study periods, covering topics such as:

• Animal behavioral science and welfare
• Professional practice
• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Animal care and nursing for cats, dogs, mammals, birds, and non-venomous reptiles
• Animal health and wellbeing

Credit Transfers

If we approve your credit transfer for one unit within a study period, we will waive your fee for that unit. In your assessment for the study period, you'll have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you've previously acquired.

Careers

You may find employment as:

• Animal attendant (veterinary clinic)
• Animal care attendant (animal shelter)
• Assistant animal welfare officer
• Assistant dog groomer
• Kennel hand or cattery attendant
• Pet shop attendant

Pathway

Use this program as a pathway towards a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, opening up your access to a range of clinical, surgical, and specialist nursing roles. If you choose to further your studies by completing a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, you will receive substantial credit for your Certificate III in Animal Care Services. This means you will be able to graduate faster, enter the industry sooner, and earn higher wages.