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Tamar Valley Consortium

COURSE INFORMATION SHEET 2: Animal Care

What is Animal Care?
Pets and other domestic animals as well as captive animals in zoos are unable to care for themselves and need people to provide them with food, water, exercise and help when they are unwell. There are many professionals who take care of animals, when their owners are away or when the animals need special care. These include vets and veterinary nurses but also kennel staff, pet shop assistants and zoo keepers.

What qualities will I need?
You will need to like animals and be very patient with them. There will be a great deal of practical work during your training including a lot of cleaning up! You need to get used to this and be able to show that you are able to cope with the hard work involved.

Although much of the training is through a work placement there are days of theory work. You will need to be capable of some project work and be able to build a portfolio of your experiences in animal care.

Acceptance on the course will be by interview but you will have to do some theory work and some ability in a science subject such as Biology will be helpful at Level 1. At Level 2 a Science GCSE would be help show you are capable of the theory work.

What range of courses are available?
Through the TVC there are two QCF Animal Care courses available. These include a:

Level 1 course, which will qualify you to do a basic job but may lead to an apprenticeship

Level 2 course, to qualify you to do a skilled job once you have had a little more experience. You will need to have completed Level 1 well or impress at interview to be accepted on to this second level course.

You may also like to look at TVC Horse Care and Management

What opportunities will this course open for me?
Most Animal Care students will progress on to an apprenticeship or work with a vet or kennels in a junior position until they have gained experience. Those who have completed Level 2 may well progress to further education courses. Those who have also gained good GCSEs may subsequently gain veterinary nursing qualifications.

For more information contact your TVC Co-ordinator