Animal Care Technical Certificate Level 2

Course information

This Level 2 Animal Care course is available on both Duchy College campuses, which are each home to a large variety of animals

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Animal Care is about preparing you for any career with animals. Whether going into further study, wanting to become a pet shop assistant, a zookeeper or work in rescue centres, this course sets you up for a career in the animal industry.

Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to animal collections on campus, you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry.

This is a one-year course than runs from September to July. It is run over 3 days at college and 1 day at a work experience placement to gain at all important experience. This course uses a balance of theory and practice to help you develop the skills and know how to confidently work with animals great and small.

You will cover a broad range of topics that cater to all animals from small to large mammals, to birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. You will learn how to maintain animal health and welfare and how to care for feeding and accommodation routines. You will explore animal behaviour and correct handling techniques, along with ensuring Health & Safety is paramount in the Animal and Land-based industries.

You will learn about how to care for exotics animals, aquatics, British wildlife and how animals’ biological systems work.


You will study a combination of theory and practical work and can expect to spend time both at college and in a work experience placement of your choice. You will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to local zoos, wildlife parks and animal sanctuaries.

It is mandatory for students to wear PPE in practical sessions, more information about PPE will be provided upon application.

What You Will Learn

This is a one year course that explores the introduction to the animal industry. You will participate, get experience, gain confidence and learn to become independent from the choices you make. You will learn how work with others as a team as well as challenging your own personal ambitions. You will make that step between school, college and independence. This can be the beginning of a new you, how you behave and learn will influence your future. Working with animals is a demanding and yet fulfilling career.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for external applicants and school leavers
• Three or more GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, or successful completion of a relevant Level 1 qualification.

Entry requirements for existing learners with the Cornwall College Group
• Successful completion of previous course and, where relevant, progress in maths and/or English.

To be accepted onto the course, you must have achieved a Grade 4 or higher in GCSE Maths OR English, and a grade 3 in the other, with an additional 3 GCSE’s at Grade 3 or above. You are required by law to continue to work towards your Grade 4 in English and Maths if you did not achieve them in school. If you have not achieved your Grade 4 in either or both English and Maths when you join the college, you will undertake lessons to be working towards your Grade 4 in the subject that you require.

If you are still in school your interview will be based on your expected grades. Don’t worry if you won’t receive your expected grades, we will find an alternative route.

Work Experience

You will be expected to find, secure and maintain a work placement one day a week. You will be required to complete a minimum of 150 hours as part of the technical certificate qualification. You could work in your local pet shop or at a kennel or cattery, or even at a rescue sanctuary near you, where you can help, support and learn, in fact any animal related industry. You will have to find your own transport there so please make sure you can get there on time. If you are unsure where to start looking, please email the work experience coordinators. Ellie-may, 17, has always wanted to work with animals and completed her work experience at the Flicka Foundation. “I did enjoy my work experience thoroughly I enjoyed working with the donkeys and horses. I learned a lot while there because I had never worked with equine before the Flicka Foundation I learned how to handle and retrieve equine and the work there is amazing being a new experience and the staff are lovely and so polite and easy to get along with.”

Assessment

There are 3 parts of the assessment, in which you must pass all sections to complete the course.

End Exam:
There will be a multiple choice and short answer paper to sit around March that will test your knowledge on the mandatory units.

Synoptic Assessment:
The synoptic assessment will be made up of a number of small tasks for you to complete in a time frame of around 15 hours, under exam conditions. This will include a practical element. You will have preparation time to collect evidence needed to complete the tasks. The synoptic assessment will cover the mandatory units (except for Work Experience).

Other assessments:
In addition to your end exam and your synoptic assessment, you will be required to complete some additional assignment work for the other units. This may be in the form of written work, or as a series of practical assessments. You must pass all of these assignments in order to complete your course.

Work Experience Portfolio:
You will be required to be in an animal related work experience placement for 1 day a week. You will need to complete a portfolio of evidence for your time with the employer, which will be handed in at the end of the year. If you do not complete the required hours of work experience throughout the year, you will not be able to pass your qualification, so it is important that you start trying to arrange a placement as early as possible. Our Work Experience Co-ordinator can help you with this.

Progression

On completion of this course you could progress onto a Level 3 Animal Management course to develop further knowledge. You could go and work as an assistant in a variety of industry placements like pet shops, kennels and catteries, rescue centres or sanctuaries. Whatever your choice we will support and guide you to get the right education or job for your chosen career. Working with animals is a demanding and yet fulfilling career.

Careers in this industry:

Zookeeper
Animal care assistant
Dog groomer
Animal trainer/behaviourist
Dog warden
Pet shop assistant

Duchy College Rosewarne

Duchy College Rosewarne

This beautiful campus set just outside of Camborne has a rich history of national research and is cherished by students and staff. Whether its studying horticulture or animal care, the intimate community feel is the perfect learning environment.

With a friendly and entertaining student hub, and the most passionate and dedicated team on hand to support the college experience, Duchy College Rosewarne is renowned for its student experience. Home to the most wonderful animals and plants, this is a truly unique and special place to have your #careercollege experience.

Find out more about our Rosewarne campus

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Duchy College Stoke Climsland

Set on stunning rolling hillsides, our campus epitomises the very best of land-based education. The recent addition of the £4 million Future Farm research facility means students and businesses are at the heart of the next evolution of environmental farming. Whether it’s a love of horses, sport, protective services, heavy machinery or animal care, nobody forgets their time at Duchy College Stoke Climsland. It’s time to secure your #careercollege experience.

Find out more about our Stoke Climsland campus

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