New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) (Companion Animals)
This programme is great for testing interest in this area as it'll give you a taste of the wider range of animal-related qualifications available and allow you to get a feel for tertiary study before attempting a higher-level qualification. It's also a great first step if you want to enter an animal-related profession, such as SPCA work, pet shop work or kennel and cattery animal care.
Domestic
July
About the programme
Start here for a fulfilling career working with animals.
This programme will give you an entry-level animal care qualification. It will also give you a taste of the wider range of animal-related qualifications available and allow you to get a feel for tertiary study before attempting a higher-level qualification.
It’s also a great first step if you want to enter an animal-related profession such as SPCA work, pet shop work or kennel and cattery animal care.
You'll learn about the health, welfare, husbandry, anatomy, physiology, and low-stress handling techniques for animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and birds.
Once you’ve completed the first course, you’ll need to organise access to animal-related facilities such as boarding kennels or catteries so you can do your 40-hour work placement.
You will also need to attend regular online sessions during this programme (although compulsory, these are flexible, and you will be offered some options).
Studying part-time
We know full-time study isn't always possible. We offer a one-year part-time study option that starts in February.
What You Study
Courses
|
Companion Animal Courses |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
Introduction To Professional Skills When Working With Companion Animals |
15 |
| Introduction To Behaviour, Handling, And Transportation For Companion Animals |
15 |
| Introduction To Form, Function And Preventative Health For Companion Animals |
15 |
| Introduction To Husbandry For Companion Animals | 15 |
| Companion Animals Practicum | 10 |
Health and Safety
You will be given full training to minimise all programme-specific risks. Examples of risks associated with this programme are lifting, animal bites and scratches, zoonotic diseases, computers, chemicals, sharp instruments, electricity, fire, and mercury thermometers. We recommend that your tetanus injection status is up-to-date to attend work-placements and handle any animals in this programme.
Further study options
When you successfully finish this programme, you could study our one-year New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) or the two-year New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or New Zealand Diploma in Rural Animal Veterinary Technology to widen your career opportunities.
Workload
Your workload
All study is highly-structured, guided and self-directed and you will need to have good time management skills. As a part-time student, you should typically aim for around 15 hours of study per week. A full-time student should typically aim for around 30-40 hours of study per week including work experience. You will be required to engage with the online resources and activities, and complete assessments and work placements.
Your work placements
You’ll need to complete a minimum of 40 hours of work placement time during this programme. These work placements must be sourced and managed by you.
You’ll need to organise access to animal-related facilities such as boarding kennels, catteries or regional SPCA’s (not veterinary clinics) once you have completed the first course. All work placements will ask to see a copy of your Criminal Convictions History report. This can be obtained free here.
Please note: Whilst you don't need to provide us with evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination status to study this programme, please be aware that some placement providers may ask you for this.
Entry
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
- Open entry.
- You must complete a health declaration and a copy of your current Criminal Convictions history.
Language requirements
- All applicants for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language need to provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme (the IELTS requirements is 5.0 with no band score lower than 5.0 from one test completed in the last two years, or equivalent).
Please note: This programme is not available to international students.
Selection process
Once your application is complete we will let you know whether you have been accepted via your application portal.
All enrolments will be contingent on your Criminal Convictions History. Convictions of any kind may not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the delegated authority.
Fees
Domestic fees
Additional costs
- Optional shirt - $40 (approx.)
- Optional name badge - $15 (pin-back) or $18.50 (magnetic)
- Photocopy and printing costs for personal work and assessments
- Travel, accommodation (if required) and food costs associated with attendance at animal facility work placements
- Health and Safety require closed-in shoes
- You will also need access to a digital camera and a video camera/phone that can record video footage.
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.
Studylink
Domestic full-time students can apply for a student loan through Studylink.
Some support may be available for domestic part-time students if this programme offers a part-time study option.
Apply at the same time as you apply for your course (you can withdraw your application anytime).
Fees Free
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.
For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.
Application
Applying online
When you click the blue apply button on the page, you'll be taken to our online application form.
If you have any questions about applying, please email animalhealth@op.ac.nz
