New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) (Companion Animals)

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 requirements

In 2023, our whānau will be getting bigger as all polytechnics across New Zealand come together under one organisation – Te Pūkenga. We’re excited to be part of a large-scale review of animal healthcare and veterinary nursing programmes. This programme is reaching the final stages of this review, it’s fully recognised by NZQA and the below entry requirements are subject to final approval and are for the reviewed version of the programme (that will be offered from Feb 2023).

Open entry

• Health and tetanus declaration
• Copy of your current Criminal Convictions History. 
• 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.

Additional documentation

When you apply, you'll need to provide us with certified copies of proof of identity, academic records, and proof of residency (where appropriate).

Upon enrolment (once you have received an Offer of Place), you must complete the Enrolment Pack Declaration including health and tetanus status, and apply for a declaration of criminal convictions history. This can be obtained free from The Ministry of Justice. 

Selection process

Once we receive your application, we'll let you know within 10 working days whether you have been accepted. 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 Free 

If this is your first time doing tertiary study in New Zealand (over 60 credits at Level 3 or higher), you should be able to get free tuition fees for this programme. 

All the details and criteria are on the Fees Free website and you can check whether you’re going to be able to access funding by entering your National Student Number. 

If you can access it, we’ll organise your fees with the Tertiary Education Commission when you’re enrolled to study with us. This funding doesn’t include additional costs or living costs.   

Check whether you can access funding here >

Additional costs

• Compulsory shirt - $40 (approx.)
• Compulsory 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.

Applying online and choosing your focus

When you click the blue apply button on the page, you'll be taken to our online application form. 

Here you'll be able to select whether you want to apply for the Companion Animals focus or the Rural Animals focus. 

If you have any questions about which focus you should choose, please email vetnursing@op.ac.nz

A change for 2023 enrolments 

When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic in 2023, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes that start in 2023, means that you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.