Animal Care qualifications and training courses

Last Updated: 13 Dec 2023

Focussing upon the major principles and practices of animal care and welfare, from managing a pet shop or grooming dogs to caring for exotic animals, the learner will be able to start or build on a career in the Animal Care Industry.

UCAS tariff

Certificate in Land Based Services

Grade	Current Tariff points	New Tariff points
D*	70	28
D	60	24
M	40	16
P	20	8

Subsidiary Diploma in Land Based Services

Grade	Current Tariff points	New Tariff points
D*	140	56
D	120	48
M	80	32
P	40	16

Diploma in Land Based Services

Grade	Current Tariff points	New Tariff points
D*	280	112
D	240	96
M	160	64
P	80	32

Extended Diploma in Land Based Services

Grade	Current Tariff points	New Tariff points
D*	420	168
D	360	144
M	240	96
P	120	48

90- Credit Diploma in Land Based Services UCAS tariff

Grade	Current Tariff points	New Tariff points
D*	210	84
D	180	72
M	120	48
P	60	24

These animal care and animal management qualifications are for anyone interested in a career working with animals. You may be just starting out, or taking a break from a job to get some valuable training.

You don't need any previous qualifications or experience to get started. At Level 2, you can be 16 or under. To take a Level 3 qualification, you need to be 16 or over.

Available to deliver in the following:

England
Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
Scotland
Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

At Level 2 you'll get an introduction to important topics in animal care - you might choose things like feeding, handling and grooming animals, looking after their accommodation and understanding their health and welfare.

Depending on the size of qualification you choose, you might also cover the science behind animal behaviour, do work experience and gain practical skills.

At Level 3 you'll gain an in-depth insight into the techniques and science of animal management. You might cover things like animal biology, animal husbandry and animal nutrition. You'll also gain plenty of practical experience in your choice of skills, from wildlife surveys to animal training.

You'll learn with your training provider - maybe through practical sessions, group discussions or assignments.

You'll be assessed on assignments, one for each unit you complete.

Which level is right for me?

Level 2
You may be new to animal care or have some knowledge and basic skills. You want to develop your skills, perhaps to start work in a pet shop, animal shelter, cattery or kennel or prepare for further training.

Level 3
You may have some experience in animal care or have gained your Level 2 qualification. You want to develop the skills to be a more senior worker or manager, or to prepare for higher-level training.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

A certificate or diploma in Animal Care or Animal Management is designed to help you find work with animals - perhaps in a kennel or cattery, a dog grooming parlour or pet shop.

Once you've completed the Level 2 qualification you can move on to Level 3.

If you have a current job, you might be interested in a work-based qualification:

Level 2 or 3 qualifications in Work-based Animal Care.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

You will need experienced and qualified internal assessors and verifiers. You can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You'll also need to provide your learners with a suitable learning environment and the resources they need to complete the practical and theoretical aspects of the qualification.

You'll deliver these qualifications in a classroom environment and provide access to practical experience. At Levels 2 and 3, you will need to provide access to work experience.

To find all the requirements for assessment and delivery, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

You can get fast-track approval for the Level 2 qualifications if you offer the Level 2 National Certificate in Animal Care (0341-12), the Level 3 Advanced National Certificate in Animal Management (0341-13), or the Level 3 Advanced National Diploma in Animal Management (0341-14).

Fast-track approval is available for one year after the qualifications launch. Please check before you apply.

Anyone can take these qualifications, but you must make sure all learners can access the resources they need to complete them.

Level 2

Level 2 is ideal if you are new to animal care or have some knowledge and basic skills. You want to develop your skills, perhaps to start work in a pet shop, animal shelter or kennel or prepare for further training.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

A certificate or diploma in Animal Care or Animal Management is designed to help you find work with animals such as;

Kennel/cattery worker
Pet Store assistant
Welfare charity worker

Once you've completed the Level 2 qualification you can move on to Level 3.

Level 2 in Animal Care (0074-02)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2027

Level 2 Certificate in Animal Care

Accreditation No: 500/8281/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 15 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 90 - 90 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 150 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £124.60 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 Extended Certificate in Animal Care

Accreditation No: 500/8355/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 30 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 180 - 180 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 300 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £140.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care

Accreditation No: 500/8356/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 60 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 360 - 360 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £163.60 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

One or more pathways within this qualification has been approved by the DfE to appear in the 2016 Performance Tables. To review the qualifications approved please click here.

Level 3 is ideal if you have some experience in animal care or have gained your Level 2 qualification. You want to develop the skills to be a more senior worker or manager, or to prepare for higher-level training.

Units may include:

Understand and promote animal health (10 credits)
Understand animal anatomy and physiology (10 credits)
Plan and monitor animal feeding (5 credits)
Undertake dog grooming (10 credits)
Undertake pet store design and animal management (10 credits).
Undertake an investigative project in the land-based sector (10 credits)
Business management in the land-based sector (10 credits)
Understand the principles and carry out the practice of biochemistry and microbiology (10 credits)
Participate in business planning and improvement in the land-based sector (10 credits)
Understand the principles and carry out the practice of wildlife population surveys, ecology and conservation (10 credits)
Fundamentals of science (10 credits).

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

A Level 3 certificate or diploma in Animal Care or Animal Management is designed to help you find work with animals in roles such as;

Animal Trainer
Pet Store Manager
Kennel Manager

This qualification could lead to employment, or further training; Learners may go onto Higher Education as these qualifications have UCAS points.

Level 3 Animal Management (0074-03)

Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management

Accreditation No: 500/8279/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 60 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 360 - 360 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £249.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management

Accreditation No: 500/8280/2 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 180 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 1080 - 1080 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 1800 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £257.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Certificate in Animal Management

Accreditation No: 500/8320/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 30 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 180 - 180 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 300 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £140.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management

Accreditation No: 500/8321/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 120 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 720 - 720 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 1200 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £257.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Animal Management

Accreditation No: 600/6112/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: 90 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: 540 - 540 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: 900 The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £257.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

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Animal Care (0074)

Interested in delivering this qualification?

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

What Careers Can This Lead To?

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

Level 2

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Level 2 in Animal Care (0074-02)

Level 2 Certificate in Animal Care

Level 2 Extended Certificate in Animal Care

Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care

Level 3

What Careers Can This Lead To?

Level 3 Animal Management (0074-03)

Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management

Level 3 Certificate in Animal Management

Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management

Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Animal Management

Interested in delivering this qualification?

0074 Level 2

Assessment materials

Centre documents

0074 Level 3

Assessment materials

Declared purpose

Centre documents

Additional documents

Assessment materials

Centre documents

Purpose and Recognition

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