Veterinary Care Assistants (0448)

Last Updated: 02 Aug 2022
This is the ideal qualification for those looking to progress in their career as a veterinary care assistant, or go into further education.
This qualification has been developed for those providing basic care to animals under the direction and/or supervision of a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse.
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?

This qualification demonstrates the specialist knowledge and skills you have developed, such as:

  • animal handling and care in a veterinary environment
  • assisting with care in a veterinary environment
  • administrative duties in a veterinary environment.

You will learn on the job in the work environment, and complete one assignment for each unit. You need to complete a minimum of 600 hours in a veterinary environment.

Is this level right for me?

Level 2
is ideal if you are working or volunteering in a veterinary environment, and have some relevant knowledge and skills, usually from a role where you've been supervised.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in your career as a veterinary care assistant.

Learners can also choose to go to take the following related qualifications:

  • City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 Awards in Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines (0141)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 centre-based qualifications in Animal Care (0074)
  • City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need qualified assessors - you can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

To find all the requirements for assessment and delivery, download the qualification handbook.

Centres currently offering the NPTC Level 2 National Certificate for Veterinary Care Assistants (0348-12) can apply for fast-track approval.

Anyone can take this qualification, but you must make sure all your learners can access the resources they need to complete it.

Level 2

This level is ideal if you are working or volunteering in a veterinary environment, and have some relevant knowledge and skills, usually from a role where you've been supervised.

Level 2 is comprised of three mandatory units:

  • principles and practices of animal handling and care in the veterinary environment
  • principles and practices of assisting with care in the veterinary environment
  • principles and practices of administrative duties in the veterinary care environment.

For more details, please download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
These qualifications can help you to progress in your career as a veterinary care assistant.
Learners can also choose to go to take the following related qualifications:
  • City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 Awards in Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines (0141)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 centre-based qualifications in animal care (0074)
  • City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants (0448-02)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants

  • Accreditation No: 600/0106/9 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: 53 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 398 - 398 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 530 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £266.10 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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> (0074) Animal Care

> (7863) Diploma in Dog Grooming

> (0141) Livestock

> (7762) Pet Store Management

> (0172) Technicals in Animal Care Management and Equine Care Management

> (0067) Work-based Animal Care