New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care - Companion Animals

Ready to kick-start your professional career working with animals? You might be straight out of school, already working with animals, or thinking about a career change.

This programme covers all aspects of animal care, including health, hygiene, behaviour, and handling. You’ll develop the applied knowledge and skills to care for a wide range of companion animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, and birds, in various settings, including your home, pet shops, kennels, and catteries.

You can choose a study option that works best with your schedule:

• Part-time study (evening classes) is the best ‘work and study option.’ You’ll attend 2 x 3-hour night classes each week from February to November. Classes will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
• Full-time study (online + block courses) – don’t live in Auckland? Keen to move into higher-level animal study? Get qualified in 19 weeks by studying full-time over one semester from late June to November. Anyone from across New Zealand can apply for this study option. You must attend two compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus, where you’ll learn all your practical skills. 
• September- Summer study (On Campus or Online + block courses): Full-time On-campus delivery, Monday and Tuesday, 10 AM to 2.30 PM during most weeks of delivery. North Tec - Whangārei campus delivery is online + block courses where you must attend two compulsory courses.

Highlights

• Prepare to work in a range of companion animal workplaces. Develop a comprehensive understanding of animal husbandry, essential communication skills, and professional capabilities.
• Get qualified for higher-level study. This programme provides a pathway for further study in a range of animal-related programmes at Unitec.
• Practical applied learning and work experience. You'll get a hands-on introduction to animal care in 10 hours of on-site practical training at Unitec’s Behaviour and Husbandry Centre, Te Puna Kararehe. You’ll also complete 48 hours of placement experience at an approved external facility.
• Learn from the best. Passionate teaching staff who are experts in their fields and work closely with the industry.

Blended learning

This study option is full-time (off-campus and online), and you'll be required to attend two compulsory 5-day block courses at our Mt Albert and NorthTec – Whangarei campus.
To study from a distance, you must be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. You must attend all block courses, exams, practical assessments, and work experience and complete your self-directed study (research, reading, revision) and assessment writing.
You'll also need consistent access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and appropriate office software, e.g., Microsoft Office, which we'll provide once you‘re enrolled.

Where to next?

Once you’ve graduated, you’ll be qualified to work in the animal care industry with limited supervision.

Interested in more study? This programme will give you the academic admission requirements for higher-level animal programmes at Unitec, including: 

• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Veterinary Nursing Assistant)
• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management - Companion Animals
• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management - Zookeeping
• If you're specifically interested in dog training, look at our New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management - Canine Behaviour and Training.