City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming

You will build on your existing dog grooming experience, over the course of the qualification you will cover the following units:

Unit 301: Health and safety, legislation and codes of practice for the dog grooming industry
During this unit you will understand relevant animal welfare legislation and look at minimising risks and emergency situations through safe working practices.

Unit 302: Styling and finishing a dog
You will learn how to style and finish a range of dog breeds of differing temperaments and ages. Throughout the unit there will be an emphasis on recognising and minimising stress in dogs and working in a safe manner.

Unit 303: Health checking and handling a dog in a dog grooming environment
During this unit you will learn basic canine anatomy and physiology and suitable handling and restraint techniques. You will understand how to carry out ongoing health checks and recognise normal and abnormal behaviours in order to adjust the grooming regime accordingly.

Unit 304: Customer service and record keeping in a dog grooming environment
You will learn how to communicate effectively with clients, and know how to handle the administrative and financial aspects of the dog grooming salon.

You will undertake a written exam and a synoptic practical assessment. You will also undertake unit tests to prepare you for the final examination.

The next available start date is Tuesday 8 September 2026 at our Huntingdon and Leeds centres.

You must have achieved the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants and be passionate about the dog grooming profession.

You will be invited to attend a pre course discussion after application where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss your suitability for the programme.

Please note: As our courses include online learning components, students are required to have access to a PC or laptop with a reliable internet connection.

Course Fees
£4,295

Awarding Body Fees - £229
All students or employers are required to pay the following awarding body fees in addition to the course fees. Please note that these are recharged at cost and may be subject to change.

Loan Options

Advanced Learner Loan
If you are over 19 years of age and living in England you may be entitled to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help fund your studies (subject to loan availability). The maximum amount you can receive from the Advanced Learner Loan is currently £3,417. This means there will be an outstanding balance left to pay. This outstanding balance can be paid in full (one single payment of £878 before the course begins) or you can apply for a Loans2Learn to cover the outstanding amount.

CAW Loans2Learn
Course fees must be paid in full before the course begins. If you are unable to do so, we offer a personal loan scheme (Loans2Learn) that can help you to spread the cost into manageable monthly payments over a period of up to five years, subject to eligibility. It can be used to fully, or partially, cover your course fee (but does not cover any awarding body fees, such as enrolment and examination fees which are payable on top). More information can be found here.

The current rate of interest for a CAW Loans2Learn is 9%. Click on the calculator icon to calculate your monthly repayment options based on different repayment term lengths.

Example repayment - a Loans2Learn loan for the full course fee of £4,295 over 5 years would equate to monthly repayments of approximately £89 per month (please note this is an indicative price based on current fees and interest rates).

General Advice
Sources of financial help can be found on our student finance page. Before making any financial decision it is recommended that you seek advice from an independent source, for example the Money Advice Service.

If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, continued support and course access is available by paying monthly direct debit payments, or applying for a supplementary or increased loan, until certification is achieved.

These are current figures and may be subject to change. The differences in course fees reflect the level of funding that is available as a result of government policies and priorities. These may be as a result of age, employment status, previous education achievements, or location for example, and are outside the control of The College of Animal Welfare.

This course is eligible for the Ministry of Defence Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Funding. Read more here.

Achievement of this qualification will demonstrate to employers and the public that you have the necessary technical skills and knowledge to work as a professional dog groomer.

Once you have completed your formal training and gained solid industry experience, many opportunities become available to you. You may wish to seek employment as a dog grooming stylist, perhaps progressing to a managerial role after demonstrating your abilities within a fast-paced pet grooming environment.

You could also consider starting up your own grooming business from home, in commercial premises, or out and about by taking it mobile, or work in partnership with an existing business such as a boarding kennels or dog walkers. This is a great way to build up connections with existing client bases and industry players, which will help to boost your new venture.

Another option would be to help the next generation of dog groomers to achieve their formal dog grooming qualifications; either by teaching at a relevant college or taking on an apprentice in your workplace.

You could also choose to study our the Level 3 Award in Preventative Canine Dental Care and Oral Hygiene! This course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to incorporate preventative canine dental care and oral hygiene into your role as an animal care or dog grooming professional.

You can further develop your skills by attending dog grooming workshops, demonstrations and events such as Dog Grooming Congress.

Yes, if you have not already achieved the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants course you will need to do so as City & Guilds will only accept registrations for the level 3 programme from those who have achieved the level 2 qualification.

No, as a private further education provider fees are applicable to all students. We do have a Loans2Learn scheme that can help you to spread the costs of study into manageable monthly payments.

Yes. Practical training forms a key part of the programme, allowing you to develop confidence handling and grooming dogs in a realistic salon environment under tutor supervision.

You will gain experience handling a variety of breeds, coat types and temperaments to help prepare you for working in a professional grooming environment.