Dog Groomer (Level 2 Apprenticeship)

You will gain the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed of a dog groomer to ensure you maintain safe working practices and take responsibility for yourself, others and the animals in your care. Over the course of the qualification you will cover how to:

• Prepare dogs for grooming
• Bath dogs
• Dry dogs for styling
• Trim and prepare dogs for styling
• Move and lift dogs
• Clean the grooming environment
• Understand professional practice
• Identify breed characteristics and behaviour

Functional Skills
If you are an apprentice under 19 years of age you will undertake Functional Skills Level 1 and 2 in English and Maths unless exempt.

Off-The-Job Training Hours
You will undertake a minimum of six hours a week of off-the-job training hours, this is learning that takes place during your normal working hours. These could comprise of working through online course materials, time spent on your portfolio, undertaking relevant webinars etc.

During your apprenticeship you will compile a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and behaviours. Once you have completed your portfolio, Functional Skills and a minimum of 12 months of training, you will be able to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA consists of:

• Observation with questions: An observation with questions involves an independent assessor observing you undertaking work as part of their normal duties in your workplace and asking questions.
• Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:An interview consists of an independent assessor asking you a series of questions to assess your competence. The assessors will conduct and assess the interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
• Knowledge test:A test will consist of a series of multiple choice questions in which you will be asked to provide a response.

Your performance in the EPA will determine the apprenticeship grade of fail, pass or distinction.

This apprenticeship can be started at any time.

There are no formal academic entry requirements. However, you will need to be living and working in England in a suitable dog grooming environment, earning at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices. To complete this apprenticeship within 12-14 months you will need to be working for a minimum of 30 hours per week, if you are working less than 30 hours a week the length of your apprenticeship will be extended depending on your working hours.

If you are not already working in a dog grooming salon, you may wish to look at undertaking the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants programme which is held at our Huntingdon and Leeds centres.

All applicants are 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.

Apprenticeship course fees are payable by the employer. Fees are dependent upon the size of the organisation you are employed in.

Course fees for Growth and Skills (Apprenticeship) Levy Paying Employers
(organisations with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million)

These employers will pay the full apprenticeship amount of £5,000 using their digital account.

Course fees for Non-Levy Paying Employers
(organisations with an annual pay bill of less than £3 million)

These employers will pay 5% (£250 in one payment) towards the cost of the apprenticeship using their digital account.

Please note that fees may be free for those aged 16-21 years, working in a non-levy paying organisation with less than 50 employees.

General Advice
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.

If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, your employer will be able to pay monthly direct debit payments to allow you to continue to receive support and access to your course until certification of your award.

On completion of your apprenticeship, you will have gained the knowledge, skills, behaviours and practical experience needed to excel in a dog grooming role. During this time, your desire to learn and increase your knowledge further may lead you to wondering what you should do next!

If you are looking to study to the next level, you may consider undertaking further dog grooming qualifications. You can also further develop your skills by attending dog grooming workshops, demonstrations and events such as Dog Grooming Congress.

Yes. In order to apply for this apprenticeship, you must have already secured employment in a dog grooming business in England. Unfortunately at the current time we are unable to source this employment for you.

Many of our students gain their apprenticeship job via volunteering in dog grooming salons to get a ‘foot in the door’ should a vacancy then come up. Other ideas include contacting salons close to you to ask if anyone is looking to recruit an apprentice, gaining as much experience working with dogs as you can to build your CV, looking on the Government’s ‘Find an Apprenticeship Vacancy’ website, or signing up to apprenticeship job alerts on our own website.