City & Guilds Work-based Animal Care (Levels 2 and 3)

The content you study will depend on the qualification and level you choose. All programmes are designed to develop practical, work-related skills and knowledge that can be applied directly within an animal care environment.

Level 2 Award (3 months duration)
The Level 2 Award is a short, flexible introduction to work-based animal care. You will choose units worth 10 credits based on your role and interests. Available units include:

• Providing food to animals
• Selecting and maintaining appropriate animal accommodation
• Controlling, restraining and moving animals
• Training animals and providing exercise
• Promoting animal health and delivering treatments

Level 2 Diploma (12-14 months duration)
The Level 2 Diploma provides a broader foundation in animal care and is ideal if you are working with animals and want a qualification that reflects your practical skills and knowledge. You will study a variety of units, which may include the following:

• Promote and maintain the health and well-being of animals
• Select and prepare accommodation for animals
• Maintain the cleanliness and bio security of the animal care working environment
• Provide feed and water to animals
• Moving animals between locations
• Provide opportunities for animals to have freedom to exercise
• Welcome, receive and care for visitors to sites

Level 3 Diploma (14-16 months duration)
The Level 3 Diploma is designed for those working in a supervisory or managerial role. The qualification focuses on planning, coordinating and evaluating animal care, as well as developing the skills needed to support and lead others in the workplace. Mandatory content includes:

• Implementing, monitoring and evaluating plans for animal health and welfare
• Planning the handling and restraint of animals
• Planning, supervising and controlling the movement of animals
• Planning diets and feeding regimes
• Monitoring and evaluating animal accommodation
• Establishing animals in a new environment

You will also choose from a range of optional units, allowing you to tailor your qualification to your role and interests. These may include animal behaviour, advising prospective animal keepers, assessing new environments for animals, and managing or motivating volunteers.

• Students undertaking the level 2 award may undertake case studies, observations, and written and oral questions depending on the units chosen
• Those doing the level 2 and 3 diploma will complete a portfolio and undertake work-based practical assessments.

Our online learning courses can be started at any time. You will work through online course materials and be supported by a personal tutor.

There are no formal academic requirements, however, there are some employment/work experience requirements detailed below. Please note that there must be someone in your workplace who has either a level 2 or above animal care qualification or two years’ experience in the animal industry who is happy to be your mentor throughout the programme.

City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Work-based Animal Care
You will need to be working or volunteering in a suitable animal care environment (such as a boarding kennel or rescue centre) for at least one day a week (or 12 days across the programme).

City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Work-based Animal Care
You will need to be working or volunteering in a suitable animal care environment (such as a cattery, animal charity or zoon) for at least 20 hours per week.

For the level 3 course you should have also achieved a level 2 animal care qualification or have previous animal care experience.

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

• City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Work-based Animal Care - £550 plus £136.10 awarding body fees
• City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Animal Care - £2,395 plus £136.10 awarding body fees
• City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Animal Care - £6,395 plus £134.30 awarding body fees

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

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 £550 for the Level 2 Award over 12 months would equate to monthly repayments of approximately £48 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.

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.

A qualification in animal care will develop your skills, build your confidence and progress your career in a range of animal-related roles.

Depending on the qualification you choose, your experience and your career ambitions, you could progress into roles such as an animal care assistant, animal keeper, kennel or cattery assistant, animal welfare assistant or other animal care positions. You may also be able to progress into more senior or supervisory roles as you develop your experience and complete further training.

These qualifications can also provide a foundation for further study. After completing a Level 2 qualification for example, you may wish to progress to a Level 3 qualification to develop your knowledge and take on greater responsibility within the workplace.

Your future career opportunities will depend on your experience, the qualification you complete and the type of animal care environment in which you work. However, these qualifications can provide a valuable step towards developing a rewarding career working with animals.

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.

If you would like to chat to one of our team before you apply, you can request a call back here, or contact us by phone or email. However, once you have applied, you will have a pre course discussion with one of our tutors to discuss which course best suits you.

No, you don’t need to be in paid employment, but you will need to be working with animals in some way – this can be via regular volunteering/work experience.