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Work-Based Animal Care - Level 3
Start Date: 1st September 2025
Other start dates:
2nd September 2024
- Length 1 Year
- Study Full-Time
- Location Kidderminster College
More about the course
This practical, work-based course reflects the skills and knowledge needed to become an Animal Care professional.
The practical part of this course will be carried out at WILD Zoological Park where you will get the chance to work alongside an array of exotic animals such as ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, wallabies, emus, lorikeets, kookaburras, marmosets, skunk, a large collection of reptiles such as snakes and lizards, as well as a 45-strong collection of birds - including eagles - which take part in daily free-flying bird shows.
Entry requirements:
- 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths
What will I achieve?
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Level 3 Work-Based Animal Care Diploma.
What will I learn?
- Implement, monitor and evaluate plans for the health and welfare of animals
- Plan the diets and feeding regimes for animals
- Animal training programme
- Recognise and interpret the behaviour of animals
- Handling, restraint, and movement of animals
- Some of the tasks you'll carry out at WILD Zoological Park include:
- Cleaning, feeding and providing water to the collection of animals at the zoo
- Interacting with members of the public during animal encounter shows
- Accommodation maintenance
How is the course taught?
You will be taught on the main campus for theory, with animals being brought to the classrooms to gain further experience.
You will also attend weekly practical sessions at WILD Zoological Park.
How am I assessed?
- Portfolio
- Assignments
- Group work
- Practical work
Work experience opportunities:
Weekly trips to WILD Zoological Park with additional practicals at other provisions to gain experience with other animal species.
Trips are also planned to enhance learning and experience.
English and Maths:
Maths will be included in weighing out food, completing jobs in industry timing, and also learning the timings of animal handling shows.
English will be included in learning new terminology and putting it into practise, as well as developing communication and listening skills by working as a team and following instructions.
Where can I progress?
Upon successful completion of this course, you could progress onto our Level 4 Certificate in Higher Education in Animal Management
Alternatively, you can go straight into employment.
Get in Touch
Meet our tutors and students
Tom Grosvenor
Tutor - Work-Based Animal CareFrom my experience in the industry working with Cheetahs, Lorikeets, Tigers, Reindeer and Llamas to Chinchillas, it is essential students get the opportunity to gain invaluable experience working hands-on with animals and gaining knowledge in the classroom. The courses I run are a great mix of exciting and informative theory sessions and work-related practical experience working with various animals, including Emus, Wallabies, Alpacas, Pigs, Lemurs, Horses, Macaws, Cows and many more!
Animal Care
Gallery
What can I do with a qualification in Work-Based Animal Care?
Daily tasks:
- Maintains records, raises and forwards reports and certificates in compliance with current legislation.
- Carries out expert witness work and undertakes teaching of veterinary students.
- Performs ante-mortem inspection of animals destined for the food chain, and animal post-mortem examinations.
- Performs tasks relating to food safety policy, regulation of veterinary drugs, quality control of veterinary products.
- Euthanases old, sick, terminally ill and unwanted animals.
- Investigates outbreaks of animal diseases and advises owners on feeding, breeding and general care.
- Administers local or general anaesthetics and performs surgery.
- Inoculates animals against communicable diseases.
- Examines animals, diagnoses condition and prescribes and administers appropriate drugs, dressings, etc., and arranges or undertakes any necessary x-ray or other tests.
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Daily tasks:
- Advises clients on preventative medicine to maintain appropriate animal health and welfare.
- Maintains the biosecurity of the veterinary premises.
- Cares for animals in hospital accommodation and keeps accurate records.
- Collects and analyses blood, urine and other samples.
- Handles animals during treatment.
- Dispenses and administers medication and applies dressings to animals under direction from the veterinarian.
- Prepares operating theatre, sterilises equipment and assists in theatre as required.
- Assists the veterinary surgeon during surgical and medical treatments of animals.
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Daily tasks:
- Patrols public areas to search for and capture stray or nuisance dogs, and transports captured animals to kennels.
- Meets prospective owners and advises on animal selection and animal care.
- Checks animals for illness, treats minor ailments or calls for vet if further treatment is required.
- Houses, feeds, exercises, trains, grooms horses, dogs and other animals in preparation for entry to shows, races and other events.
- Cleans animals.
- Feeds, washes, grooms, trims and exercises animals.
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Daily tasks:
- Carries out maintenance on farm buildings, hedges, ditches and erects and repairs fences.
- Moves and handles livestock and tends them during birth and rearing of young.
- Treats minor ailments and assists veterinary surgeon as required.
- Cleans barns, sheds, pens, yards, incubators and breeding units and sterilises milking and other equipment as necessary.
- Weighs and measures foodstuffs, feeds animals and checks them for any signs of disease.
- Cultivates growing crops by hoeing, spraying and thinning as necessary.
- Operates farm machinery to prepare soil, fertilise and treat crops.
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What can I do with a qualification in Work-Based Animal Care?
Veterinarians
Daily tasks:
- Maintains records, raises and forwards reports and certificates in compliance with current legislation.
- Carries out expert witness work and undertakes teaching of veterinary students.
- Performs ante-mortem inspection of animals destined for the food chain, and animal post-mortem examinations.
- Performs tasks relating to food safety policy, regulation of veterinary drugs, quality control of veterinary products.
- Euthanases old, sick, terminally ill and unwanted animals.
- Investigates outbreaks of animal diseases and advises owners on feeding, breeding and general care.
- Administers local or general anaesthetics and performs surgery.
- Inoculates animals against communicable diseases.
- Examines animals, diagnoses condition and prescribes and administers appropriate drugs, dressings, etc., and arranges or undertakes any necessary x-ray or other tests.
Powered by EMSI
Veterinary Nurses
Daily tasks:
- Advises clients on preventative medicine to maintain appropriate animal health and welfare.
- Maintains the biosecurity of the veterinary premises.
- Cares for animals in hospital accommodation and keeps accurate records.
- Collects and analyses blood, urine and other samples.
- Handles animals during treatment.
- Dispenses and administers medication and applies dressings to animals under direction from the veterinarian.
- Prepares operating theatre, sterilises equipment and assists in theatre as required.
- Assists the veterinary surgeon during surgical and medical treatments of animals.
Powered by EMSI
Animal Care Services Occupations
Daily tasks:
- Patrols public areas to search for and capture stray or nuisance dogs, and transports captured animals to kennels.
- Meets prospective owners and advises on animal selection and animal care.
- Checks animals for illness, treats minor ailments or calls for vet if further treatment is required.
- Houses, feeds, exercises, trains, grooms horses, dogs and other animals in preparation for entry to shows, races and other events.
- Cleans animals.
- Feeds, washes, grooms, trims and exercises animals.
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Farm Workers
Daily tasks:
- Carries out maintenance on farm buildings, hedges, ditches and erects and repairs fences.
- Moves and handles livestock and tends them during birth and rearing of young.
- Treats minor ailments and assists veterinary surgeon as required.
- Cleans barns, sheds, pens, yards, incubators and breeding units and sterilises milking and other equipment as necessary.
- Weighs and measures foodstuffs, feeds animals and checks them for any signs of disease.
- Cultivates growing crops by hoeing, spraying and thinning as necessary.
- Operates farm machinery to prepare soil, fertilise and treat crops.
Powered by EMSI
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