Programme overview
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 their health, hygiene, behaviour, and handling. You’ll develop the practical 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.
Highlights
- Prepare to work in a range of companion animal workplaces. Develop a comprehensive understanding of animal husbandry, essential communication skills, and professional capabilities.
- 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.
- Get qualified for higher-level study. This programme provides a pathway for further study in a range of animal-related programmes at Unitec like zookeeping, vet nursing, animal behaviour & welfare, and conservation-based programmes.
Study options
We offer four flexible study options for this programme, designed to fit around your lifestyle whether you are working, have family commitments, or are based in Northland.
- February Intake (Part-time study at Mt Albert, evening classes)
- Ideal if you are working and wanting to study during evening hours
- One-Two evening classes per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Sem 1, Wednesdays in Sem 2, 3 hours each)
- Duration: February – November
- June Intake (Full-time study mostly online with on-campus block courses at Mt Albert)
- Ideal for students living outside Auckland and wanting to progress into higher-level qualification in animal study
- Online delivery over 19 weeks (June – November)
- Includes two compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus for practical skills
- September Intake 1(Full-time study at Mt Albert, daytime classes)
- On-campus classes at Unitec Mt Albert
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
- September Intake 2 (Full-time study online, with block courses at Whangārei)
- Online learning with two compulsory block courses at NorthTec, Whangārei campus
Blended learning
We call this ‘Blended learning’ as it is a mixture of online, self-directed learning, supported by your lecturers, with two 5-day face-to-face sessions (block courses) that includes practical experience. This will either be at our Mt Albert campus, or at Northtec in Whangarei, depending on which option you have chosen. To study from a distance, you must be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. To be successful in this type of programme you must attend all block courses, tests, practical assessments, and work experience, and complete your self-directed study (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. If you learn better with routine, and the ongoing support of our teaching team, the onsite study option might be best for you. We have two to choose from – our February and September 1 intakes – see above
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 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal)
- 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.
Under certain circumstances, graduates from this programme may also be accepted into the Bachelor of Applied Science
Study Option In Detail
| Study Option | Location | Orientation | Start Date | Block Course 1 | Block Course 2 | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb Intake (Part-time) |
Mt Albert (On Campus) |
24 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | N/A | N/A | 23 Nov 2025 |
| Jun Intake (Full-time) | Online + Block Courses |
16 Jun 2025 (Online) |
23 Jun 2025 |
7–11 Jul (Mt Albert Campus) |
29 Sept – 3 Oct (Mt Albert Campus) |
23 Nov 2025 |
| Sep Intake (Mt Albert) |
Mt Albert (On Campus) |
1 Sep 2025 (Online) |
1 Sep 2025 |
7–11 Jul (Mt Albert Campus)* |
29 Sept – 3 Oct (Mt Albert Campus)* |
1 Feb 2026 |
| Sep Intake (Whangārei) |
NorthTec (Online + Block) |
1 Sep 2025 (Online) |
8 Sep 2025 |
22–25 Sep (Whangārei Campus) |
1 – 4 Dec (Whangārei Campus) |
1 Feb 2026 |
Te Puna Kararehe
Home to creatures of all shapes and sizes – furry, hairy and scaly – the Animal Behaviour and Husbandry Centre provides a safe and secure place to learn about the care, health and husbandry of a wide range of companion animal species.
One day, you might learn about enriching ways to feed a rabbit or what's involved with a guinea pig's routine health check. You may also use the facility to undertake behaviour-based research projects like food preference testing with a blue-tongue skink.
Then there's the added benefit of being able to interact with amazing animals on your lunchbreak, and make it as positive for the animals as it is for you.
Admission requirements
What you will need to study this programme.
Domestic students
Open Entry - There are no academic requirements for this programme.
And meet one of the English entry requirements;
All applicants for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language need to provide evidence that they have the necessary English language proficiency required for the programme. International applicants are required to have an IELTS score of 5 (general or academic) with no individual band lower than 5 from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules.
Additional requirements
Non-academic requirements
Fill in the following forms:
- Health and tetanus declaration
- Provide a copy of your current criminal conviction history
Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
- We have a range of Foundation and Bridging Education programmes to help you prepare for further academic study.
For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 280 KB)
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses including timetables, please click on the course names below.
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| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Professional Skills when Working with Companion Animals(ANML3101TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to assist in animal care in an ethical, legal and professional manner |
| Behaviour, Handling and Transportation for Companion Animals(ANML3102TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to identify companion animals and appropriate handling techniques. |
| Introduction to form, function and preventative health for companion animals(ANML3103TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to companion animal anatomy and physiology to support animal health practices and disease prevention. |
| Introduction to Husbandry for Companion Animals(ANML3104TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | Develop knowledge, skills and competencies relative to husbandry of companion animals. |
| Work Experience with Companion Animals(ANML3105TP) | 10.0 credits (0.083 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to assist in a companion animal care facility. |
