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 health, hygiene, behaviour, and handling. You’ll develop the applied 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.
- Get qualified for higher-level study. This programme provides a pathway for further study in a range of animal-related programmes at Unitec.
- 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.
Study options
- February Intake (Part-time evening classes)
- Ideal if you are working and wanting to study during evening hours
- Two evening classes per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3 hours each)
- Duration: February – November
- June Intake (Full-time study with online + block courses)
- Ideal for students living outside Auckland and wanting to progress into higher-level qualification in animal study
- Online delivery over 19 weeks (June – November) and required to attend two compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus learning your practical skills.
- Anyone from across New Zealand can apply for this study option
- September Intake (Available at Mt Albert and Whangārei)
- Study Full-time at Unitec Mt Albert campus from Mondays and Tuesdays between10am to 2.30pm; Or
- Study online learning with two compulsory block courses at the NorthTec, Whangārei campus
Blended learning
This study option is full-time (off-campus and online), and you'll be required to attend two compulsory 5-day block courses at our Mt Albert and NorthTec – Whangarei campus. To study from a distance, you must be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. You must attend all block courses, exams, practical assessments, and work experience and complete your self-directed study (research, 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.
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.
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
To enter this programme, you’ll need to have the following:
Open Entry - There are no academic requirements for this programme.
Additional requirements
All application needs to meet or submit the following;
- Health and tetanus declaration
- Provide a copy of your current criminal conviction history
English language 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.
Don’t meet these requirements?
- We have a range of Foundation and Bridging Education programmes to help you prepare for further academic study.
Simply apply online, and we’ll be in touch about your next steps.
For more information, download the programme regulations
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. |
