Online Course · Animal Care

Turn Your Passion for Animals Into Animal Care Work

If you already care for animals at home, this makes it work. You learn feeding, hygiene, first aid, and care for dogs and cats. Placement hours in a shelter or clinic put it into practice.

From $65.38per week, zero interest plan
No examsquizzes, portfolios and videos
120 hoursof work placement
12 or 18 monthsfinish at your pace
Anytimestart date, fully online
At a Glance

Course Snapshot

Study AreaAnimal Care
RecognitionACM20121, nationally recognised
DeliveryFully online, start anytime
Pace12 months or 18 months
Placement120 hours, two blocks
AssessmentNo exams, ever
PaymentsFrom $65.38 per week
Comes with
  • Nationally recognised training
  • Two species minimum on placement
  • Whole units on dogs and cats
  • Placement arranged for you
Who It’s For

Why Do This Course

A First Job Around Animals

Shelters, clinics and kennels need hands that know the routine.

Already Volunteering?

Weekend hours at the shelter turn into skills a boss can use.

Study Around Your Week

No set timetable. Log in at night or on days off.

Where The Skills Fit

Where These Skills Could Take You

Shelters, vet clinics and grooming rooms all run on care staff. The day is feeding, cleaning, handling and watching for signs of illness.

Animal Care Attendant

Feeding, cleaning and daily welfare checks.

Assistant Animal Groomer

Bathing, brushing and grooming room support.

Veterinary Assistant

Handling and holding animals for the clinic team.

Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every role is different, and some need more study or experience.

The Course

What You'll Learn

01
Care Basics
The daily routine in any animal facility.
Work in the animal care industry
Apply communication skills
Participate in workplace health and safety processes
Complete animal care hygiene routines
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
02
Hands On With Animals
Feeding, health and first aid.
Feed and water animals
Assist in health care of animals
Provide general care of domestic dogs
Provide general care of domestic cats
Provide basic animal first aid
03
Front Desk And Advice
The people side of the job.
Provide reception services for an animal care facility
Source and provide information for animal care needs
04
Work Placement
Two blocks at an approved host site.
Work Placement Block 1: after assessments in Modules 1 to 6, with at least two species
Work Placement Block 2: minimum 60 hours, after assessments from Module 8 to 13
Feeding and watering, cleaning housing, assisting with treatments, bathing and grooming
Included

What You’ll Get

In the Course

  • Handling, dogs, cats and other species
  • Health, first aid and treatment support
  • Hygiene, cleaning and housing routines
  • Front desk, reception and advice

As a Student

  • Self paced, 12 or 18 month options
  • No exams, portfolios and quizzes
  • Placement, 120 hours, two blocks
  • Support, trainer and assessor on hand
Why This One

What Makes It Different

Three things that set this one apart.

01
Placement Sorted For You

Arranged with SkilTrak, at a host site close to home.

02
Two Blocks, Not One Long Stint

Block one comes after the early modules, block two later.

03
Dogs And Cats In Detail

Whole units on general care for domestic dogs and cats.

The Credentials

What You'll Earn

Nationally Recognised

Certificate II in Animal Care

ACM20121 · Nationally recognised training

A Recognised Certificate

ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care is nationally recognised training.

Delivered By A Registered College

Open Colleges Pty Ltd holds RTO 90796, registered through to 2033.

Hours On A Real Site

120 placement hours in an approved host organisation back the paper up.

Getting Started

How It Works

Step one

Tell Us Your Aim

Shelter, clinic, grooming or your own pets.

Step two

Ask The Questions

An advisor walks you through placement and pace.

Step three

Sort Payments

Upfront, weekly plan, or pay in four.

Step four

Start Learning

Enrol and work through the first modules.

The Investment

How to Get Started

From $65.38 / week
Pay upfront, or spread it weekly on a zero interest plan.
Zero interest weekly plan
Set-up fee applies on the plan
Credit check for the plan
Pay in four is available
Enquire Now
Good to Know

Common Questions

Do I need experience with animals?

None. It starts with the basics of the job.

What does it cost each week?

From $65.38 a week on a zero interest plan. A credit check applies.

How long will it take me?

Twelve months or eighteen months, depending on the pace you pick.

Do I have to do work placement?

Yes. A minimum of 120 hours, split into two blocks.

Where do I do placement?

At an approved host site, arranged with SkilTrak. Block one needs at least two species.

I am under 18. Can I enrol?

Yes, with permission from a parent or guardian first.

Is this course accredited?

Yes. It is ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care, nationally recognised training. Open Colleges Pty Ltd is RTO 90796, current on the national register until 2033.

What if I fall behind?

There are no set dates or semesters. Pick the pace that fits.

Delivered By

About the College

Open Colleges is an Australian training provider that teaches online. Trainers come from the industry they teach.

Work placement is arranged with its partner SkilTrak, close to home.

Australian providerPlacement partner SkilTrakNamed trainersFully online study
Around Animals

Enquire Today

Picture your first shift: kennels clean, bowls filled, tails going.

Enquire Now