A nationally recognised qualification on the National Register of vocational education and training. This page answers the questions that actually decide whether it is worth your time and money: is the work there, what happens to people who finish, who pays, and who you could study it with. Every figure carries its source and date.
Often searched as Cert 2 in Animal Care. It prepares people for work as animal attendants and trainers nec.
This is the current version of the qualification on the national register. It replaced ACM20117, whose currency ended on 11 April 2021.
Several independent signals line up behind this qualification. Specifically: its main occupation is rated in national shortage, employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035 and national enrolments are rising. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
Three official signals crossed: live job advertisements, the national training pipeline, and government employment projections.
Employer demand for these roles is holding steady. Across Animal Attendants And Trainers Nec, about 105 jobs were advertised online in May 2026 (up 1.2% on a year earlier). Roughly 1,414 openings were advertised over the last 12 months, while 12,070 people enrolled in the qualification nationally in 2024. Enrolment counts people in training, not completions, so the two figures describe the pipeline and the market, not a job guarantee.
Enrolments in this qualification are growing. National enrolments rose from 10,885 in 2023, to 12,070 in 2024 (up 10.9%).
Employment in these occupations is projected to grow. Government projections put them at 26,000 workers in May 2025, 27,300 by May 2030 (up 5.1%) and 28,900 by May 2035 (up 11%).
Outcomes for this specific qualification, each anchored against what is typical at the same qualification level nationally.
Outcomes for this qualification are mixed against others at Certificate II level. In the latest national outcomes survey (2025), 80.2% were employed or in further study after training, against a Certificate II median of 77.6% across 63 qualifications. Median income after training was $33,000, compared with $41,400 typical at this level. 91.8% were satisfied with the training, against 91.4% typical.
The three wallets: a subsidised seat, paying full fee, and the time commitment that decides whether you can keep working.
Subsidy programs change and have eligibility rules. The official listing linked above is the source of truth; no dollar amounts are shown here because they vary by person and provider.
Fees for unsubsidised places are set by each training provider and vary widely. Provider pricing, intakes and payment options live on the individual course pages linked below, never on this page.
The crossing no single dataset can give you: official shortage status, subsidy availability and training demand, read together.
Several independent signals line up behind this qualification. Specifically: its main occupation is rated in national shortage, employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035 and national enrolments are rising. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
At least one occupation this qualification leads to is officially rated as in national shortage. In the 2025 Occupation Shortage List assessment, Horse Trainer is rated in national shortage; Dog Handler or Trainer, Pet Groomer, Zookeeper, Kennel Hand, Track Rider and Animal Attendants and Trainers nec are rated not in shortage.
Approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. Start with who is approved, then compare actual courses.
The five questions people actually ring up and ask, answered only where official data backs the answer.