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Animal Care Level 2

TQ007

Are you looking to pursue a career in working with animals? By completing this Animal Care Level 2, you could start in a field that offers a wide range of opportunities, from zookeeping and professional pet training, right through to wildlife conservation and academic research.

Course duration

Up to 1 year.

Course outcome

You will receive a certificate of achievement in Animal Care Level 2.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.

Assessment

Tutor-marked assignments.

£50 OFF!

Study Options

 
£389.00
or £11.56 /month*
Course code: TQ007

£50 off every course with code PUMPKIN

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Course overview

  • Understand the main needs of an animal.
  • Devise suitable feeding plans.
  • Learn how to set up suitable accommodation.
  • Handle animals in the correct way.
  • Administer basic first aid procedures.
  • Identify signs of ill health.
  • Recognise normal and abnormal behaviours.
  • Discuss the ethical, social and legal debates regarding animals and their care.

Animal carers may inspect welfare conditions, ensure that pets are passed on or sold to loving and caring owners, or keep animals healthy and happy with their own pet walking or grooming businesses.

This course gives you a comprehensive and full understanding of animal care, covering the practical, scientific, legal and ethical aspects of caring for animals.

During this Animal Care Level 2 course, you will explore the importance of quantity and timing of the feeding of animals, signs of ill health, the housing requirements of animals, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and much more.

All course materials will be delivered to you by post or via email, so it couldn’t be easier. Our experienced and friendly tutors will help you every step of the way by email.

It is ideal for:

  • Students who want to develop their animal behaviour knowledge
  • Those aspiring to work or progress their career in the animal industry.

Future career options:

  • Animal technician
  • Equine groom
  • Pest control surveyor
  • Animal attendant
  • Animal keeper
  • Large animal technician
  • Trainee zookeeper
  • Contract animal technician
  • Mammal keeper
  • Primate care staff
  • Animal care assistant
  • Animal rehomer
  • Pet health advisor

Course content

  • Types of feeder
  • Nutritional requirements
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Choosing and preparing food
  • Quantity and timing of feeding

  • Housing requirements
  • Bedding materials
  • Fixtures and fittings
  • Cleaning and maintaining
  • Waste disposal

  • Disease prevention
  • Common diseases of dogs, cats and rabbits
  • Endoparasites and ectoparasites
  • Signs of ill health
  • First aid procedures and remedies

  • Why do we need to handle, restrain and move animals?
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Handling and restraint equipment
  • Reducing stress

  • Normal behaviour
  • Emotions
  • Specific species
  • Abnormal behaviour
  • Stereotypic behaviour
  • Observing behaviour
  • Methods and recording
  • Avoiding/reducing abnormal behaviour
  • Environmental enrichment

  • Welfare needs
  • How can we meet these needs?
  • The Animal Welfare Act 2006
  • Current legislation
  • Animals in production
  • Intensive farming
  • Free-range farming
  • Organic farming
  • Animals in sport
  • Animals as assistance

Awarding body

This course has been endorsed by TQUK, meaning Open Study College have undergone external quality checks to ensure that the organisation and the courses they offer are to a high standard. Regular reviews of our courses are carried out as part of the endorsement process.

The course depth and study has been benchmarked at level three against level descriptors published by Ofqual.

Extra information

The Animal Care Level 2 course is assessed by a series of written assignments, which are submitted to and marked by your tutor. There is no external examination required.

You may start at any time and have a full year to complete your studies. We suggest that the course will take approximately 60 hours to complete. This is more than enough time to give you flexibility and work at your own pace without the pressure of deadlines.

You will study this course by distance learning, which will enable you to learn when and where you want. You can study from home or at work; it is completely up to you. All your materials will be posted or emailed to you online, whichever you choose. You will also receive our tutor support by email, so help is only a click away! You can start the course at any time.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement by Training Qualifications UK (TQUK).

The completion of this course alone does not lead to an Ofqual regulated qualification but may be used as evidence of knowledge and skills towards regulated qualifications in the future. The unit summary can be used as evidence towards your Recognition of Prior Learning if you wish to progress your studies in this sector.

FAQs

According to the National Careers Service, animal care assistants will earn an average of £14,000 per year when starting out.

By working a typical 38-40 hours a week, a more experienced animal care assistant will earn an average of £24,000 a year.

An animal care assistant can work in many different environments, from a wildlife park, kennels, or an animal welfare centre. These are just some of the day-to-day tasks an animal care assistant may need to perform:

  • Make sure animals are exercised regularly.
  • Check animals daily and monitor their health.
  • Update records and deal with questions from colleagues or the public.
  • Prepare food and help out at feeding times.
  • Look after sick or distressed animals.
  • Clean out kennels, enclosures, cages, or stables.
  • Clean and groom animals.

You will, of course, learn more about the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in more depth on this course.

In brief, though, it is the principal law when it comes to animal welfare. Anyone who owns or keeps an animal have a duty of care to their animals and must make sure that they meet their needs. Failure to do so can result in an unlimited fine, a ban on owning animals, or even a six-month prison sentence.

The 2006 Act also sets out offences that relate to both cruelty and animal fighting, with the maximum sentence for these offences is a five-year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

You do not need any previous knowledge to enrol onto this course.

You may start at any time and have a full year to complete your studies. This course is truly flexible and adaptable around your lifestyle.

  • Dedicated personal tutor support
  • Dedicated learner services
  • Assignment marking and feedback
  • FREE CV critique service
  • FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers
  • FREE XO Student Discounts membership
  • * Comprehensive study guide
  • * Open Study College pen and highlighter
  • * Student notebook

* Not included with the online study option

No. We will issue certification based on your coursework alone.

No, everything you need is included in the price!

Once we receive your work, we will mark it and return it to you. On successful completion of the course you will be awarded your Animal Care Level 2 Certificate.

It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Learner Services Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.

That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.