ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Online)

This flexible course is designed to fit around your life, with no classes to attend and online study available Australia-wide. As part of your course, you will complete:

• Online coursework through our interactive learning platform
• A work placement to gain hands-on experience

As a student, you will:

• Have up to one year to complete your course, with some students finishing sooner depending on study pace and workplace training progress. 
• Study around 10–15 hours per week on average.
• Learn from experienced Trainers and Assessors who bring real industry experience from veterinary hospitals, animal welfare organisations and other animal related workplaces. 
• Access guidance and help from our student support team throughout your course. 

A work placement is required to successfully finish this course. Here’s what you need to know:

• You can start the course before securing your placement
• Complete a minimum of 100 hours of workplace-based training to build practical skills
• You are responsible for finding and securing your own placement, giving you the flexibility to choose a workplace that suits your location availability and interests
• Your placement must provide access to at least two different animal species and animals at different life stages
• If you are already working or volunteering in an animal care setting, you may be able to use your current workplace
• All workplaces must be submitted for review and approval before you begin logging hours

Suitable placements include: kennels, catteries, doggy day care centres, animal welfare shelters, pet shops (with access to animals), wildlife rehabilitation centres, zoos, and veterinary practices.

For more information, see our Work Placement FAQs below or visit our Practical Work Placements in Animal Care page.

Prefer a structured option? Consider one of our Face-to-Face or On-Campus options (For WA students).

The ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care is an ideal starting point if you have very little or no prior knowledge or experience in the animal care industry. There are no prerequisites for entry into this course, making it a great pre-vocational course.

Students must:

• Provide their unique student identifier (USI)
• Complete a language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills (LLND) quiz
• Have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer or laptop. You will be required to write, submit and in some cases upload assessments and various types of multi-media files
• Be proficient in speaking and writing in English
• Be physically capable of restraining animals, handling animal feed e.g. large bags of food of up to 10kg and standing for extended periods of time
• Be at least Year 10 high school age
• Find a suitable workplace that provides access to at least two different animal species and animals at different life stages
• Find a suitable work placement for your practical training where your supervisor can also read and write English

The following information outlines what you can expect during the course, including the essential, environmental and psychosocial requirements. If you have any questions or concerns about these expectations, please contact our Student Support team.

Essential requirements
Throughout this course, you will need to:

• Collaborate in a workplace setting using both verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Effectively communicate with your Trainers and Assessors via email, phone and online learning platforms and respond promptly.
• Follow written and verbal instructions accurately, both within online coursework and from supervisors during your work placement.
• Demonstrate digital literacy skills to navigate the online learning portal, access resources and upload assessment evidence.
• Complete workplace documentation using industry-specific language relevant to your workplace.
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as required by your workplace, including enclosed shoes, gloves and sun protection.
• Secure and participate in a suitable work placement in an animal care facility, handling and caring for various species. This environment, by its nature, will expose you to potential allergens.
• Adhere to hygiene protocols to ensure animal health, which may involve contact with animal waste such as uneaten food, urine, faeces, soiled bedding and enrichment items.

Environmental requirements
In this course, you will:

• Manage your own learning schedule and progress through online theory content, requiring self-motivation and effective time management.
• Adapt to the operational environment of your host facility, which may require working outdoors and being exposed to various weather conditions.
• Function in a busy workplace environment which may include noise (such as barking), strong odours, and physical activity.
• Interact with workplace staff and the general public, maintaining professional conduct at all times.
• Be physically capable of the manual handling requirements of your workplace, including lifting equipment, bending and standing or walking for extended periods.

Psychosocial requirements
Given the nature of work in the animal care and welfare environments, and the delivery of training within a third-party workplace, you will need to:

• Manage exposure to diverse animal behaviours, including animals that may be excited, stressed, fearful, unwell or difficult to handle.
• Cope with the realities of animal care in your chosen workplace; this may include managing animal hygiene and grooming needs, witnessing illness or injury.
• Maintain appropriate emotional regulation and professional behaviour in busy and sometimes unpredictable environments.
• Maintain an inclusive and supportive attitude by interacting respectfully with workplace colleagues and clients of all backgrounds and identities.
• Receive and respond to feedback from your workplace supervisor and your online Assessor in a constructive manner.
• Manage the demands of study by balancing online coursework, practical placement hours, and assessment deadlines alongside your personal or employment commitments.

Assessment types
You will be assessed on your skills and knowledge in various ways, including:

• Written answers, online quizzes and knowledge tests.
• Practical assignments, tasks and logbooks completed during your work placement.
• Video evidence of practical tasks submitted for review.
• Oral testing via phone call and online video assessments.
• Third-party reports and feedback provided by your workplace supervisor.

When you visit your Work Placement you will be required to wear:

• An AVT shirt and name badge (included in course fees),
• Suitable enclosed shoes (supplied by student),
• Neatly presented, long comfortable work pants suitable for bending and manual work (supplied by student).

You will be required to wear the AVT uniform unless specified by your approved workplace. 

International students, please note that we are not registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Please visit the CRICOS website to view education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas. We are unable to offer this course to students currently living overseas or those on a student visa. For more information visit our frequently asked questions below:

• I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?
• I wish to study in Australia on a student visa. Can I study with Applied Vocational Training?