Animal Care Course (VETDSS High School)

We do not hold a formal Open Day, however we often attend careers expos and events organised by schools. Throughout the year we conduct information sessions which are offered by invitation. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions please contact us.

AVT offers high quality study material written, reviewed and delivered by Veterinarians, Animal Scientists and Veterinary Nurses with formal training qualifications. Our in-house training team have spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours creating course resources for our units of competency across all courses.

The difference between registered training providers’ course content across all RTOs including TAFE is often the units contained in the course and the quality of the material. There are many units that can be included in a course and training providers nominate a selection of units they will offer to students.

Our courses are broad-based and give an excellent introduction to working with animals across all species. They provide a fantastic opportunity to learn about many different animals and most importantly allow you to apply what you learn from our online course material or in the classroom to the workplace.

To find out more about the units offered within each course visit the Course Content section on our qualifications pages.

• ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
• ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (Online)
• ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA)
• ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training
• ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

As a high school student, after successfully completing the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (VETDSS) course, you may be wondering where to next for your educational journey in the field of animal care.

High School Grade and Age:
Your next steps in education may be influenced by your current grade in high school and your age. Different levels of courses are typically suited for different age groups and academic stages.

Certificate III and IV Level Courses:
AVT’s Certificate III and IV level courses in animal care and related fields are generally designed for students who have completed high school (year 12). These courses provide a deeper understanding of animal care practices and often involve more advanced topics and practical experiences.

Focus on Academic Excellence:
While in high school, it’s important to do your best academically. Studying hard, engaging actively in your coursework, and striving for good grades will not only enhance your knowledge but also open doors to further educational opportunities.

Completion of Year 12:
Completing year 12 is a significant milestone and a prerequisite for many higher-level educational programs. It demonstrates your commitment to education and provides a foundation for more advanced studies.

Gaining Customer Service Experience:
As you work toward completing your high school education, gaining employment in roles that involve customer service can be valuable. This experience not only helps you develop important interpersonal skills but also provides insights into the practical aspects of working in the animal care industry.

Career Aspirations:
Your future educational path should align with your career goals. Once you’ve completed high school and gained some work experience, your choice of further study will depend on the specific animal care career you wish to pursue. To make an informed decision about your next steps, read our article Top 6 Animal Care Careers. This will help you understand the different career paths available within the animal care industry.

Build Confidence in Animal Handling:
Building a strong sense of confidence when it comes to handling animals is a key aspect for a successful future in animal care. Spend time looking after pets for family, friends or neighbours. This practical experience is incredibly valuable because it exposes you to a variety of animal behaviours, needs and personalities. Working with different species gives you the ability to adapt your approach when taking care of animals, no matter their type. You can also consider volunteering for animal-related organisations. Volunteer work plays a vital role in the animal care industry, especially in the areas of animal welfare, animal rescue and shelters, conservation and rehabilitation across a range of species. This hands-on involvement not only adds to what you know but also introduces you to new and interesting challenges. Regular interactions with animals will help you quickly understand their behaviour and unique personalities. This knowledge will boost your confidence in handling animals effectively.

With these skills and considerations, you will be in a great position to apply for one of AVT’s Certificate III or IV level courses.

To successfully complete our on-campus Animal Care courses, attendance is compulsory for all practical training days and on-campus classroom days.

If you’re unwell, you’ll be asked to contact your Trainer in advance to arrange a time to catch up. Due to the intensive nature of the course, if you’re absent more than two (2) days, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to successfully complete your qualification within the given timeframe.

The application process for our Animal Care on-campus courses are as follows:-

• Step 1 – Apply using our online form found on the course page. If an application period is not open you can register your details and we will contact you when applications are open.
• Step 2 – Your application will be reviewed by one of our AVT Student Liaison Officers. If you are a VETDSS high school student we will speak with your parent/guardian and VET Coordinator.
• Step 3 – Successful applicants will be emailed an offer including payment plan details.
• Step 4 – You will be required to activate your payment plan prior to course commencement

For an overview of all important dates and deadlines including details of the next intake for all AVT courses, visit our timetables and key dates page.

VETDSS stands for Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students and is also referred to as VETDSSS (Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary School Students). This term has replaced the former acronym we have previously used; VETIS (Vocational Education and Training in Schools).

Whilst the name has evolved, this term generally refers to a program enabling high school students to gain nationally recognised qualifications while at school. Students enrolled in such programs learn hands-on skills and knowledge required for specific industries, preparing them to enter the workforce or move onto a higher level course either during or after school.

VETDSS courses also contribute toward students achieving their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE). This is known in each state and territory by a different name:

The VETDSS training day finishes at 3.30pm. All students are to be picked up by 4.00pm. If you are delayed or running late, please phone our student support team.

There are study areas set up in the student common room for those students who wish to do some private study or who are waiting to be picked up.

Our campus is open from 8.00am. There is a student common (recreation) room where the students can gather before class. The Trainer will be onsite from 8.15am. The students will not be supervised during lunch breaks or once classes have finished for the day.

Our Ascot student recreation room has full lunch room and kitchen facilities including fridges and microwaves. Our campus is also conveniently located near several eateries including Grill’d, KFC, Kwik Koffee, IGA Xpress and Boost Juice (all within walking distance).

We are only offering on-campus courses in Perth, Western Australia.

For students outside of WA, we recommend:

• Certificate II in Animal Care (Online)
• Certificate III in Animal Care Services (Online)

Concession fees are only available to eligible students for selected courses which have been granted government funding. Currently, this applies to the following courses offered by AVT:

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing for students that are residing within Western Australia
• Certificate II in Animal Care Intensive (Animal Health and Welfare)
• Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA)

For more information on the eligibility criteria please see the fees section of the course pages above.

None of the courses currently offered by Applied Vocational Training are eligible for Government HECS-HELP or VET Student Loans (formerly VET FEE-HELP).

HECS-HELP is a scheme that assists eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution amount with either a loan or a discount for certain up-front payments. HECS‑HELP loans are available at all public universities and at a handful of private higher education providers.

VET Student Loans is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students studying diploma level and above qualifications to pay their tuition fees. VET Student Loans replaces VET FEE-HELP from 1 January 2017. There are no Government loans available for Certificate IV  and lower levels of study including those offered at AVT.

To find out if you may be eligible for alternative support such as Youth Allowance, we recommend contacting Centrelink .

We offer flexible monthly payment plans with instalments for all students. We do not require upfront full payment for any of our courses. Total course fees and payment plan structure vary with each course and individual circumstances. Visit the relevant qualifications page for more information or contact us for further details.

Yes, our qualifications in Vet Nursing, Horse Care (previously offered) and Animal Studies/Care are nationally recognised and accredited.

Our company, Applied Vocational Training (AVT),  is fully registered by the Australian Government training registration authority ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority).  Our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) number is 5273. The qualifications we offer are nationally recognised Certificates.

We’re also supported and endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association. Our registration authority can be viewed on the training.gov.au website, which is the Australian Government’s website for details of registered courses and training providers – view our details here.

We strongly recommend you search the training.gov.au website for any training organisation you may be considering.

The Animal Care and Management Package, (ACM10), outlines the qualifications and contents of the individual nationally recognised qualifications.  Over the past years, this package has been updated to reflect the needs of the animal care industry and as a result, the course code and name have evolved over this period.

In November 2017, Certificate II in Animal Studies was upgraded from ACM20110 to ACM20117. The content and requirements for this particular certificate did not change and the newer certificate was deemed equivalent to ACM20110.

In April 2021, ACM20117 Certificate II in Animal Studies was superseded by ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care with changes to core and elective units. For more detailed information about this upgrade and course availability see the detailed post Certificate II and Certificate III in Animal Studies Qualifications to be replaced with updated training packages ACM20121 and ACM30122

We follow the national training package for all qualifications. The latest version of the training package can be viewed here. Training.gov.au is the Australian Government Website for registered training courses and providers.

In some cases, registered training organisations (RTOs) may enrol non-resident students who are temporarily visiting or reside in Australia on certain visas, other than study visas. However, some visas include restrictions on training. Most visas and sub-class visas clearly outline what your study rights are in Australia. It is the responsibility of the individual to check their study and work rights according to their individual visa. Further information is also available from the Department of Home Affairs.

Visa information for Jobs & Skills WA Funding

Students wishing to be considered for funded places in the ACM40418 Certificate  IV in Veterinary Nursing should visit this page for more detailed information about eligibility. 

Students wishing to be considered for funded places in the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Health & Welfare) course should visit this page for detailed information about eligibility.

Students wishing to be considered for funding places in the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA) course should visit this page for detailed information about eligibility.

Related FAQ’s:

• Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?
• I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?
• Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?
• I currently live overseas, can I apply for your on-campus full-time course? Will I need an international student visa?
• I wish to study in Australia on a student visa. Can I study with Applied Vocational Training?

In some cases, a registered training organisation (RTO) may enrol students who are temporarily visiting or reside in Australia on certain visas, other than study visas. However, some visas include restrictions on training. Most visas and sub-class visas clearly outline what your study rights are in Australia. It is the responsibility of the individual to check their study and work rights according to their individual visa* . Further information is also available from the Department of Home Affairs.

*Any course undertaken by a student visa holder must be registered on CRICOS and training must be provided by a CRICOS registered provider (The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Applied Vocational Training is not a registered CRICOS provider and as such we are unable to accept applications from individuals wishing to study on a student visa.

Related FAQ’s:

I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?

I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?

Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?

I currently live overseas, can I apply for your on-campus full-time course? Will I need an international student visa?

Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?

Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS

This answer specifically addresses students who wish to study in Australia on a Student Visa.

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist individuals with studying as an international student as we do not hold the required CRICOS registration “The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.

The following link outlines the main steps to be taken to be able to study in Australia homeaffairs.gov.au. This will require applying for a student visa under the Vocational Education and Training Sector. However, you will need to have been accepted into a full-time study course by a CRICOS approved provider and then apply for the student visa. These normally take approximately 46 days to process.

You may find CRICOS registered training institutions in Australia who can offer qualifications to international students. Some TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions hold CRICOS registration and offer courses in Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing.

Related FAQ’s:

Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?

I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?

Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?

I currently live overseas, can I apply for your on-campus full-time course? Will I need an international student visa?

I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?

Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS

This answer specifically addresses international students who wish to study in Australia on a Student Visa.

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist individuals with studying as an international student in Australia as we do not have the necessary registration with our government to enrol students in Australia on a Student Visa. The required registration for this is CRICOS ‘The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students’.

To find out more about studying in Australia we recommend visiting the Australian Government website: homeaffairs.gov.au. This will require applying for a student visa under the Vocational Education and Training Sector. However, you will need to have been accepted into a full-time study course by a CRICOS approved provider and then apply for the student visa. These normally take approximately 46 days to process.

You may find CRICOS registered training institutions in Australia who can offer qualifications to international students. Some TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions hold CRICOS registration and offer courses in Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing

Related FAQ’s:

Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?

Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?

I wish to study in Australia on a student visa. Can I study with Applied Vocational Training?

I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?

I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?

Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS

All qualifications offered by Applied Vocational Training require students to learn and demonstrate knowledge and practical application of a significant amount of Australian local and state legislation, regulations and standards.

In other countries, legislation, regulations and standards are often different, making it difficult for us to assess and recognise competence in all areas.

As such, Applied Vocational Training no longer accepts applications from students living overseas*

Important note for students wishing to return or live in Australia

* Individuals who currently live overseas but are intending to return and or/live in Australia may be considered for enrolment. If such enrolment were to occur it would not be possible for any certification to be awarded until the student could be assessed as competent in Australia, regardless of the amount of course work completed overseas.

Related FAQ’s:

I currently live overseas, can I apply for your on-campus full-time course? Will I need an international student visa?

Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?

I wish to study in Australia on a student visa. Can I study with Applied Vocational Training?

Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?

I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?

To receive a credit for a unit of competency that you have previously been awarded, you must be able to supply a verifiable Testamur (certificate) or Statement of Attainment obtained from the issuing provider.

A Testamur or Statement of Attainment must either contain the wording ‘The qualification is recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework’ or the AQF logo authorised by the AQF Council.

A Record of Results or Statement of Academic Record by itself is not sufficient when applying for a credit transfer of a nationally recognised unit of competency.

If you do not have a copy of your Testamur or Statement of Attainment you are responsible for requesting a copy from the issuing provider, we are unable to do this on your behalf.

For more information about RPL see our frequently asked questions here.

Yes. If you have completed and passed the exact same unit as delivered by AVT, you will receive a credit transfer for the unit.  You must be deemed competent and be awarded a PASS in the unit.

At the time of application, you will be required to provide us with a Statement of Attainment from a recognised and approved training provider. We will verify your previous studies with the training provider.

For information about fees and charges that apply to credit transfers, please see our student policy page.

Credit transfer fees do not apply for students who have completed a previous qualification with AVT.

Yes. You can use units of competency received from a prior qualification even if the unit is different from an elective unit required by AVT.  You can claim a credit transfer (CT) for these units as long as:-

• the unit is current and relevant to work undertaken in the animal care and management industry and
• you hold a Statement of Attainment from the issuing provider.

If this is the case, then you may use previous units of study to fulfil the elective component of the qualification.

You will be required to provide us with a Statement of Attainment from a recognised and approved training provider at the time of application. We will verify your previous studies with the training provider.

For information about fees and charges that apply to credit transfers, please see our student policy page. 

Please note, we are unable to offer RPL or Train and Assess any other elective unit of competency other than the ones provided in the courses offered on our website.

For a full list of our qualifications visit our Qualifications Overview page 

In meeting the required rules of evidence and principals of assessment, AVT is unable to provide recognition of prior learning (RPL) to candidates who can not demonstrate recent and current skills and knowledge.

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that they meet the competency requirements of the current training package including application of current industry techniques using the latest technology, equipment and supplies in accordance with the current standards and regulations.

If you wish to gain certification as a veterinary nurse or animal carer without having current experience, you will need to enrol in and complete the full course.

Read more about RPL here

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available to enrolled students of AVT qualifications.  The prior learning may be in the form of previous studies or completed qualifications (including superseded qualifications), on the job experience or volunteer work.

To find out more detailed information about RPL visit our RPL page.

Students with eligible credit transfers may apply, however, due to the course delivery format, 100% attendance is required for induction and practical training/on-site days and therefore full course fees will apply. Credit transfer fees do not apply for Jobs and Skills WA funded students.