ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA)

The Animal Services team at RSPCA WA has five main departments: Shelter, Veterinary, Foster & Volunteer, Behaviour and Adoptions and has three key objectives. Their aim is to:

• Provide shelter and enrichment to lost, abandoned, surrendered or seized animals
• Rehabilitate animals that require medical or behavioural treatment before being suitable for rehoming
• Find suitable, permanent homes for all rehabilitated animals

More than 70% of animals end up at the RSPCA in WA due to an intervention from the RSPCA inspectorate (inspector services), with most of them having some form of welfare concern. The remaining animals are surrendered by either their owners or council pounds or are found as strays.

The RSPCA faces a unique challenge that is not experienced by other animal shelters. They have the added responsibility of seizing animals and prosecuting owners who do not provide the appropriate care and living conditions for their animals. This also means the RSPCA cannot rehome any such seized animals whilst legal proceedings are occurring against accused owners. As a result, the RSPCA often has considerably fewer animals available for adoption at any one time compared with other shelters, but, on the other hand, it has many long-term animals in its care. Unfortunately, many of these animals have significant medical and behavioural concerns.

Once animals can be offered for adoption, they are all provided with a veterinary health check and behavioural assessment, as well as being microchipped, desexed and vaccinated. Many animals also require behaviour modification plans, and some may even require surgical or medical procedures to correct long-term problems.

The RSPCA shelter is run entirely by donations, with only a small amount of government funding to cover a portion of the services provided by the inspectorate division. The team at the RSPCA are 100% dedicated to placing as many animals as possible into new homes and trying to improve the lives of every animal that comes into their care.

The RSPCA facilities are based at 108 Malaga Drive, Malaga. To learn more about the RSPCA, please visit RSPCA WA.

Both study modes provide graduates with the qualification, “ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care”.  However, there are differences between the Online and RSPCA program options:-

Training

• RSPCA WA: Involves structured, on-site practical training at the RSPCA WA facility combined with on-campus learning at AVT.

• Online: Study your course theory online and complete your hands-on training at a student-organised, AVT-approved animal care workplace.

Units of Study

All students complete 17 units of competency. While most units are the same, there are a few differences:

• RSPCA WA students complete:
  • BSBXTW301 Work in a team
  • ACMSPE322 Provide general care of rodents or rabbits
• Online students complete:
  • ACMGEN310 Provide reception services for an animal care facility
  • BSBOPS304 Deliver and monitor a service to customers

The RSPCA Program is delivered two days a week. You will attend a theory and practical day at AVT, as well as a practical day at the RSPCA, where you will have the opportunity to work closely with fellow students, our qualified teaching team, and the RSPCA behavioural team.

• Your theory classes will be a maximum of 30 students
• Your practical classes will be a maximum of 10 students

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

We are only offering on-campus / on-site 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)

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

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.

A USI is your individual education number for life. It also gives you an online record of your vocational education and training (VET) undertaken in Australia.

To complete nationally recognised training, you need a USI. Without one, you can’t get your qualification or statement of attainment.

How do I get a USI?
Getting a USI is quick, easy and free. Follow the steps on the USI website.

What is the LLN?

An LLN quiz assesses your Language, Literacy, and Numeracy skills to understand your abilities and ensure you have the correct support for your studies.

All AVT qualifications have been evaluated against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) to determine the level of core skills required for successful participation in each course. Rather than simply evaluating general study readiness, the LLN ensures that you have the specific skills needed to meet the demands of your chosen course.   

Why do we ask all students to complete the LLN?

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), AVT is required by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to assess and provide evidence of a student’s language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills prior to confirming their enrolment. For this reason, we have incorporated the LLN quiz as a compulsory step in our enrolment process.

Can I be exempt from the LLN if I have completed other qualifications?

Unfortunately, due to regulatory requirements, we must assess your language, literacy, and numeracy skills using the ACSF (Australian Core Skills Framework). This means all students are required to complete the current AVT LLN quiz, regardless of prior qualifications.

How is the quiz conducted?

All applicants will be emailed a request to complete a quiz, which is conducted online and completed from home. We recommend carefully reading and answering each question rather than rushing through the quiz.

How soon after enrolling will I receive my LLN quiz?

You’ll receive the link to complete your LLN quiz within 1–2 working days after we receive your application. Keep an eye on your email for the link—once it arrives, you can complete it online at a time that suits you.

What is an example LLN question?

This is an example Certificate II level LLN question:

Read the following text message and answer the questions:

“Hi Jenny, I’m at Tony’s Farm now but I’ll see you at the front gates of Landsdale Farm at 3pm for the hay delivery. From Sharon”

• Who is the message from?
• Where are they going to meet?
• What time are you going to meet?

How is the quiz evaluated?

An independent organisation evaluates this quiz to determine if your current core skills meet the required level for the course. If you are a successful applicant and minor skill gaps are identified, you will be provided with the necessary support to develop the required skill level throughout the course. 

You may not be suitable for a course if a significant core skill gap is identified. In such instances, you may be referred to an alternative study pathway or external support services to develop these core skills. 

How long does it take to process my LLN quiz results?

Once you’ve completed your LLN (Language, Literacy and Numeracy) quiz, our team will review your results. You won’t receive individual results, but we will only contact you if there’s a significant gap or if we believe you may benefit from additional support.

• Online courses: As long as you’ve met the entry requirements and completed the LLN quiz, you’ll be able to start your course within 2–3 working days. This timeframe allows us to finalise your enrolment and set up your course access.
• On-campus/blended courses: The process may take a little longer. We assess applications as part of a group intake to ensure everyone receives careful and fair consideration, and you may be asked to attend an interview or provide additional information to support your application.

No, you do not need to hold a previous qualification or have experience to apply for ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services.

However, if you have not worked with animals or have limited experience, we highly recommend starting with a Certificate II level course to build a strong foundation.

For more detailed information about entry requirements for these courses, please visit the “Entry Requirements” section under Course Outline.

The minimum age requirement for the Certificate II in Animal Care is based on academic school year.  For the Certificate II in Animal Care, this is Year 10 High School or equivalent. Some exceptions may be possible. Please note the minimum age for our Intensive Courses is 18 years of age due to the policies of our work placement facilities.

The minimum age requirement for the Certificate III in Animal Care Services is based on academic school year. For the Certificate III in Animal Studies, this is Year 11 High School or equivalent. Some exceptions may be possible. Please note the minimum age for the RSPCA Program is 18 years of age due to RSPCA policy.

Understanding your fees at AVT can seem tricky at first — especially when you hear terms like full fee, funded non-concession, and funded concession. Let’s break it down for you:

What are Government Funded Fees?

Government funding helps reduce the cost of your course through programs like Jobs and Skills WA (if you’re eligible).

If you meet the funding eligibility criteria, your course fee will be ‘subsidised‘ or ‘funded’ — meaning the government pays part of the course cost on your behalf.

There are two types of government subsidised fees:

• Funded Non-Concession Fee – a reduced fee if you are eligible for funding but do not have concession status.
• Funded Concession Fee – an even lower fee for those eligible for funding and who meet concession requirements.

What is a Concession Fee?

For the purposes of understanding AVT fees, a concession fee is a further discount on the government funded fee.

To access the additional concession fee, you must hold a valid concession card or be in receipt of services from a Commonwealth support or employment services program at the time of enrolment. A valid concession card is current (not expired) and issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Accepted concession cards include persons and dependants of persons holding a:

• Pensioner Concession Card
• Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; or 
• Health Care Card

Commonwealth support and employment service programs accepted include:

• Persons in receipt of services from Workforce Australia; or ParentsNext
• Secondary school-aged persons who are not enrolled at school.
• Persons and dependants of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution. 
• Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of AUSTUDY, ABSTUDY or Youth Allowance

Note: this list is current at the time of publishing and may change from time to time.

Full Fee vs Funded Non-Concession vs Funded Concession — what’s the difference?

Quick Example

• Emma is not eligible for funding but has a valid concession card → She pays the full fee.
• Laura is eligible for funding and has a concession card → She pays the funded concession fee.
• Liam is eligible for funding but doesn’t have a concession card → He pays the funded non-concession fee.
• Sophia isn’t eligible for funding → She pays the full fee.

Why does this matter?

Understanding whether you qualify for a concession fee or just the standard government funding can make a difference to your course costs. It’s important to check your eligibility before enrolling!

Which AVT courses are funded?

Not all AVT courses are funded. For more information on which courses are eligible for government funding visit our Government Funded Course Page

WA-based students may be eligible for a government-subsidised place under the Jobs and Skills WA initiative. You can find out more information by visiting our Government Funding Page

You may also be able to apply for financial or government assistance such as Austudy. You can find out more information by approaching The Department of Human Services (Centrelink).

AVT courses are not 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.  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.

ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services is the latest training package at a Certificate III level in animal care.  ACM30110 Certificate III in Animal Studies, ACM30117 Certificate III in Animal Studies, ACM30121 Certificate III in Animal Care Services are now superseded by the new course.

Course codes change from time to time because the Government department that oversees the training packages, including the Animal Care Package (ACM10) regularly review courses and revise content guidelines in line with industry feedback.  These guidelines are then provided to Registered Training Organisations such as ourselves so we can revise and update our course material.  This results both in changes to the content within certain units and in some cases, units being replaced.  Some qualifications may change significantly, some others may not.

When qualifications in the Animal Care Package are updated, training providers generally have between 12 and 24 months to transition students to the new course code.  This transition time can differ from time to time depending on extensions permitted by the government.

Change History

• ACM30110 Certificate III in Animal Studies was updated to ACM30117 in 2017: Read More
• ACM30117 Certificate III in Animal Studies was updated to ACM30121 in 2021: Read More
• ACM30121 Certificate III in Animal Care Services was updated in 2022:  ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services is the current qualification.

Each superseded certificate is deemed equivalent to the new qualification.

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.

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

Unfortunately, we cannot assist individuals studying as international students as we do not hold the required CRICOS (The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) registration.

The following link outlines the main steps 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 a student visa. These normally take approximately 46 days to process.

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

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

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 and Skills WA Funding

Funding and visa eligibility varies by course. Please refer to the links below for details:

ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care – Eligibility details for each stream:

• Health & Welfare >>
• Vet Nurse Pathway >>
• Exhibited Animals >>
• VETDSS >>

ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA) – Eligibility details >>

ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing – Eligibility details >>

Related FAQs:

• 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 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

Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning (RPL) are two methods to receive credit towards your course, but they differ in how credit is awarded.

Credit transfer is available if you have previously completed the same unit, or one that matches in content and outcomes, at another recognised VET or higher education provider. To apply, you must provide verifiable evidence, such as a Statement of Attainment or qualification certificate, proving your competency. Once approved, you will not need to repeat assessment for that unit.

Please note that many of AVT’s courses are clustered. Clustering involves delivering and assessing two or more units together in groups (or blocks), in a meaningful and purposeful way. It avoids duplication and repetition and creates a logical flow to the delivery of your course. As a result, you may still need to complete training and assessments that cover similar concepts found in the unit for which you’re requesting a credit transfer

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) on the other hand, allows you to be assessed on the skills and knowledge you’ve gained through previous training, work experience, or life experience. To apply for RPL, you must supply evidence, such as records of completed training, assessment items, or declarations from your employer. Your provider will then assess your competency against the requirements of the course to determine if further training or assessment is needed.

Both options can reduce your study load, but RPL assesses existing skills, while credit transfer recognises previously completed qualifications.

For more information about AVT’s process for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning, please see our policies page.

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.