Certificate II in Animal Care
If you’re just starting out on your dream of working with animals, this is a great place to start! The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you stand out from the others when it comes time to get that job!
This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres — the perfect way to kickstart your career in animal care, or gain the skills and experience to get you into other areas such as veterinary nursing. The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you to stand out from the others when it comes time to start that dream career!
The course covers feeding and watering animals, cleaning pens and enclosures, assisting with animal healthcare, communicating with co-workers, keeping safe at work, assisting with animal enrichment and welfare, providing animal first aid, basic grooming, and much more.
Completion of this course can provide credit towards a higher level qualification, should you wish to pursue further study. It's also an excellent pathway to an apprenticeship or traineeship in this industry.
Training options
- VET for secondary students
- STEM
Industry areas
- Agriculture, Animals, Science and the Environment
- Animals, Science and the Environment
Study area
- Animal Studies
Course ID
- National ID: ACM20121
- WA State ID: BGQ7
This course is available from registered training organisations (accredited private training providers) that are also funded through Jobs and Skills WA. Select from the list below, and follow the link to the provider's website for further information about the course and how to enrol.
Turn your love for animals into a career!
If you are just starting out on your dream of working with animals, this is a great place to start! This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres — the perfect way to kickstart your career in animal care or gain the skills and experience to get you into other areas such as veterinary nursing.
The course covers:
- feeding and watering animals,
- cleaning pens and enclosures,
- assisting with animal healthcare,
- communicating with coworkers,
- keeping safe at work,
- assisting with animal enrichment and welfare,
- providing animal first aid,
- basic grooming, and much more.
The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you to stand out from the others when it comes time to start that dream career!
Delivery locations
Do you have a passion for pooches, a calling to work with cats or even a fascination with fish? If you love animals and dream of a career in animal care, this course will give you a formal qualification to enter the industry.
Be guided by our team of skilled lecturers who have a wealth of experience in the field, pairing clinical expertise with the drive to provide the highest standard of care to animals to keep them safe, clean, well and content. Learn the foundations of general care of dogs, cats, fish, rodents, rabbits, mammals and invertebrates. Build your knowledge on how to handle animals safely, daily routines such as bathing and drying, assisting with health routines and providing reception services for an animal care facility.
You can gain job-ready skills to work as an animal attendant in a kennel, cattery, groomer, vet clinic, local pet shop or even a welfare organisation/animal shelter for abandoned, neglected or injured animals that are in need of care.
90% of surveyed students were highly satisfied with this course.
Study in specialist facilities
SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic based at our Bentley campus which is open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment.
Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated pet grooming clinic where students can develop hands-on animal care skills in a real-world setting.
Delivery locations
This course is available from registered training organisations (accredited private training providers) that are also funded through Jobs and Skills WA. Select from the list below, and follow the link to the provider's website for further information about the course and how to enrol.
The ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care gives you the foundational skills and knowledge needed to work in a variety of animal care settings. This nationally recognised qualification is perfect if you're starting your journey in the animal care industry or looking for hands-on experience with companion animals, farm animals, or exhibited animals. Through practical, real-world training, you'll develop skills in animal handling, health and welfare monitoring, nutrition, hygiene and workplace safety. Training takes place in professional and educational environments, including AVT’s Veterinary Training Facility in Ascot, the Dogs’ Refuge Home, Cat Haven or Landsdale Farm. Depending on your chosen study focus, you can gain experience in animal shelters and welfare organisations, veterinary clinics and hospitals, or farms and exhibited animal settings. This qualification can be your first step toward further study, including the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services or the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and will prepare you for entry-level roles in the animal care industry. Eligible students may obtain subsidised fees under Jobs and Skills WA, find out more on the AVT website. AVT is a locally owned and operated Registered Training Organisation (RTO 5723) and has been delivering animal care qualifications for over 25 years.
Delivery location
This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres — the perfect way to kickstart your career in animal care, or gain the skills and experience to get you into other areas such as veterinary nursing. The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you to stand out from the others when it comes time to start that dream career!
The course covers feeding and watering animals, cleaning pens and enclosures, assisting with animal healthcare, communicating with co-workers, keeping safe at work, assisting with animal enrichment and welfare, providing animal first aid, basic grooming, and much more.
Completion of this course can provide credit towards a higher level qualification, should you wish to pursue further study. It's also an excellent pathway to an apprenticeship or traineeship in this industry.
Training options
- VET for secondary students
- STEM
Industry areas
- Agriculture, Animals, Science and the Environment
- Animals, Science and the Environment
Study area
- Animal Studies
Course ID
- National ID: ACM20121
- WA State ID: BGQ7
To find out more about doing this course at a WA TAFE college, select one of the TAFEs listed below to read their course descriptions. You'll also be able to see at which TAFE campus/es the course is delivered.
If you would like further information such as when the course is available and how to enrol, and details of course fees, or if you have questions about how the course is delivered, please follow the Find out more link to go to the TAFE's website where you will find full course details and contact information so that you can speak to the TAFE directly.
Turn your love for animals into a career!
If you are just starting out on your dream of working with animals, this is a great place to start! This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres — the perfect way to kickstart your career in animal care or gain the skills and experience to get you into other areas such as veterinary nursing.
The course covers:
- feeding and watering animals,
- cleaning pens and enclosures,
- assisting with animal healthcare,
- communicating with coworkers,
- keeping safe at work,
- assisting with animal enrichment and welfare,
- providing animal first aid,
- basic grooming, and much more.
The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you to stand out from the others when it comes time to start that dream career!
Delivery locations
Do you have a passion for pooches, a calling to work with cats or even a fascination with fish? If you love animals and dream of a career in animal care, this course will give you a formal qualification to enter the industry.
Be guided by our team of skilled lecturers who have a wealth of experience in the field, pairing clinical expertise with the drive to provide the highest standard of care to animals to keep them safe, clean, well and content. Learn the foundations of general care of dogs, cats, fish, rodents, rabbits, mammals and invertebrates. Build your knowledge on how to handle animals safely, daily routines such as bathing and drying, assisting with health routines and providing reception services for an animal care facility.
You can gain job-ready skills to work as an animal attendant in a kennel, cattery, groomer, vet clinic, local pet shop or even a welfare organisation/animal shelter for abandoned, neglected or injured animals that are in need of care.
90% of surveyed students were highly satisfied with this course.
Study in specialist facilities
SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic based at our Bentley campus which is open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment.
Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated pet grooming clinic where students can develop hands-on animal care skills in a real-world setting.
Delivery locations
Turn your love for animals into a career!
If you are just starting out on your dream of working with animals, this is a great place to start! This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres — the perfect way to kickstart your career in animal care or gain the skills and experience to get you into other areas such as veterinary nursing.
The course covers:
- feeding and watering animals,
- cleaning pens and enclosures,
- assisting with animal healthcare,
- communicating with coworkers,
- keeping safe at work,
- assisting with animal enrichment and welfare,
- providing animal first aid,
- basic grooming, and much more.
The skills and knowledge you gain from this course will help you to stand out from the others when it comes time to start that dream career!
Locations
Do you have a passion for pooches, a calling to work with cats or even a fascination with fish? If you love animals and dream of a career in animal care, this course will give you a formal qualification to enter the industry.
Be guided by our team of skilled lecturers who have a wealth of experience in the field, pairing clinical expertise with the drive to provide the highest standard of care to animals to keep them safe, clean, well and content. Learn the foundations of general care of dogs, cats, fish, rodents, rabbits, mammals and invertebrates. Build your knowledge on how to handle animals safely, daily routines such as bathing and drying, assisting with health routines and providing reception services for an animal care facility.
You can gain job-ready skills to work as an animal attendant in a kennel, cattery, groomer, vet clinic, local pet shop or even a welfare organisation/animal shelter for abandoned, neglected or injured animals that are in need of care.
90% of surveyed students were highly satisfied with this course.
Study in specialist facilities
SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic based at our Bentley campus which is open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment.
Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated pet grooming clinic where students can develop hands-on animal care skills in a real-world setting.
Locations
This course is available from registered training organisations (accredited private training providers) that are also funded through Jobs and Skills WA. Select from the list below, and follow the link to the provider's website for further information about the course and how to enrol.
The ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care gives you the foundational skills and knowledge needed to work in a variety of animal care settings. This nationally recognised qualification is perfect if you're starting your journey in the animal care industry or looking for hands-on experience with companion animals, farm animals, or exhibited animals. Through practical, real-world training, you'll develop skills in animal handling, health and welfare monitoring, nutrition, hygiene and workplace safety. Training takes place in professional and educational environments, including AVT’s Veterinary Training Facility in Ascot, the Dogs’ Refuge Home, Cat Haven or Landsdale Farm. Depending on your chosen study focus, you can gain experience in animal shelters and welfare organisations, veterinary clinics and hospitals, or farms and exhibited animal settings. This qualification can be your first step toward further study, including the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services or the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and will prepare you for entry-level roles in the animal care industry. Eligible students may obtain subsidised fees under Jobs and Skills WA, find out more on the AVT website. AVT is a locally owned and operated Registered Training Organisation (RTO 5723) and has been delivering animal care qualifications for over 25 years.
Delivery location
Free support and assistance
Your local jobs and Skills Centre can provide free information, support and assistance to help you decide on the best training options to meet your goals.
Disclaimer
The information presented on the course lists within this website is provided to the Department of Training and Workforce Development by the WA TAFE colleges and private training providers, and is offered as a guide only. It is updated regularly, however some changes to details may occur in between updates. You should always contact the TAFE or private training provider directly to confirm details and/or ask questions.
Some eligibility criteria apply for fee free and reduced fee courses, and other fees may apply. Further information is available here