Course Summary
The Certificate III in Animal Care Services equips individuals with essential skills and knowledge for various roles within animal care facilities and services, including boarding/day care centres, animal shelters/holding centres, pet grooming, pet sitting, breeding, and other animal care businesses. Professionals in these positions handle a range of animal care responsibilities under supervision, using discretion and judgement in animal handling, selecting and operating tools and equipment, managing resources, and problem solving. They are accountable for their tasks, ensuring compliance with animal welfare standards, organising procedures, resolving issues, and adhering to schedules. This qualification is ideal for those pursuing an apprenticeship or traineeship pathway in the animal care industry.
Requirements - To Be Eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
Entry RequirementsStudents must complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment unless they have completed an equal or higher level course.
Placement Requirements
- Prior to admission, students are to engage with their local area Animal Industry Care providers to find suitable work placement.
- Important information relating to Vocational Placement can be found in the Host Employer Information Pack.
- During the application process, students must upload a signed and completed copy of the Vocational Placement Agreement found within the Host Employer Information Pack for approval.
Inherent Requirements
- Have reasonable reading and writing skills, as well as basic numeracy skills to complete workbooks, assignments, learning activities and assessment tasks.
- Access a computer / tablet / smartphone with internet access, camera, microphone and speakers.
- Access Microsoft Teams, to attend weekly Microsoft Teams tutorials.
- Use Microsoft Teams for online assessment components.
- Handle live animals and require a reasonable level of physical fitness to be able to complete the practical components of the course.
- Please note: Students may be exposed to injured/deceased animals in photo and video footage during the online learning and may be required to handle them during their work placement.
Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning
Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.
Additional information
Gaining real world learning experience is a vital factor in successfully completing this qualification and preparing you to work effectively in the animal care industry.
To satisfy the practical requirements for eleven (11) of the seventeen (17) units within the Certificate III in Animal Care Services, it is recommended for students to complete a minimum of 180 hours of placement at an approved Animal Industry Care provider.
Course Details
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| How to Apply | Please Enquire or Apply Now | ||||||||||||
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| AQF Level | Level 3: Certificate III |
Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations
Common occupations for graduates of Certificate III in Animal Care Services include animal attendants, pet shop assistants, animal shelter workers, pet grooming assistants and non-clinical veterinary assistants. The qualification can also lead to further study, such as in veterinary nursing or animal technology.
- Complete 7 core units
- Complete 10 elective units
Study Mode Definitions
- Online: Online courses provide the flexibility to study without normally requiring a student to visit a campus. Course content is studied through a number of means including the use of online discussion forums, electronic library resources, by contacting lecturers and teachers, and receiving study materials online/electronically. Work integrated learning, including placements, may be included in some courses.
- On-campus: Students studying in on-campus mode typically are expected to attend and participate in regular, structured on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the University’s academic term. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practice, online or other activities and normally will be timetabled at a CQUniversity campus or approved delivery site.
- Mixed Mode: Students studying in mixed mode will participate in a combination of online learning activities in addition to site-specific learning activities, which may include residential schools, co-op placements and/or work-integrated learning as a compulsory requirement of a unit. The additional site-specific learning activities are what differentiates a mixed-mode unit from an online unit.
*All study modes may include Vocational placement and/or work integrated learning.
Select a course structure below to view the delivery details, including the different study modes offered for each structure.
Enrolment must follow the sequence of clusters outlined below. This allows students to enrol into their unit/s in an optimised way for learning.
As this course is competency based, and students can study at their own pace, it may be possible for learners to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.
- Online
| Cluster 1 | ||||
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| ACMWHS301 | Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN315 | Communicate effectively with clients and team members | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 2 | ||||
| ACMINF301 | Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN314 | Identify Animal Anatomy and Physiology for Animal Care Work | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 3 | ||||
| ACMBEH301 | Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN303 | Assess the welfare status of an animal | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN311 | Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 4 | ||||
| ACMGEN312 | Provide nutritional requirements for animals | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMBEH302 | Provide enrichment for animals | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 5 | ||||
| BSBOPS304 | Deliver and monitor a service to customers | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN305 | Provide advice on companion animal selection and general care | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN205 | Source and provide information for animal care needs | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 6 | ||||
| ACMSPE316 | Provide general care of domestic dogs | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMSPE317 | Provide general care of domestic cats | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN309 | Provide basic animal first aid | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| Cluster 7 | ||||
| ACMSUS201 | Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| ACMGEN304 | Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
Unit Sequence
Units with the same sequence number should be enrolled into at the same time.
| Sequence | Unit |
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| 1 | ACMWHS301 - Contribute to workplace health and safety processes |
| 2 | ACMGEN315 - Communicate effectively with clients and team members |
| 3 | ACMINF301 - Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work |
| 4 | ACMGEN314 - Identify Animal Anatomy and Physiology for Animal Care Work |
| 5 | ACMBEH301 - Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals |
| 6 | ACMGEN303 - Assess the welfare status of an animal |
| 7 | ACMGEN311 - Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing |
| 8 | ACMGEN312 - Provide nutritional requirements for animals |
| 9 | ACMBEH302 - Provide enrichment for animals |
| 10 | BSBOPS304 - Deliver and monitor a service to customers |
| 11 | ACMGEN305 - Provide advice on companion animal selection and general care |
| 12 | ACMGEN205 - Source and provide information for animal care needs |
| 13 | ACMSPE316 - Provide general care of domestic dogs |
| 14 | ACMSPE317 - Provide general care of domestic cats |
| 15 | ACMGEN309 - Provide basic animal first aid |
| 16 | ACMSUS201 - Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices |
| 17 | ACMGEN304 - Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces |
Course Assessment Information
Credit transfer - If credit for relevant formal qualifications is sought, then the process will be actioned after the student has enrolled in at least one unit of competency as directed by the relevant trainer/assessor. The Trainer/Assessor will work with the student on their credit transfer application, and provide advice and support as necessary.
| Assessment Types |
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| Written/Electronic Assessment |
| Practical Task |
| Third Party Verification |
| RPL |
Domestic 2025 Availabilities
Online with vocational placement
March: Full Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time
August: Full Time
Domestic 2026 Availabilities
Online with vocational placement
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
Show Historic Availabilities