Animal Care - Level 2 Diploma

This Animal Care course can open doors to further study or a relevant apprenticeship in working within the animal care sector. Animal carers that this course may lead to include inspection of animal welfare and their environmental conditions, or to ensure that pets are passed on or sold to loving and caring owners, also working towards helping owners keep their animals healthy and happy. This qualification can also support students becoming self-employed, working as dog walkers or trainers or starting their journey as a dog groomer.

In the course, you will learn about the animal care industry. This will be delivered through a mixture of practical and theory lessons, whilst working with a range of animals housed in our Angel centre. The course is structured with 3 practically assessed units and 2 externally examined units. One of the 3 practical units involves 75 hours of mandatory work experience in a relevant business.

Our animal department has recently undergone a redevelopment in excess of £200,000 and houses over 50 different animal species across all the taxonomic groups. Animals we care for include Degu's, Ground Squirrels, Rabbits, Tree frogs, Chameleons and an Iguana. Plus many more.

You will visit farms, zoos and other animal collections during the programme, to further explore and learn from industry standards across the sector. This information will form part of the assessments for both Animal Behaviour and Animal Health.

This course is delivered at the Centre for Applied Sciences.

Topics covered include:

• Practical Animal Health
• Animal Biology (examined)
• Animal Welfare (examined)
• Animal Behaviour
• Work Placement
• Feeding, Accommodation and Moving Animals

You will need:

• Three GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English Language, Maths and Science

All applicants must have an interview and assessment to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

Assessment is continuous throughout the year through completing written assignments and projects as well as performing practical work that is assessed internally within the college. There will also be 2 written examinations, assessed externally via Pearson, the BTEC awarding body.

AGED 16 - 18

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August 2025 before the start date of the course, and you have the legal right to remain in the UK for the duration of your course then your study with us will be free.

Please see here for the documents you need to show us.

Some courses have additional costs, such as specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support. See here for details.

This course will help you to move on to higher-level courses, such as our Animal Management - Level 3 Extended Diploma, a Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship or other related employment.

• Dog Walker
• Dog Trainer
• Kennel or Cattery Maid
• Aquatic Team/Front of House
• Animal Carer and Pet Sitter
• Trainee Veterinary Nurse Assistant