Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship

Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship

If you want to study a practical course in animal care, then this is the pathway to support your future career in the animal care industry.

Our specially designed animal husbandry school is set in the beautiful grounds of Bicton, boasting an impressive collection of animals, with over 150 different species.

This course gives you experience and confidence with working with a range of domestic and exotic species, you will get to study and work alongside an array of animals from lemurs and sebastopol geese, to llamas and axolotl.

Health and wellbeing of animals, preparing accommodation, feeding and grooming are just some of the essential skills you will learn as you progress through this course.

You will be learning from our experienced lecturers and technical staff, who have worked in the industry before and can pass on the skills to help you pursue your career in the animal care industry.

Caring for animals is an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries, pet shops or rescue centres and zoos; there is a wide range of careers available upon completion of this course.

During this apprenticeship you will spend 1-2 hours a week on the AHS during the college training day only.

What you will learn Entry requirements Assessment Progression Bicton College

What you will learn

This apprenticeship is designed to introduce you to essential subjects such as health and safety, which are vital components of working within the land-based sector. This will then support you in your other modules such as preparing feed for animals, grooming or maintaining accommodations.

In addition, you will enhance your skills in animal handling, animal training and animal behaviour.

Entry requirements

GCSEs in English language and maths at grade 3 or above or equivalent functional skills in English and maths at Level 1. To start this apprenticeship, you will need to have a paid workplace on a 30-hours a week contract, that is relevant to the apprenticeship.

Assessment

At the end of the apprenticeship, you will need to undertake an End Point Assessment (EPA) in your workspace, this will involve 2 practical assessments and 1 formal discussion.

The first assessment will consist of the external assessor observing you at your workspace carrying out 2 practical activities which include feeding/watering and cleaning animal accommodation.

This will then be followed by professional discussion with an external assessor that will determine the skills, knowledge and behaviour that you learned during the apprenticeship. Your portfolio will be reviewed as evidence of your skills and knowledge. After the assessment, you will receive your grade. – Fail, Pass or Distinction.

Progression

Our Animal Management Level 3 or straight into full-time employment.

Careers in this industry:
- Dog walker
- Zookeeper
- Animal care assistant
- Dog groomer
- Pet shop assistant
- Kennel Assistant

Bicton College

Bicton College is based in East Devon, near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

What You Will Learn

This apprenticeship is designed to introduce you to essential subjects such as health and safety, which are vital components of working within the land-based sector. This will then support you in your other modules such as preparing feed for animals, grooming or maintaining accommodations.

In addition, you will enhance your skills in animal handling, animal training and animal behaviour.

Entry Requirements

GCSEs in English language and maths at grade 3 or above or equivalent functional skills in English and maths at Level 1. To start this apprenticeship, you will need to have a paid workplace on a 30-hours a week contract, that is relevant to the apprenticeship.

Assessment

At the end of the apprenticeship, you will need to undertake an End Point Assessment (EPA) in your workspace, this will involve 2 practical assessments and 1 formal discussion. The first assessment will consist of the external assessor observing you at your workspace carrying out 2 practical activities which include feeding/watering and cleaning animal accommodation. This will then be followed by professional discussion with an external assessor that will determine the skills, knowledge and behaviour that you learned during the apprenticeship. Your portfolio will be reviewed as evidence of your skills and knowledge. After the assessment, you will receive your grade. – Fail, Pass or Distinction.

Progression

Our Animal Management Level 3 or straight into full-time employment. Careers in this industry: - Dog walker - Zookeeper - Animal care assistant - Dog groomer - Pet shop assistant - Kennel Assistant

Bicton College

Bicton College

Bicton College is based in East Devon, near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

Case studies

Anna had her confidence knocked when she didn't get the A Level results she needed for veterinary school. But this didn't stop her pursuing her dream career - she enrolled on the FdSc Animal Health and Management at Bicton College and went on to gain a first class BSc (Hons) in Animal Science and an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology.

"I'm now working as a Senior Research Associate for a University in Hong Kong, my research focuses on injuries in racehorses at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. I love that I am at the forefront of equine epidemiology and my research makes a real difference to the racehorses here.

The FdSc is a great course if you are undecided on your future career because it keeps all your doors open, and through assignments and research projects, you are able to sculpt your degree to the animals and industries you're most interested in. Additionally, keep saying yes to every opportunity because you have no idea where you'll end up!"